OptiPower - Wow Excellent Service!

[Nutter]

After the recent problems posted on here about a certain lipo distributor, I thought I would share the excellent service that I've had from Andy at OptiPower.

I bought six packs of 3500 mAh OptiPower lipos off Fast Lads a couple of months ago for my new T-Rex 600E Pro. One of the packs has started to swell slightly compared to the other five packs especially just after the last few flights. I have only charged all six packs seven times each. I use a Hyperion EOS 0720i DUO3 charger and use the "sync" function to charge and balance two packs up together as a 12S. I always charge at 1C - 3.5A in this case. The pack that is swelling slightly has a higher IR than the other five - 30 mOh or above compared to 10 mOh or less for the other five. Also when I check the percentage of power in the lipo after a flight with a battery checker, it shows about 5% less than the other lipo that is paired with it.

I emailed Andy this morning (on a Sunday) and had a reply later this afternoon saying that the pack sounds suspect. He asked me my address as he's going to post a brand new lipo out to me without seeing or testing the suspected faulty one and to keep it!!!

Now that's what I call customer service. You can say all the like about buying cheaper ones from HK etc., but you cannot beat service like this. I'd prefer to pay more for my lipos and have the warranty, backup and crash discount rather than scrimping on cost.

Many thanks Andy!!!

[ChrisB]

Have they accepted there is a problem then,post 37 would assume so.

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/hensel...ipowers-3.html

[Raving Jim]

That's why you should buy optis over the cheaper packs as all batteries have a problem here an there but they have good warranty an a good service , optipower your passion people!

[Nick B]

That's why you should buy optis over the cheaper packs as all batteries have a problem here an there but they have good warranty an a good service , optipower your passion people!

I got 10 puffy optis,can't see them being replaced,it would only happen again anyway.....rusty bearings from their nitro,now this!!

[Jamin_00]

In all fairness this is how it should be in our hobby in general and most are but theres always the small minority that let it down


Anyway, happy days mate and glad you got it sorted as it gives me confidence that should I have an issue with an Opti this is how I will get treated and when they all say the same thing that I have seen, happy days

Nick, have you contacted them to see. Its worth trying mate as I would not let that many go and am currently not as you may well be aware

[Delarado]

I might give them a call too... I have two packs out of the 4 that I own that have less than 30 flights on them and they are ever so slightly puffed...as in, just slightly soft puffed.

IR readings show one pack has 1 cell that is 5moh higher than the other 5, and another pack has two cells with a higher IR.

From memory the numbers are something like 3-3-3-4-8-9 or something.

THe ones i have that arent even a little puffed are all 3's or 4's across the board...

[Nutter]

To be honest, if the IR wasn't as high as 30 odd (and similar to my other packs) but was slightly puffed, then I wouldn't be too concerned.

[Raving Jim]

Run your engine out of fuel an you won't get rusty bearings same with any fuel , 20 gallons of opti an haven't changed a bearing yet!

[Andy from Sandy]

I might give them a call too... I have two packs out of the 4 that I own that have less than 30 flights on them and they are ever so slightly puffed...as in, just slightly soft puffed.

IR readings show one pack has 1 cell that is 5moh higher than the other 5, and another pack has two cells with a higher IR.

From memory the numbers are something like 3-3-3-4-8-9 or something.

THe ones i have that arent even a little puffed are all 3's or 4's across the board...

If you enter the highest cell IR in this program along with the pack capacity it will compute the safe or true C rating.

Lipoly Objective Performance Calculation Tool.xlsx
The "True C rating" is based on the amount of heat dissipated in the pack and has been determined from a lot of experimental results. In full discharge testing it has been found that taking higher current than the "True C rating" continuously throughout the discharge results in excessive finishing temperatures and other signs of over stress.
In designing the calculator, Mark Forsyth, John Julian and Wayne Giles aimed at a C rating at which the Lipo can be discharged continuously without over stressing it and thus shortening it's life.
Thus you can see that it is a conservative rating and can be exceeded in short bursts.

[Nick B]

Run your engine out of fuel an you won't get rusty bearings same with any fuel , 20 gallons of opti an haven't changed a bearing yet!

Tried all that....the only thing that has worked was to go all electric lol

[cupracing]

So your not touting for an opti sponsorship then Nick? Lol!

[Nick B]

Hell no lol....im not dissing the opti power packs as im still flying them,the only prob they are causing is they wont come out the 600pro straight after flight,the velcro straps catch on the frames

Im not crashing often enough to need the 50% off crash damage

[Mslater]

Have they accepted there is a problem then,post 37 would assume so.

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/hensel...ipowers-3.html

I'm fairly sure that if Andy thought there was a problem with a particular batch or certain pack that we'd be the first to know. He's not just a supplier, he's just as much a flyer as all of us.

As for the rusty bearings, just stick stainless in and be done with it

[Downdraft]

I can only echo the words of Nutter. Opti give an exceptional service especially when it counts.

TOP MARKS ANDY.

[Sesame]

I had a similar experience recently, on the packs I had bought one of the cells in one pack died on me and without seeing the battery Andy organised a replacement for the pack which arrived with me 3 days later. well impressed.

its that kind of service that builds brand loyalty, knowing if you do have problems someones going to listen and help rather than just fob you off.