PIT NOTE / 02 / BATTERIES 2026-11-04
LiPo vs NiMH, and 2S vs 3S
RCCritic is research-led: we use maker data and published sources. We have not done hands-on tests yet.
Use the exact model’s battery and ESC instructions. Chemistry, cell count, connector and pack dimensions must all match.
Can LiPo and NiMH batteries be swapped freely?
No. Lithium polymer (LiPo) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) are different battery chemistries. A car and charger must explicitly support the pack you use.
The Hoss manual’s gearing chart lists both NiMH and LiPo setups. The X-Maxx manual specifies LiPo packs and warns against NiMH use. That difference is why a familiar connector or a vehicle family name is not enough to choose a battery.
What do 2S and 3S mean?
The number is the count of cells connected in series. For conventional 3.7 V nominal LiPo cells, 2S is 7.4 V nominal and 3S is 11.1 V nominal; these are not the fully charged voltages.
More series cells raise nominal pack voltage, not its mAh capacity. Capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh) and cell count describe different things. High-voltage LiPo variants have different charge limits, so always use the actual battery label and charger instructions.
The Granite 223S maker page supports 2S or 3S LiPo. That does not mean another model with similar dimensions supports both. Read the exact ESC and pack limits.
How should you charge a LiPo battery?
Use a compatible LiPo balance charger with the correct cell count and charge mode. Never charge LiPo in NiMH mode: incorrect charging can cause a fire.
The Reedy safety instructions require balance charging and continuous supervision. Remove the pack from the model, let it cool and charge on a nonflammable surface in a suitable fire-resistant container, away from combustible material. Do not charge a swollen or damaged pack. Follow the battery maker’s disposal instructions.
What voltage should a stored LiPo have?
Use the battery maker’s storage instructions; the Reedy instructions call for about 3.8 V per cell during storage. A runtime estimate cannot determine a pack’s resting voltage.
The calculator’s 0.8 usable fraction is only a planning assumption. It does not guarantee 3.7–3.8 V per cell after a run, and it does not replace the ESC low-voltage cutoff. Disconnect and store the pack as directed by its maker.
What belongs on the battery shopping list?
Record chemistry, supported cell count, connector, tray size and charger requirements. Then check whether the chosen package includes a drive battery and charger.
The SCX24 Base Camp maker package lists a battery and USB charger. The Granite package lists both as separate purchases. Use the catalogue contents filter to keep those differences visible.
Which sources support this page?
Use the exact model code when checking a maker page. The read date is a record of our research, not a promise that a listing stays unchanged.
- Reedy LiPo battery safety instructions
- Hoss maker documentation Current retail listing not confirmed
- Xmaxx maker documentation Current retail listing not confirmed
- Scx24 maker documentation
- Granite maker documentation