Electrathons (with video)

[drewjet]

I charge the lipo the same way I charge my motorcycle and all lithium batteries. I use an FMA BalancePro 6S. Each one can handle 6 series, and if using an isolated power supply you can leave the batts hooked up in Series and charge them at the same time. My motorcycle is 18S and soon going to 20S. I charge all the batts at the same time with 3 of them, when I go to 20S I will use 4 of them.

 

[drewjet]

Video from the race. Man what a blast! We took first place again. We went back to yellow tops (Lead) to make it fair, as we just blew them away on Lipo. They are starting to catch up though. We had 132 laps each race and the second place car had 124.

Enjoy!

[youtube]LOtlad2cdWE[/youtube]

 

[liveforphysics]

Great job Drew!

 

[bigmoose]

Great job Drew! Good, steady performance, increasing your lead, lap by lap!

 

[Thud]

Awsome performance again from Team drewjet.Congrats

 

[John in CR]

Drewjet,

Congrats on the continued dominance, and I'm sure you guys are glad to see improving competition to push your team harder.

A question about running lithium instead of the lead standard for electrathons, how is an equal capacity determined for the packs when you're running a different chemistry?

John

 

[drewjet]

Thanks guys. If there is any Electrathon activity going on in your area you really should check it out. Compared to a lot of the builds on this forum, an electrathon is simple.

John, the battery rules are such that 2 lead acids will give you about 1KwH. The Lithiums have a lower max weight (depends on which Lithium Chemestry) and a maximum of 1KwH rating required. I attached a PDF of that page of the rules. If anyone is interested I can post the entire rulebook.

Drew

 

[drewjet]

Next Electrathon race is December 4th at Middleton High in Tampa, FL

 

[beast775]

i like this type of race,very fun video,thanks for posting .

 

[drewjet]

This racing is a lot of fun. It is not as fast as the bicycle racing like the spooky tooth, but it is fun.

Here is a video from this weekends race, and yes we did win again, though by only 2 laps this time. They are catching up.

[youtube]FWX3oFWIGEM[/youtube]

 

[John in CR]

Congrats on another win Drewjet!

Where can I find the rules for electrathons? I'm interested in drumming up interest with the universities here.

 

[drewjet]

Congrats on another win Drewjet!

Where can I find the rules for electrathons? I'm interested in drumming up interest with the universities here.

Thanks John.

They are here http://www.electrathonamerica.org/Rule_Book_%26_Forms.html

 

[drewjet]

We had another race yesterday. This was at Brandon high in Tamps. For the first time we did not win the first heat (though I am not positive as the lap counting is a bit unscientific). However, we did win the overall race as out consistancy and reliabilty won us the second heat. This was at an oval running track, so speeds stayed quite high. There was no need to slow for the corners. Attached is the video. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2NTK77cpjM

[youtube]G2NTK77cpjM[/youtube]

 

[etard]

Are you still driving Drew? That looks like a lot of fun, kinda like electric NASCAR! I'm glad the other teams are wising up, but are they still mostly using SLA?

 

[drewjet]

Yeah I still drive. Me and a buddy built the car. The races are always set up as 2 heats, I drive one and he drives the other. Everybody uses lead. In fast we went back to lead as we felt having the lithium was too much of an advantage, as did some of the other competitors.

So far we haven't lost any races yet. A big race is comming up in Pensicola on an oval banked track in April and we are planning on going to that one. the competition may be tougher there.

 

[chaster]

What's the average speed during a race?

 

[Evoforce]

Way to go Drew, WhoooooHoooooo! You know, I really see this in my future. I would really enjoy building and competing with one of these. I don't know if anyone is doing it local to my area.

 

[drewjet]

Average speed depends on the race. This last one due to being an oval was higher than normal for us. I believe my average was around 25 MPH. On one of the tightest tracks it was down around 16. The record is 62 MPH, this was done on a banked oval with a ultra high end carbon fiber super streamliner.

Evoforce: I would highly reccomend it. I know there is a good amount of activity in the Northeast, I think in the Oregon area, but I think there may be some in Pheonix as well.

 

[chaster]

Average speed depends on the race. This last one due to being an oval was higher than normal for us. I believe my average was around 25 MPH..

Ah, that explains the lack of attention to aero streamlining. At those kinds of speeds, the aero isn't becoming a dominant issue. If you were average 10 more mph (give or take) then I would be looking at the aero more closely... Still, looks like tons of fun.

Eric

 

[drewjet]

It was race number 5 of the season in Tampa. Held at my favorite track USF. We set a course record with 76 laps, 3 more than last year, when we set the record. Our unbeaten streak continues

[youtube]TlE3vv2JXxg[/youtube]

 

[jmygann]

Thanks for posting

Battery pack was ?

Motor was ?

1 Lap distance ?

 

[drewjet]

We run 2 yellow tops,I get about 32 amp hours out of them. Etek brushed motor, lap distance 1480 feet.

 

[drewjet]

March 26,2011 we had our 6th race of the season in Tampa, Florida...actually plant City if you are familiar with the area. I changed out the Etek motor for an Astro 3220 4 turn motor and a Hobby King 6s RC Truck ESC. This dropped about 20 pounds from the car, and increased top speed by about 2 MPH. Once again we were victorious, winning both heats and the overall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgHlXMyS8PM

[youtube]HgHlXMyS8PM[/youtube]

 

[jmygann]

I gather yours is the blue/gold machine ?

what do you contribute your success to ?

 

[TylerDurden]

Nice.

Drivetrain pix?