Looking to switch to Li-ion battery

[Enxer]

Hi Everyone,

I'm dusting off my Team Losi Junior T and I'd like to replace it's NICD ZipPak with a Li-ion battery preferably with a longer run time. Previously I remember getting 15 minutes or so of run time.

Any recommendations or changes to the two items I was thinking about purchasing?

The inner components:
1. Futaba MC 210CB https://manualmachine.com/futaba/mc210cb/2576227-user-manual/
2. Futaba FP-R112JE
3. Futaba FP S148
4. Motor - No idea; no labels or SKUs
5. Futaba FP T2PB Remote

Without mucking with the frame or components could I use this battery and charger:
1.https://www.motionrc.com/products/admiral-7000mah-2s-7-4v-li-ion-battery-with-tamiya-connector-adm6024-015(physically seems to fit)
2.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096LWLD39/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A26GZ76IC748YY&psc=1

[JosephS]

Hi Everyone,

I'm dusting off my Team Losi Junior T and I'd like to replace it's NICD ZipPak with a Li-ion battery preferably with a longer run time. Previously I remember getting 15 minutes or so of run time.

Any recommendations or changes to the two items I was thinking about purchasing?

The inner components:
1. Futaba MC 210CB https://manualmachine.com/futaba/mc210cb/2576227-user-manual/
2. Futaba FP-R112JE
3. Futaba FP S148
4. Motor - No idea; no labels or SKUs
5. Futaba FP T2PB Remote

Without mucking with the frame or components could I use this battery and charger:
1.https://www.motionrc.com/products/admiral-7000mah-2s-7-4v-li-ion-battery-with-tamiya-connector-adm6024-015(physically seems to fit)
2.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096LWLD39/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A26GZ76IC748YY&psc=1

It may be better to just get a NiMH battery with a high capacity.
something like this battery
https://www.amainhobbies.com/lrp-power-pack-6cell-nimh-stick-pack-battery-w-tamiya-connector-7.2v-3000mah-lrp71115/p291936

This would drop in with no need for anything extra. Just a new battery will likely work wonders compared to a 20+ year old one.
They also make much higher capacity batteries but the older motors were never meant to run for 30+ minutes without a rest.

Typically you would change the speed controller as well when you switch to lipo.

[Enxer]

Hi Everyone,

I'm dusting off my Team Losi Junior T and I'd like to replace it's NICD ZipPak with a Li-ion battery preferably with a longer run time. Previously I remember getting 15 minutes or so of run time.

Any recommendations or changes to the two items I was thinking about purchasing?

The inner components:
1. Futaba MC 210CB https://manualmachine.com/futaba/mc210cb/2576227-user-manual/
2. Futaba FP-R112JE
3. Futaba FP S148
4. Motor - No idea; no labels or SKUs
5. Futaba FP T2PB Remote

Without mucking with the frame or components could I use this battery and charger:
1.https://www.motionrc.com/products/admiral-7000mah-2s-7-4v-li-ion-battery-with-tamiya-connector-adm6024-015(physically seems to fit)
2.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096LWLD39/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A26GZ76IC748YY&psc=1

It may be better to just get a NiMH battery with a high capacity.
something like this battery
https://www.amainhobbies.com/lrp-power-pack-6cell-nimh-stick-pack-battery-w-tamiya-connector-7.2v-3000mah-lrp71115/p291936

This would drop in with no need for anything extra. Just a new battery will likely work wonders compared to a 20+ year old one.
They also make much higher capacity batteries but the older motors were never meant to run for 30+ minutes without a rest.

Typically you would change the speed controller as well when you switch to lipo.

Thanks,

Any recommendations for a charger?

[Dangeruss]

Cheapest and easiest would be to just get a new NiHM battery like JoesephS said. But if you want to run a lipo on your current setup all you need is to add a low voltage cutoff/alarm to keep from discharging the battery too far. $10-20 bucks. And you can buy stick-on temp labels to keep an eye on the motor. Anything below 170F and you're fine.

Charger looks cool, but I didn't see any wattage/amperage on it. You'd need a 7 amp (70w) charger to 1C charge a 7000Mah battery (1 hour charge time). If it's only say, a 3.5 amp (35w) charger it'll take two hours to charge the battery.

7000Mah for $57 bucks seems like a lot of bang for the buck. I don't think you'll find more capacity for the money... whether it has 7000Mah you won't know until you buy it.

Problem is, the max charging current on that battery is listed at 1.75 amps... that's a four-hour charge time regardless of the charger.

If it were me, at your price point... for batteries I'd go with protech ptk-5129-19 (LRP also makes the same battery LRP430405) or a Gens Ace GEA522S35DGT and some Deans to Tamiya adapters. For the charger, anything on amazon that'll charge lipo's, has 5 amps of power, good feedback, and tickles your fancy... you should be set.

Junior T's are cool trucks. Should be fun to kick the cobwebs off its spikes. Welcome to the fray!

[JRxJoe]

I just went through this exercise on my pro SE. I literally returned 3 batteries to aMain after experimenting. Even the lipo pack from gens ace intended to mimic an old style SCE/SCR pack was too long and too tall. I finally found A ruddog 3600 mah pack (NiMH) that fit like a glove. Eventually I found it just wasn’t worth it to use lipo. A shorty 2S could work but the hinge would be overly stressed and battery wouldn’t be constrained well.

https://www.amainhobbies.com/ruddog-nimh-6cell-stick-pack-w-tstyle-plug-7.2v-3600mah-rdgrp-0424/p1279919?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3JzAr4vEhAMV2wetBh39HAerEAQYASABEgL0YfD_BwE

[JosephS]

Hi Everyone,

I'm dusting off my Team Losi Junior T and I'd like to replace it's NICD ZipPak with a Li-ion battery preferably with a longer run time. Previously I remember getting 15 minutes or so of run time.

Any recommendations or changes to the two items I was thinking about purchasing?

The inner components:
1. Futaba MC 210CB https://manualmachine.com/futaba/mc210cb/2576227-user-manual/
2. Futaba FP-R112JE
3. Futaba FP S148
4. Motor - No idea; no labels or SKUs
5. Futaba FP T2PB Remote

Without mucking with the frame or components could I use this battery and charger:
1.https://www.motionrc.com/products/admiral-7000mah-2s-7-4v-li-ion-battery-with-tamiya-connector-adm6024-015(physically seems to fit)
2.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096LWLD39/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A26GZ76IC748YY&psc=1

It may be better to just get a NiMH battery with a high capacity.
something like this battery
https://www.amainhobbies.com/lrp-power-pack-6cell-nimh-stick-pack-battery-w-tamiya-connector-7.2v-3000mah-lrp71115/p291936

This would drop in with no need for anything extra. Just a new battery will likely work wonders compared to a 20+ year old one.
They also make much higher capacity batteries but the older motors were never meant to run for 30+ minutes without a rest.

Typically you would change the speed controller as well when you switch to lipo.

Thanks,

Any recommendations for a charger?

Just about any charger would work. you could even start with a vintage charge if you still have it.
I have this charger and it works well https://power.tenergy.com/tenergy-tb6ac-80w-8a-digital-balance-charger-for-nimh-nicd-lipo-li-fe-sla/
but there are likely better choices.