Every RC hobbyist wants a battery pack that gives more out of each charge and a long runtime. So using a high-power rechargeable battery like Traxxas for your RC vehicles will help achieve optimum performance, making for a truly fun and enjoyable experience. But how long does a Traxxas battery last?
A Traxxas battery generally lasts 20 to 40 minutes before it needs to be recharged. It also typically gives you 500 to 1,000 charge cycles before it needs to be replaced. The battery’s exact runtime and lifespan will depend on what type of battery it is and how hard you drive your RC vehicle.
Traxxas has LiPo and NiMH batteries, and we will talk about the pros and cons of each type in this article, including how long each one lasts. We will also discuss the different factors that affect the battery’s runtime and lifespan. This way, you will be able to get the right Traxxas battery for your RC vehicle.
Traxxas LiPo vs. NiMH Batteries
Traxxas has two types of rechargeable batteries: LiPo or lithium-ion polymer batteries and NiMH or nickel-metal hydride batteries.
NiMH batteries have longer charge/discharge cycles compared to LiPo batteries. More specifically, you can recharge your LiPo batteries 300 to 500 times before you will need to replace them. Meanwhile, NiMH batteries will last you about 1,000 charge cycles.
When it comes to which type of battery can last longer on a full charge, it’s the LiPo that takes the cake. Traxxas NiMH batteries with a full charge typically give your RC vehicle a runtime of 15 to 20 minutes before they need to be recharged. LiPo batteries, on the other hand, give you 45 minutes to one hour of runtime.
This YouTube video explains the run time on Traxxas batteries further:
The charging times between the two also vary. NiMH batteries take around 45 minutes to fully charge, while LiPo batteries take one hour to one and a half hours to charge.
What this means is that NiMH and LiPo batteries have their own benefits. An NiMH has at least twice the lifespan of a LiPo. However, a LiPo gives you at least three times the runtime of an NiMH. As such, if you need to pick between the two, get the one that gives you what you need according to your priority.
Understanding Battery Specs
We know that batteries are not universal, but gone are the days when all you needed to find out is what battery size to get and to make sure it fits into whatever device or gadget you’re using it for.
Now, there are different types of batteries with different specs. Understanding the specifications of a battery will help you know what you can get out of it and how long you can expect it to last.
According to Traxxas’ site, the main specs you need to consider when picking a battery are voltage and capacity.
Battery Voltage
Voltage in a battery is determined by the number of cells included in the pack. It tells you how much power and speeds your battery will lend to your RC vehicle or your device in general.
But while the more voltage your battery has, the faster your RC vehicle will go, it doesn’t always follow that going for the highest voltage available is the best option. A battery can have more voltage than what a device’s power system is able to take.
NiMH batteries have cylindrical 1.2-volt cells. Traxxas NiMH battery packs come in 6-cell (7.2 volts), 7-cell (8.4 volts), and 8-cell (9.6 volts) variants. LiPo batteries, on the other hand, are made up of flat-shaped 3.7-volt cells. And Traxxas LiPo battery packs come in 2-cell (7.4 volts), 3-cell (11.1 volts), and 4-cell (14.8 volts) variants.
Battery Capacity
Meanwhile, capacity is the amount of energy that is stored inside the battery and tells you how long the battery will run on a full charge. It is expressed in milliamp hours or mAh, which number refers to how much current in milliamps your battery can supply your device or gadget for one hour. Just keep in mind that the higher this capacity number is, the longer your battery will run on a single charge.
However, there is a downside to batteries with a large capacity. Their charge time will increase in proportion to their runtime. So, if you get 20 percent additional runtime, your battery will also take 20 percent longer to charge. For example, for a 5000mAh battery, getting three to four minutes more runtime means 16 minutes additional charging time.
So when it comes to the question of how long a Traxxas battery will last, the capacity of your battery pack will be a good indicator, too.
Factors That Affect Traxxas Battery Runtime
The type of Traxxas battery you use and its capacity will give you an idea of how long it’s going to run on a full charge.
For example, a standard 8.4-volt Traxxas NiMH battery pack, which is typically around 3,000mAhs, will give your RC vehicle about 20 minutes of runtime. But some users report enjoying up to 40 minutes of runtime on a single charge if they don’t drive their RC vehicle too hard.
As such, there are other factors that affect your RC battery’s runtime. The way you drive your RC vehicle, the kind of surface you drive on, and the power your RC vehicle’s engine is using all affect runtime.
So, even if you have the same RC vehicle with exactly the same fully charged Traxxas battery as the next guy, and even if you start driving your RCs at the same time, your battery juice won’t run out at the same exact second. Your driving style and how you maneuver your RC vehicle through the terrain will make all the difference.
How Long Does a Traxxas Battery Last?
The length of your battery’s acceptable performance or how long it lasts before you need to replace it with a new one is typically measured in charge/discharge cycles. It is also called lifespan or lifetime. And it could mean the amount of time you could use your battery until it falls to 80 percent of its total capacity.
Traxxas batteries may be known for their power and longevity, but like all other battery brands, they also wear out with use and with age. And if you take really good care of your Traxxas batteries, you may be able to get more from them and extend their lifespan. This means proper storage and proper charging practices.
Additionally, Traxxas LiPo batteries lose most of their capacity with age, except in cases of heavy usage. But in terms of their charge/discharge cycles, you can charge them anywhere between 300 to 500 times before you need to retire them and get new ones. And generally, with average use, these LiPo batteries could last up to two years.
Meanwhile, Traxxas NiMH batteries can be charged up to 1,000 times. However, this number of charge/discharge cycles will still vary depending on how you use the batteries, how you charge them, and how you store them. Caring for your NiMH batteries ensures that they last considerably longer than if you didn’t.
How To Get Your Battery’s Maximum Lifespan
To enjoy the most out of your Traxxas batteries and slow down their degradation, make sure to store them in a cool and dry place. They also need to have a 40-percent charge or battery juice left before you store them.
Proper charging also helps preserve your batteries’ life. Charge them slowly, and don’t overcharge them. Different types of batteries also have different reactions to charging and discharging.
For example, lithium batteries are composed of 3.7-volt cells, so when they have 4.2 volts on each cell, they have been fully charged. And when they have a voltage of 3.0 volts on each cell, they have been fully discharged. Thus, you need to make sure you don’t exceed the high voltage limit or go below the low voltage limit so as not to damage your battery.
LiPo batteries deliver power output in a linear way, so when there is a decrease in voltage, there’s also a decrease in power. In such a case, you won’t be able to use the engine until you recharge your batteries.
Safe Discharging
The discharge cycle of your rechargeable battery describes the process it takes for all its stored energy to be used up.
Your batteries have a discharge rate and it refers to how quickly they can be discharged safely. The discharge rate is called the C rating. Whatever number is followed by the C refers to the number of hours in which you can discharge the battery safely. So, a battery with a 1-C discharge rating means that you can discharge it safely in one hour.
Traxxas Batteries Can Last Up to 40 Minutes
Traxxas batteries for your RC vehicles typically last 20 to 40 minutes before they need to be recharged, with LiPo batteries having a longer runtime than NiMH batteries.
However, when it comes to how long Traxxas batteries can be used before you need to replace them with new ones, it’s the NiMH batteries that last longer. NiMH batteries last up to 1,000 charge/discharge cycles while LiPo batteries last 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles.
Aside from battery type, the way you drive your RC, the terrain you drive on, and your RC’s engine also affect how long your battery lasts.