Are these decent Saber batteries for the price?

redbeard · Post by **redbeard** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:49 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/2700mAh-BATTERY-for ... dZViewItem

If not who do you recommend?

Thanks.

Post by **escomm** » Fri May 05, 2006 1:14 pm

60 day warranty speaks for itself. Obviously the manufacturer does not expect them to last very long. OEM or nothing for me

jnglmassiv · Post by **jnglmassiv** » Fri May 05, 2006 2:02 pm

Whoa.

I just bought this exact item. It just arrived today and is sitting on the charger as I type. I'll do what I can to evaluate it over the next few days and report back here. The real test will be at Dayton!

redbeard · Post by **redbeard** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:25 pm

jnglmassiv wrote:Whoa.

I just bought this exact item. It just arrived today and is sitting on the charger as I type. I'll do what I can to evaluate it over the next few days and report back here. The real test will be at Dayton!

Yeah Dayton is coming and I need batteries. I would rather go Ni-MH than Ni-Cd for the typical reasons.

I think the 60 day warranty is maybe a little short, but hey its 25 bucks so I guess it's a trade off.

va3wxm · Post by **va3wxm** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:44 pm

I'm more of a fan of NiCd simply because they can take the rapid current draws that you get when you key up better than NiMH.

These ones look like NOS:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Motorola-Saber-Radio ... dZViewItem

jnglmassiv · Post by **jnglmassiv** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:10 am

va3wxm wrote:I'm more of a fan of NiCd simply because they can take the rapid current draws that you get when you key up better than NiMH.

Can you elaborate on this?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:27 am

Anderson is an ok brand of battery. I had some for my MT1000's that were excellent performers. I haven't used one of their Saber batteries but they probably use the same brand of cells for each model they produce.

va3wxm · Post by **va3wxm** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:57 pm

jnglmassiv wrote:
va3wxm wrote:I'm more of a fan of NiCd simply because they can take the rapid current draws that you get when you key up better than NiMH.
Can you elaborate on this?

We had a lecture at a club meeting one night from a battery expert who admitted that, yes, while NiMH's had more capacity than NiCd they self-discharge quicker and don't deliver as much "demand" current due to their higher internal resistance.

A quick Google search turned up:

http://www.servocity.com/html/nicad_vs_ ... eries.html

The last paragraph is telling: "We highly recommend NiMH batteries in applications that call for long duration but not a high amp load... aircraft with very large servos that pull a lot of amps... we recommend using NiCAD for best results."

Plus you rarely see NiMH's in cordless power tool applications for the same reason: their higher internal resistance limits the maximum current they can deliver at an instant. Draw too much and they will overheat to perhaps do nasty things!

LiON's are an entirely different chemistry and can't really be compared.

3-SAM-12 · Post by **3-SAM-12** » Sat May 06, 2006 1:52 pm

I should have the below models in stock at work, I will have to check stock on monday. check out our site http://www.copquest.com If you have any questions please call me on my cell at 805-290-7942

Chris

1300 mAh:
NiCd Our Price $39.95
Retail Price: $44.10
No. 61-1000-000
1800 mAh:

NiCd Our Price $44.95
Retail Price: $49.95
No. 61-1001-000
2000 mAh:

NiMH Our Price $40.95
Retail Price: $45.00
No. 61-1002-000
2150 mAh:

NiMH Our Price $53.95
Retail Price: $59.75
No. 61-1003-000

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:01 pm

While on this subject, I admit to not having a good handle on battery chemistry and care.

I know they say not to charge one type in the charger for the other. So charging NiMH in a NiCad charger is bad for whatever reason. But now that so many batteries coming out are NiMH, how do we charge them?

Example. I have a Visar. The charger says right on it it can be used for either battery. And I have an NiMH and it charges and works just fine. But my Jedi rapid charger doesn't say anything about NiMH so if I buy one of the NiMH batteries, how do I charge it?

Just one of many things I don't understand. Any help? Thanks!

Post by **batdude** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:32 pm

one word guys.

IMPRES

WPLN4111

worth every single penny you spend on it - and they're around $125 new from M.

charges Jedi, Saber / Astro Saber and 3000/5000 batts.

Tri-chemistry - does NICD, NIMH and LION

and does IMPRES batts too.

best charger EVER. (period)

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sat May 06, 2006 4:59 pm

The main difference is that NiCD chargers usually charge at a higher rate, more current, than a NiMH charger. If you can reduce the charge rate in the current NiCD charger to match the rate recommended for the NiMH then your ok.

For example, on the Genesis and Saber series of quick chargers you can swap out resistor values to change the charge current to the battery and make them NiMH safe, they will still work for NiCD's but the time needed will be increased because you reduced the current. Not such a bad deal anyhow since it will keep from cooking the NiCD's as well.

Bottom line, charging current provided by the charger is the reason they say that. You can put a NiCD in most NiMH chargers without a problem, but put a NiMH in a NiCD charger and it gets warm or even hot from the higher charge current.

RFguy · Post by **RFguy** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:39 pm

I would rather go Ni-MH than Ni-Cd for the typical reasons

Higher price and shorter service life?

RFguy · Post by **RFguy** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:52 pm

As for not using a Ni-Cad charger for a Ni-MH battery a visa versa:

I believe the issue is more of a problem charging a Ni-MH battery with a charger intended for Ni-Cad batteries.

A typical Ni-Cad charger is either a regular rate or a rapid rate. Generally either type charges the battery at a constant trickle charge (after the rapid charge cycle for the rapid charge style). Generally the trickle charge is a constant current at about 0.1C (10% of the battery capacity rating).

Ni-MH batteries do NOT do well with trickle charge. They must be very carefully monitored to temperature and generally use a pulse type charge after the initial rapid charge stage.

Newer chargers (Motorola calls them Tri-Chemistry) will detect the battery type and charge accordingly.

Conclusion: Only use a charger that specifically indicates that it is compatible with the type of battery that you wish to charge.