Hello, I need to buy some 3S and 5S Lipos, and/or 4S and 6S A123s. Individual A123 cells are fine.

These days, where is the cheapest place to buy lipos and A123s?

Thanks
Jim

Originally Posted by cloud_9

Hello, I need to buy some 3S and 5S Lipos, and/or 4S and 6S A123s. Individual A123 cells are fine.

These days, where is the cheapest place to buy lipos and A123s?

Thanks
Jim

Hobby King- USA warehouse are the "cheapest".

Dennis

You're going to have to give a bit more details on requirements. By cheapest do you mean absolute cheapest even if the lowest quality? Or does quality matter? By A123 cells do you mean actual A123 Systems cells or knock offs?

Originally Posted by grimbeaver

You're going to have to give a bit more details on requirements. By cheapest do you mean absolute cheapest even if the lowest quality? Or does quality matter? By A123 cells do you mean actual A123 Systems cells or knock offs?

Whew, I didn't know there was different lipo quality. Can you say how one knows and when it matters? I mean, what do you get with good quality that you don't get with bad? I just need batteries to fly my trainer and maybe glider.

As for A123s I don't know. I've been gone from the hobby 5 years and that was when A123s from Dewalts were really big. If those are not still around, is there something equivalent?

Thanks!
Jim

There are no lithium iron phosphate cells that come anywhere near to A123 Systems 26650 cells. The K2 Energy are close, but not really worth it.

Voltman and EP Buddy, both in Ohio still have A123 2300mAh cells at a somewhat reasonable price, but not all that great.

Originally Posted by grimbeaver

You're going to have to give a bit more details on requirements. By cheapest do you mean absolute cheapest even if the lowest quality? Or does quality matter? By A123 cells do you mean actual A123 Systems cells or knock offs?

Whew, I didn't know there was different lipo quality. Can you say how one knows and when it matters? I mean, what do you get with good quality that you don't get with bad? I just need batteries to fly my trainer and maybe glider.

As for A123s I don't know. I've been gone from the hobby 5 years and that was when A123s from Dewalts were really big. If those are not still around, is there something equivalent?

Thanks!
Jim

Dewalt stopped using them a long time ago. Very very few people using them as flight packs as lipo is much cheaper and ligher weight. They are mostly just used for receiver/ignition packs in gas planes now. Genuine A123 is very hard to come by these days so they are not cheap. There really is nothing equivalent either. You can get lifepo4 prismatic cell packs from many vendors but they are not quite the same.

People will argue to no end about what lipo is better then another. If you want good customer service and reasonable price from a US company buy both your A123 and Lipo from EPBuddy. Another good US Lipo source would be ValueHobby. Also China Hobby Line is a relativly new comer and has a US warehouse and reports of customer service and quality have been good.

Originally Posted by cloud_9

Hello, I need to buy some 3S and 5S Lipos, and/or 4S and 6S A123s. Individual A123 cells are fine.

These days, where is the cheapest place to buy lipos and A123s?

Thanks
Jim

I am a convert. Have had excellent results:

http://chinahobbyline.com/

Thanks everyone for the updating, and the great links. I checked prices, and chinahobbyline looks good, esp. when shipping should be cheaper and faster with the US warehouse. Thanks!
Jim

Originally Posted by cloud_9

Thanks everyone for the updating, and the great links. I checked prices, and chinahobbyline looks good, esp. when shipping should be cheaper and faster with the US warehouse. Thanks!
Jim

I believe shipping is still free?

Originally Posted by 3rd Try

Hobby King- USA warehouse are the "cheapest".

Dennis

I agree Hobbyking.com has the best quality for your money. They have a huge stock to choose from.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...figuration.asp


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Originally Posted by RC Man

I agree Hobbyking.com has the best quality for your money. They have a huge stock to choose from.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...figuration.asp


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Thanks, it seems like they are on a par with ChinaHobbyLine, maybe a little higher with CHL's free shipping.

Body, it's a shame that great search tool on your link does not show prices!!

Originally Posted by RC Man

I agree Hobbyking.com has the best quality for your money. They have a huge stock to choose from.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...figuration.asp


.

I know a large number of people who will disagree with you. But to each his own.

Originally Posted by grimbeaver

I know a large number of people who will disagree with you. But to each his own.

Just relaying personal experience. I have many batteries from HK and have only had one problem that was quickly corrected. SO for me they have been the most bang for my buck.


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Just ordered a 3s 4500mah from CHL..... let ya know how it goes, price ended up better than hk