Question on combining Smart G2 and a Non-G2" batteries in an 6S Arrma R/C

[Arrmaximus]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the R/C world and I have a question about the Smart batteries.
I recently purchased a 1/7 FELONY 6S BLX Street Bash and it needs two batteries.
I ordered a Spektrum Smart G2 3s 100c on amazon but I received a "non-G2" Instead.
Amazon is offering me a 30$ gift card for the issue.
Now my question, If I order a G2 battery, can I mix G2 and non-G2 batteries in the same R/C?
Both will have the same specs, 100C 5000mah 3s.
Thank you for helping a newby.
Cheers

 

[Diem Turner]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the R/C world and I have a question about the Smart batteries.
I recently purchased a 1/7 FELONY 6S BLX Street Bash and it needs two batteries.
I ordered a Spektrum Smart G2 3s 100c on amazon but I received a "non-G2" Instead.
Amazon is offering me a 30$ gift card for the issue.
Now my question, If I order a G2 battery, can I mix G2 and non-G2 batteries in the same R/C?
Both will have the same specs, 100C 5000mah 3s.
Thank you for helping a newby.
Cheers

Welcome to the forum
Yes, you can mix those without any issue. The only thing that probably won't work is the display of the battery level on the transmitter, but that's not terribly important. The car will just stop driving once you hit Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC).

 

[Arrmaximus]

Welcome to the forum
Yes, you can mix those without any issue. The only thing that probably won't work is the display of the battery level on the transmitter, but that's not terribly important. The car will just stop driving once you hit Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC).

Thank you for the reply.
It brings me to my next question; Will the one G2 will show battery level?

 

[Diem Turner]

Thank you for the reply.
It brings me to my next question; Will the one G2 will show battery level?

Anytime man. Any question you have, you can be sure someone here will have an answer for you. There's loads of really knowledgeable fellas on here on just about any topic you can think of from RC to just about anything else.

Honestly, I'm not sure. You'll have to try that out. I never had any Spektrum batteries, SMART or otherwise so I can't say with certainty as I'm not sure how or where the data is read from the batteries and transmitted to your Tx. But like said, while it might be an somewhat useful feature, you'll find yourself knowing how far run down your batteries are simply by how your car sounds and how it's performing after a few packs. But definitely give it a go. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[Xpress..]

Your Spektrum transmitter will show the 2 batteries on separate screens if you use 2, 3S packs. It is perfectly fine to use a mix.

 

[Arrmaximus]

Anytime man. Any question you have, you can be sure someone here will have an answer for you. There's loads of really knowledgeable fellas on here on just about any topic you can think of from RC to just about anything else.

Honestly, I'm not sure. You'll have to try that out. I never had any Spektrum batteries, SMART or otherwise so I can't say with certainty as I'm not sure how or where the data is read from the batteries and transmitted to your Tx. But like said, while it might be an somewhat useful feature, you'll find yourself knowing how far run down your batteries are simply by how your car sounds and how it's performing after a few packs. But definitely give it a go. What's the worst that can happen?

Thank you for the heads-up. I will have many more questions in the near future. By the way I checked your youtube speedrun... and man, that thing is fast! 200km/h+ is nuts! Cheers

Your Spektrum transmitter will show the 2 batteries on separate screens if you use 2, 3S packs. It is perfectly fine to use a mix.

Awesome. Appreciate the answer.

 

[slick2500]

One thing to note is that you should never mix old and new batteries. Now I'm not talking about a battery that you've had for a week with 3 cycles on it but a battery that you have had for a few months with 2-3 dozen cycles on it. If the old battery is still fairly fresh you will be fine. It is best to check the internal resistance of the cells on both packs before running them in series.

-edit- them being a different series has me a bit worried as well as the first Gen Smart batteries weren't as good as the new ones.

 

[Diem Turner]

It's probably worth emphasizing that when we're talking about the "age" of a battery, we're speaking in terms of charge/discharge cycles and not about the passage of time. You can leave a lipo at storage voltage laying on a shelf for years and not incur any significant degradation of the cells. But take that same lipo and charge/discharge it 100x in a month or leave it laying around fully charged or allow the voltage per cell to drop below 3V...that battery will be a lot "older" than the one that's been sitting idle for two or three years.

 

[slick2500]

It's probably worth emphasizing that when we're talking about the "age" of a battery, we're speaking in terms of charge/discharge cycles and not about the passage of time. You can leave a lipo at storage voltage laying on a shelf for years and not incur any significant degradation of the cells. But take that same lipo and charge/discharge it 100x in a month or leave it laying around fully charged or allow the voltage per cell to drop below 3V...that battery will be a lot "older" than the one that's been sitting idle for two or three years.

I really should have said used and not old.

 

[Arrmaximus]

One thing to note is that you should never mix old and new batteries. Now I'm not talking about a battery that you've had for a week with 3 cycles on it but a battery that you have had for a few months with 2-3 dozen cycles on it. If the old battery is still fairly fresh you will be fine. It is best to check the internal resistance of the cells on both packs before running them in series.

-edit- them being a different series has me a bit worried as well as the first Gen Smart batteries weren't as good as the new ones.

Thank you. So that means I should not mix G2 and non-G2 battery. Got it

 

[slick2500]

Thank you. So that means I should not mix G2 and non-G2 battery. Got it

Being as you ordered it on Amazon it should be an easy return.

-edit- Ope I just remembered they offered you a gift card instead.

 

[Arrmaximus]

Being as you ordered it on Amazon it should be an easy return.

-edit- Ope I just remembered they offered you a gift card instead.

Yeah, it was a used battery "very good condition" from the amazon warehouse. Basicaly it's a return and It is brand new but the spektrum seal was broken. The original Spektrum clear tape is still attached to the wire and battery.
I paid 90$CAN for it. With the 30$ gift card, it's 60$... I think it's worth keeping and get another G2.
I will use the non G2 for a single 3s RC. I'm thinking about the Losi Baja 1/10 which require a 3s. It is on sale. 200$ less.
Thanks for the answer.
Sorry for my broken english, i'm french canadian.
Cheers

 

[slick2500]

Yeah, it was a used battery "very good condition" from the amazon warehouse. Basicly it's a return and It is brand new but the spektrum seal was broken. The original Spektrum clear tape is still attached to the wire and battery.
I paid 90$CAN for it. With the 30$ gift card, it's 60$... I think it's worth keeping and get another G2.
I will use the non G2 for a single 3s RC. I'm thinking about the Losi Baja 1/10 which require a 3s. It is on sale. 200$ less.
Thanks for the answer.
Sorry for my broken english, i'm french canadian.
Cheers

I took a year and a half of French in high school, the only thing I can remember is Je ne parle pas francais.