Board Thread:General Nerf discussion/@comment-27306930-20200422042916

I recently watched a video from Bobololo about five things he wants modders to stop doing. His #4 gripe is to stop using TrustFires and IMRs. He claims we are "stressing them out so much they might actually pop".

To be fair, that video is from 2018 and there have been many improvements in lithium batteries, including circuit protection in IMRs. Just to set the record straight, circuit protected IMRs are some of the safest batteries on the market right now. They have overload protection, thermal protection, under-voltage protection, and overcharging protection. Plus their chemistry is not like alkaline batteries. They don't leak or rupture and make a mess. And they never catch fire like some LiPos.

To say IMRs "might pop" is ridiculous in 2020. What IS ridiculous is giving high C rated LiPo to tweens who struggle with basic storage and charging discipline, as well as hygiene and daily dental regimen. And math. And electrical concepts.

But I agree with Bobololo, the problem is understanding amps, motor current demands, and batteries. The trouble with TrustFires is their low capacity. TrustFires and many IMRs are horrible about listing their C rating, which is the max amount of amps they can supply at any given time. It's annoying. I had to figure it out myself with electrical test equipment.

My advice is stay away from TrustFires and IMRs with a milliamp rating below 1200mAh. Optimally, 2000mAh or greater is ideal for this hobby. And absolutely positively get IMRs with Circuit Protection.

If you have questions about batteries and motors, please email me. I know some nerfers like Bobololo are annoyed about answering questions. But I never get tired of it 🙂 