How are the evolites working for you 500s?

[Big Fil]

OK it's new battery time. My struggle is whether or not to stick with the Evo 5000 packs which have treated me well or go with the Evolite 5350. How are these doing on high demand power systems like the 1300kv Hacker 8L and the Plattenberg setups. I know these draw quite a bit more than the more common 10L setups so i'm just looking for some opinions from people that have run them and run em hard. My 2500 evolites have been great and prefer them to the 2170s but am wondering if that translates the same on the big packs.

Thanks

[OICU812]

They are equal imho, only issue is they do not fit as good height wise. Its abit tight for the O-Rings and your fingers to get in there for sure. Abuse wise they hold as well, the cells of course are abit larger.

[BruceW]

Interesting that you bring this up now.

One of my EVO Lite 5350s started to puff (top cell) last week and was running hotter at the end of my flights over the last two weeks (154F). The other is running hot also but has not started to puff but is probably close to end of life. Each one has 82 and 80 flights. That seems like a short number of uses but it is over 4-5 months. Not sure what the half-life of a EVO25 5000 is but if its between 100 & 150 flights I will be switching over.

All my batteries have never been run over 80% and I always put back 4200->3700mA for 5:30-5:50 flight time. Over the last month I've only been putting back 3800-3900mAh for the same flight time so that is an indication of reduced punch (and I can feel it). I've reduced my flight time to 5:20 to try and keep temps down. When the batteries were new they were running about 110F after the flight.

Recently I switched over to the Bantam BC-610 charger and it seems to be sensitive to packs that have an increasing internal resistance. On the pack going bad, it will not complete the balance/charge cycle and needs to be manually terminated. 2/3 of the charges were done on the Astroflight 109 and I've heard that it is rough on batteries so I'm not sure if that contributed to the shorter life I'm seeing.

Overall it looks like you can expect 80+ flights out of the battery so you'll need to judge the cost per flight and see if it is worth it. It will be interesting to hear from others as well but a new 5350 will be here next week so I'll start logging that one and see what happens.

On another note - I started running the EVOLite 3S 2100 V2 on my TRex450 and it has more punch than my 2500s (V1) did when they were new. It now performs close to the one in Bert K.s video with the Scorpion HK-2221-6 /11T. Flight time is 5:00 and putting back ~1680mAh. Pack is slightly warm at end of flight. Too bad there is not an V2 of the 5350 coming out.

[Big Fil]

Hmm that's good to know Bruce. I've ran a few 5000 packs now and between my Logo and trex600 they each have an easy 100-150 cycles on them each. Power is a bit down but they still perform well. Starting to think maybe I should just stick with my 5000 packs.

Shawn, didn't even think of the o ring issue although it wouldn't be a biggie to run some straps like I do on my rex.

[Flybar-less]

When I ran 6S, the 25C 4900 was the only pack that would hold up under hot days and hard flying. The Evolites work well in small helis or 8S and 10S configs. My last 6S Evolite 5350 was temped at 170F after 3 minutes. The evolites are all I fly in 430 size 6S,
or 8S and 10S for 600s and 700s sized helis.

[Mercuriell]

I've been really happy with my FP 5000 long packs and TP 5000 V2 - fit well and deliver the goods without working up too much of a sweat !

[BruceW]

I solved the o-ring issue by attaching zip ties and using them to pull the ring through the frame and attach it. Makes a great handle. They are tight over the 5350 but they stretch out fairly soon and I've got a supply of o-rings from the local specialty shop that are much cheaper than the Mikado brand. $3 for 4.

[itsparks]

I love my FP 5000's, I hope i get more than 150 flights, im already at 15 flights. Only been hovering and stuff so yeah..

[Flybar-less]

Yeah, the 5000s are great too. I forgot about them. I think they fit the Logo better then the 4900.

[BruceW]

Got a replacement EVO Lite 5350 in the mail yesterday from Flightpower yesterday for half price. Can't beat the customer support that they provide. From what I've heard, if this was a TP I think I would still be on the phone discussing the problem.

I guess this is why all my active batteries are Flightpower.

[Flybar-less]

Flight Power has the best service!

[LJS]

Hi All,

I'm glad you're getting good service from Flight Power because I'm flying the 8S 4270s in my 600E.

But with regard to Thunder Power service, I've been very impressed. Last year I bought three TP5000 packs. I had a lockout failure and my Swift went in on the nose and smashed the battery. Thunder Power replaced it free of charge (I'm not sure why, but I've learned not to look a gift horse in the mouth).

I did a lot of flying last year, and ran each of the three batteries to just over 100 cycles. Each of them failed about that point. And Thunder Power replaced each of them free of charge -- no questions asked. I've got more helis now, so they don't get as much use. As it happens, I'm still flying them this year in my Logo 500 3D. So I paid for three batteries but got seven. I think you'll agree that that's good service too.:thumbup:

I would have gone with Thunder Power again this year, but they didn't have an 8S brick that would fit my 600E. I guess you can't go wrong with FP or TP.

Keep 'em flying.:YeaBaby:
LJS

[helicraze]

flybarless how did you manage to do that to the pack??? I have ploughed into the ground a few times and had my heli it itself in the air but never damaged the lipo more than the heatshrink or a tiny dent!
Thats crazy

[Mercuriell]

flybarless how did you manage to do that to the pack??? I have ploughed into the ground a few times and had my heli it itself in the air but never damaged the lipo more than the heatshrink or a tiny dent!
Thats crazy

You're just not trying hard enough :arggg: - a late pullout from a vertical knife-edge should do the trick :YeaBaby:

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Flight Power has the best service!

You really tocoed that pack.

[Flybar-less]

Believe it or not, that was a bad 180 auto in 25+ mph winds. When I finished the turn I accidentally rolled into the wind, instant blade stop at about 300 feet..