Konich wrote:The problem with that is most people are idiots when it comes to Lipo's and blame everyone but themselves. Lipo's need to be kept in a temperature controlled environment, stored around 7.6-7.8v, and kept in balance. I only balance my batteries once a month and they are never that far out of balance. So far no fires, no puffed packs, and I get great power/runtime out of the packs I do have.
E X A C T L Y I represent Venom International for raing here in Australia, (and also help with product development), and I will be the first to admit that way back in the earlier days of Venom, there were indeed some rather "basic" products that were not perfect. In the last 3 or 4 years however, Venom have really stepped up their game for the more "serious enthusiast" - particularly in the electronics/batteries dept. Venom will ALWAYS produce the more basic products to the "lower" end of the market - because that is what has made them so successful - not everyone excpects the "ültimate" race performance or price tag to match (like other "race" brands which are EXACTLY the same product). The largest market is for the enthusiast that just has a bash around on the weekends with their mates/families for fun. This does not require the ültimate race performance"- nor does the user expect it - they just want something that works and is reliable. For the more serious enthusiast Venom have, in the last few years, been producing some of the highest performing batteries and electronics around. You will be hard pressed to find a better Li-Po for the money, I know, because I have been using them for two years now (and yes - I was skeptical when offered one to use intially), and have been very successful with them - I have never wanted for power or reliability!!
The internet (particularly RC Tech) are full of "wannabee" race guru's and internet engineeers. The fact is is that a large percentage of people that post on internet really dont know what they are talking about. It is always the products fault on the internet. I often laugh when I read people bagging a product and ripping the company to shreds when their $20 dollar NIMH pack would not run for 30 minutes or take being charged at 10 amps - then run underwater......
Seriously though - what do people expect for 20 bucks? Companies, (the smart ones), have these lower end products to keep the LARGER market - (the "casual" user) happy , not the wannabee "Ä MAIN" backyard racer/keyboard warrior that expects chamagne performance on a soda budget. Apples have to be compared with apples in our hobby. Alot of smaller companies products "punch well above their weight" when it comes to performance and value, there are of course some that dont. Venom would not still be around in this viscious market if they were not doing something right.Give the Venoms a try - look after them and they will reward you with superb performance (just like most other products).
Cheers
Darryn
