Can I make my own Micro RS4 battery packs?

[Mr. Furious]

Hi all. I'm getting a Micro RS4 and wanted to know if I can make my own batter packs for it. I'm thinking if I got 5 or 6 NIMH batteries, I could wire them up and shrink wrap them and have the same pack for a lot less cash.

Will it work?

What kind of hardware do I need?

Do I need to use AA or AAA to get them to fit if I wanted a 6 battery pack?

I can get 4 2000mah NIMH AA for about $5.50 so it's pretty cheap for the cells but I don't know if they will work like a battery pack that I'd order from an R/C battery shop. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[SteveK]

http://www.hpiracing.com/kits/micro/micro-rt.htm

About 1/3 of the way down they tell you how to build a 5 cell pack. You could make it out of AAs, but that might be a little heavy and spread the weight too far out to the sides of the chassis. You can buy 2/3 A cells like the kind in Micro packs, and build one in those shapes yourself, and it will be significantly cheaper.

http://66.70.235.59/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=NT100AFH-6&Category_Code=el_bat
Plus maybe $5 for the wire with connectors and shrink wrap, and you've spent half what you would have on a pre-built battery.

[Mr. Furious]

How big are the 2/3 cells? They look kind of thick. How is their size compared to a AA or AAA? Will they fit the chassis with no mods or do you need to run them like a saddle pack?

Thanks

[SteveK]

2/3 A cells are about as thick as AAs, maybe a little bigger around, but shorter. I don't have my pack handy to compare them.

You can just servo tape or Shoe Goo them to the spare battery plate that comes in the kit. I have my 5 cell pack in this shape:
http://www2.gpmd.com/image/o/oric1311.jpg

For a 6 cell pack just add another cell like this:
http://www2.gpmd.com/image/o/oric1312.jpg

[Mr. Furious]

OK, I see how they go together now. Thanks!

Can I just pick up wire at Radio Shack or is there a better kind say on Tower Hobbies?

[Mr. Furious]

One more question:

What guage wire do I need to wire the packs together and run leads to a dean's connector?

Thanks

[Grizzbob]

I think most guys use between 18 & 22 gauge wire for micro packs(the manufacturers as well as us users). Oh, & if you're looking for a source of 2/3 A cells, check out ProMatch's website(www.promatchracing.com), they have truly EXCELLENT cells & they offer them as either single cells(so you can build packs in any way you need) or as complete, assembled packs of 5 or 6 cells. Oh, & you can also mount those packs onto the chassis with industrial strength Velcro, it's a tight fit, but it works nicely(that's how I mount mine).....:cool:

[MicroMan]

I built a pack like that myself and it works great. If you're stuck on those kind of packs than have fun, but here are 2 more ideas,

1: Go buy one of those TYCO 6.0v toy rc car cells, they fit perfect into the micro chassis without belt rubbing, or

2: Find an old cell phone battery and take the plastic shell off of it, you can use all of the right connecters and the two cells fit right into the chassis lengthwise, they don't even stick out far enough for the belt to rub on them. When people ask you what you're running under there (Nimh or Nicad) you can shake you're head and say "Lithium Ion."