New 480 2s/3s and the new "gen 2-lites" are finally in stock...

[GGoodrum]

The mighty 480-2SJ and 480-3SJ packs are finally in stock, as are everything else with the exception of the 1320-3S packs. In addition, a full selection of 6000 and 8000 packs made with the new "gen2-lite" cells are now in stock. These packs have almost identical power curves as the original gen2s, but they weigh about 10-13% less. They are also extremely reliable, and are so well matched that external balancers seem to make them less balance than if they were just left alone!

In work is a new mulit-pin connector for these packs that will serve the same "center-tap" function long sought after by many in this group. This connector will be used with a new charging "widget" that will externally do the charging protection function. This widget will also provide an automatic cell balancing function, and will automatically work with any TP pack that has the new multipin connector (eventually all packs 4000 mAh and above...). The new g2-lite packs being offered now can be modified to add this new connector later, for a small fee to cover costs.

At this time, 6000 and 8000 versions of the g2-lites are available. New 4000 versions will come in a month or so, and will be the first ones that have the new connector pre-installed. The charging "widget" will go for about $25-$30, and will be available soon thereafter.

Gary Goodrum
TPpacks.com

[Bill Mixon]

Gary,
Is there any way to differentiate a G2 Lite from a G2?

[GGoodrum]

Yes, I should have pointed out that the new g2-lites have a grey stripe in the label instead of yellow.

-- Gary

[RC Man]

Is it true that the G2-lites have higher IR and less power?

Are the old G2 cells discontinued? I have a 4s3p pack that I want to use in a 8s3p helicopter so I will need something that will match my existing pack.

Or can I mix G2 and G2-lite in the same helicopter?

[GGoodrum]

I think the IR is very close and it has at least as much burst power as the older g2s.
Where the original g2s were a bit better is for the 4000/2p packs so the mixture will be adjusted slightly to make the power curves more closely match. The 4200s, however, are far stronger than either version of the 4000s.

For 6000s and 8000s, I could not find any significant differences between the two, and I have FDR data for about 30 flights.

You could use one of each in series but you would need to charge them separately and I would be careful not to discharge them down to low. Alternately, you could probably still find some older g2 4s3p packs somewhere. I think espritmodels.com still carries them.

-- Gary