what is a "zapped" pack?

[Needler56]

what is a "zapped" pack? is it better to have a zapped 4300 mah nimh or a matched 4200 mah nimh pack?

[cooleocool]

I'd take the matched. The "zapped" just means increased voltage and such...

[evst 360]

A zapped pack has been zapped to increase voltage. I think. Go with the matched 4200. The zapped pack will have that slow power drop that cheap "bash" packs have.

[Needler56]

would this apply to a brushless system as well?

[evst 360]

??? do you mean a zapped brushless system? I do not think that exists. But these batteries can be used with a brushless system.

[pjerry]

yeah man zapped is only for batterys. its a way to increase each batteries voltage. i dont know what you mean by a zapped brushless system, unless its a company or something like that

[Needler56]

??? do you mean a zapped brushless system? I do not think that exists. But these batteries can be used with a brushless system.

let me rephrase, what would be better, more mah, but unmatched or slightly less mah, but matched for a brushless system.

[evst 360]

It depends. If you are racing, go with the matched. If you are just driving around for fun (bashing), matched batteries are not necessary. Some people just get the matched packs anyway, for less power drop. But for backyard stuff, unmatched and zapped would be the best.

[cr250]

... But for backyard stuff, unmatched and zapped would be the best.
Why? :confused:

[evst 360]

Because it would cost less and matched batteries are not needed. You pay more to get cells that are the same voltage, so that they do not slowly lose their "punch" and can perform like a new pack even in the middle of the race. This is not a necessity when bashing, for you are just driving around, and that "new pack punch" is not required. Some bashers like to have matched packs, but it is a waste of money in my opinion.

[Grizzbob]

Right, & just FYI, zapping is normally a part of the matching process for most companies that match cells, so in most cases, matched packs have cells that hae aleady been zapped..... :cool:

[cr250]

Because it would cost less and matched batteries are not needed. You pay more to get cells that are the same voltage, so that they do not slowly lose their "punch" and can perform like a new pack even in the middle of the race. This is not a necessity when bashing, for you are just driving around, and that "new pack punch" is not required. Some bashers like to have matched packs, but it is a waste of money in my opinion.
To each their own. :)

[TEM]

Zapping??? Zapping means they take a cell and apply a voltage spike to it, usually a capacitor discharge. This spike (impulse) causes momentary stress on the cells chemicals. This stress helps break down the crystalline structure that forms in the chemicals. It should reduce internal resistance of the cells.

[Demon-TC3]

yes and reducing the internal resistance increases the voltage.

And as someone says, i HIGHLY doubt a manufacturer will actually zap but not match a pack...wouldnt make sence...ive seen companys match but not Zap....

a Zapped pack will mean you have lots of punch and higher speeds, a matched pack will meen your battery can maintain the optimum speed and punch for longer so you wont lose torque after about 30 seconds of racing due to a single cell runnng out fast...

if your a basher, normal, non matched non zapped will be fine. unless ur picky and want it all..if your club beginer you want matched, if your club pro or better u want zapped and matched.

I personally am using Maxamps 4k's matched and zapped and they are sweeet (i put myself in the club intermadiate-pro section of the board)


Oh and one last thing, Zapped brushless does exist, basically the magnets are zapped on the armature to return strength lost to heat. but thats a COMPLETELY different process with coinsidently the same name.

[lferguson]

Don't get either! I know I might take flak for this comment but honestly. A matched pack is a waste of $$ if you are not in very very closly matched compition with others.

[microrcdude]

Yes lferguson is right, matched packs are more for competition and they DO NOT last as long (total charges wise) as unmatched packs.

[Demon-TC3]

yea as a basher an off the shelf pack willa actualy cost about 15 bucks..whereas a matched or zapped is about double to tripple that..so just buy unmatched..but more of em!

seriously for a basher you wont notice the difference.

[lferguson]

Ok I am going to ask a really dumb question here. I am really new to the RC car worls. I am coming in from FE boats.. What is a basher? Just a sport runner?

[ElectricThunder]

Zapping??? Zapping means they take a cell and apply a voltage spike to it, usually a capacitor discharge. This spike (impulse) causes momentary stress on the cells chemicals. This stress helps break down the crystalline structure that forms in the chemicals. It should reduce internal resistance of the cells.
Correct, except zapping sometimes "spot welds" the internals of some cells (this is why zapping doesn't work for some cells as well, the internal components won't "weld" together). This "welding" helps to cut down on IR, thus allowing a higher voltage to be achieved (voltage is not wasted trying to overcome the higher internal resistance).

Matched is great if you can afford them, but if you don't race, I wouldn't see a reason why you couldn't go with an unmatched pack. I use GP3300s from Radio Shack (in stick pack form none-the-less) on my MM5700. They work wonderfully, and I get about 8-10 minutes of runtime geared pretty agressively.

[Demon-TC3]

Ok I am going to ask a really dumb question here. I am really new to the RC car worls. I am coming in from FE boats.. What is a basher? Just a sport runner?

Hehe not a dumb question at all...basher means basically your bashing your car about for no reason...so..bashing.
basically people who just play arround, no racing or anything.

[ElectricThunder]

Ok I am going to ask a really dumb question here. I am really new to the RC car worls. I am coming in from FE boats.. What is a basher? Just a sport runner?
One who doesn't race. I don't race; I bash my vehicles (which makes for some really cool wrecks sometimes!). Anyone ever seen a TT-01 get 3 feet off the ground?:D

[Demon-TC3]

i threw one out of a window once..so yes....

just kiddin, thats fairly impressive...isnt it a touring car :P

[ElectricThunder]

i threw one out of a window once..so yes....

just kiddin, thats fairly impressive...isnt it a touring car :P
Yeah, it's a touring car. I accidentally hit a reflector square in the middle of the road at WOT....:D I wish I could have gotten it on camera, it just was one of those "Wow...my screw up actually looked cool" kinda moments.

[Neon_Dave]

^^^ :D Nice...

I ran over a sewer once at almost top speed with my micro RS4 when I had the 540 setup in it, and it did a combination of rolls and flips (I counted 18! :D) and landed on the wheels and careened into a nearby curb. Considerable damage there... :p

I've also seen a touring car wheelie... my friend's TC4 w/ GTB 5.5 when it ran over a rock and the front end bounced upwards

Good times, good times... :D

[Demon-TC3]

ive seen Josh cyrul (is that how its spelt?) jump his house....ok i didnt actually see it but saw a video...its still cool!

:P

[ElectricThunder]

ive seen Josh cyrul (is that how its spelt?) jump his house....ok i didnt actually see it but saw a video...its still cool!

:P
Yeah, that was pretty wild. He cheated though...he used a ramp.:D

[lferguson]

Holy crap you guys want to hear impressive. My buddy just his TT-01 a few days ago. We drove it off the 5.5 foot loading dock at work tonight... And it didn't brake a thing!!!! I am going to have to get video

[ElectricThunder]

Holy crap you guys want to hear impressive. My buddy just his TT-01 a few days ago. We drove it off the 5.5 foot loading dock at work tonight... And it didn't brake a thing!!!! I am going to have to get video
They're pretty stout. Tamiyas and Traxxas stuff are tough to break from my experiences.:D

Does he have the stock shocks on it (ya know...the ones that make it bounce all over the place and bottom out)...:p

[Demon-TC3]

If using a ramp is cheating and wrong then i dont want to be right! :teacher:

Hehe still a tamiya jumping 5.5 foot...those things have the most rigid chassis ever...ABS...b carewfull though cos rather than cracking tamiya chassis shatter!