The performance of airplanes and RC cars depends on how well the powertrain works. Among them, the battery had a major impact on them. “50C” and “100C” marked on the lipo battery refer to the discharge rate.
So the bigger the C-rate the better? But in fact, it’s not.
50c vs 100c lipo: Which is better?
The high-rate battery can provide a faster speed for the motor. But what you need to know is that high-rate batteries tend to add extra weight, size, etc. They are important factors that affect driving performance.
Battery current
The higher the C-rate, the higher the maximum current it can discharge.
The battery discharge current should not exceed the current upper limit supported by the motor. Because the continuous high current will bring additional heat to the motor. This is one of the most common reasons for a motor to burn out.
Battery resistance
100C batteries have lower resistance compared to 50C.
Resistors convert part of the charge into heat, and lower resistance means the battery works more efficiently.
Battery size
Compared to 50C, 100C batteries are larger in size. It is generally known that in order to make full use of the space, the structure of the vehicle is often designed to be very compact. So before buying a battery, please check if the battery size fits the tray.
Battery cost
The higher the C-rate, the higher the cost of the battery.
So you should choose the battery according to your driving style and cut down the unnecessary budget. If you enjoy entertaining in the yard or grass, then 30-50c is more than enough for your power needs. If you’re planning on racing, the ultra-high rate batteries on the market are your best bet.
C-rate reliability
In fact, C-rate is often exaggerated by lipo battery manufacturers. This means that the C-rate marked on the battery is not the real C-rate. If you do not have professional equipment, it is difficult for you to know their accurate data. You can only see how they perform by running them on the car. In order to reduce the risk of buying inferior batteries, you can choose a battery brand with a good reputation. If you want to know what are reliable battery brands in the market, you can read this article (Best lipo battery brand 2022).
Top 5 – Overview:
- Gens ace
- Ovonic
- Zeee
- Sunpadow
- Spektrum Smart
Summarize
Compared with 50C, a 100C battery provides a stronger impact. This means higher motor speeds and more responsive servos. Also, with it comes to weight, bulk, and cost. You should choose based on your driving (or flying) style.
Use C-rate to calculate current and discharge time
Current (A) = Capacity (mAh)/C-rate.
Example 1: The maximum discharge current of a 5000mAh 100C battery is 500A (equal to 5000mAh*100C)
Example 1: 24AH is discharged with 2C, then its current is 48A.
Example 2: 1000mAh is discharged with 1c, then it will take 1 hour to discharge the power.
（Tips: The burst current of the battery is calculated by R-rate, which cannot be higher than the maximum current of the motor.）
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does 100C charge faster than 50C?
A: No. Although high-rate batteries can be quickly charged, it is difficult to insert lithium ions into the negative electrode (graphite) during charging, and it is relatively difficult to insert lithium ions into the positive electrode during discharge. Therefore, the rate of fast charging is generally much lower than the rate of discharge. Usually, the safest charging rate is 1C, too much-charging current will damage the battery.
Q: What is the difference between series and parallel?
A: Whether in series or parallel, the discharge rate will not change.
The voltages (v) of the batteries in series are added, and the others remain unchanged. For example, 2 2s 5000mAh 50c in series is equal to one 4s 5000mAh 50C.
The capacity (mah) of the parallel batteries is added, and the others remain unchanged. For example, 2 2s 5000mAh 50c in parallel is equal to one 2s 10000mAh 50C.
Q: Difference between soft case and hard case
A: Soft case batteries are lighter and more compact. The hard case is generally made of sturdy PVC material and protects the battery from bumps. More durable, but slightly larger in size and weight.
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