LIPO VS LIFE Packs

[swale]

Hi just wondering what th ereal pro's and cons are they dont seem to have taken off and im guessing theres a good reason....so how would they handle use as a flight pack?

[jamiem]

I used one on my 700n as an rx pack without a regulator, worked a treat, and in fact I'm about to buy another for my new toy pretty consistent voltage, and a whole lot less to go wrong on the machine....

[bigpops]

You can use them as a flight pack no problem. The downside is that they have less power to weight than a lipo, which is the main reason they aren't so popular as a flight pack.

On the positive sides, you can stab them with a screwdriver and they don't catch fire. You can run them flat without damaging the capacity or life of the pack, and you can safely charge most of them at about 5C.

As the post above, I'll be using LiFe as a receiver pack in my Fusion 50.

[callum]

I agree with what Jamie has said

The voltage is more consistent throughout the pack cycle. You'd have to be right on the edge for the pack voltage to drop suddenly.

Another bonus is that it's 6.6v (Some packs are 6.4 I've seen) and that allows you to plug directly into your Rx and run it without a regulator

[Nick B]

You can safely leave them on the heli too....i have them on all 3 of my helis...they are not very accurate on cell checkers is the only downside i have seen

[agh321]

wich is better A123 or life

life seem lighter in weight but thats all i know

[callum]

wich is better A123 or life

life seem lighter in weight but thats all i know

As far as I know, they're both exactly the Same, Just a different name.

[cupracing]

I hav just ordered a 2s lipo for my 600, wish I had gone with a life pack now

[agh321]

life packs are flat like lipos

A123 are cells like nicads

[Andy from Sandy]

If this is considered a downside, you cannot use a li-po load tester to see what is left in the battery. It gives its full capacity until it is flat and then stops. If your model is in the air at the time, oh dear...

You need to do a flight and check how much you put back. Like all batteries these do not like the cold so you need to check the pack a few times during the year as the temperature changes.

[cjcj1949]

The reason they have not taken off is that they are not as good as Lipos except in terms of safety. Most of us don't think things will happen until they do. They are much better as rx packs than NiMhs. They are used in electric vehicles as Lipos are considered too dangerous.