Battery Life Not so Great (and a Hello)

bnwhtlw · #1 07-15-2006, 03:27 AM

Gang..... hi!
So Im really new to these zipzap vehicles, but I really like the,

Bought the SE DB5. Steering was whack even with the body off. Also saw how careful you have to be with them about lint and hair and stuff and the axles, so I ran back to the same Radio Shack (which has a ton of ZZMT and Regular...even the Ford GT) I bought a monster truck for my son and got addicted..went back and bought myself one and the motor kits and exchanged the Aston for a different one.

Just got around to putting it together tonight, cleared a space in my basement, swept and mopped it. then had some fun. The Battery in it lasts at a max of 2 minutes 30 seconds...maybe makes it to 3 of I dont dog it. This is stark contrast to the other DB5 I had. AND VERY differenty from the MTs which seem to go on forever.

Any pointers, tips, help.

I did not search, but please dont flame me as I have been all over this board in the last few days and I appreciate all the posts and hard work that has gone into this.

Thanx

hschnark · #2 07-15-2006, 09:34 AM

I had the same short run time problem with 4 of my 5 ZipZaps. As a last resort before I dropped them in the can I put fresh batteries in the controller. That solved the run time and a couple of other problems. I have no idea why # 5 didn’t have the same problems as the other 4.
Hugo

Azimov · #3 07-15-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

it lasts at a max of 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Defintely make sure you have brand new, fresh batteries in the controller. This is almost always the reason for short runtimes. If you are still getting less than 4-5minutes with the stock motor and gear setup, try a double charge and see what happens. Just charge as usual, then pop the car off the charging dock and then pop it back on again for a second charge.
Also try different motors in the chassis to see if the motor in there is flawed in some way and drawing to much juice.

bnwhtlw · #4 07-15-2006, 05:17 PM

Thanx guys, I would bet its the not so newish batteries.

Namuna · #5 07-15-2006, 05:20 PM

Radioshack sells a cheapy battery tester:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

It's not the best thing out there, but it's cheap and it'll help quickly spot any dead/weak batteries.

bnwhtlw · #6 07-15-2006, 09:22 PM

Im just dumb...it was the batteries.

Love these things...anyone know where to get the Racing sized Motor for this thing? It has the performance, but I want the super fast stuff.

Im about to search..so this may be a question I will find the answer to.

Namuna · #7 07-15-2006, 09:34 PM

Yes, there are faster motors you can get...But act FAST!!!

Recently there were rumours about RadioShack cutting the entire line of ZipZaps and they were basically clearance'ing out everything (still are).

So head out and find some upgrade kits!...Like if you can still find the Initial-D SE upgrade kit, that comes withe NX Motor (34,000 rpm, stock is I believe 21,500rpm).

bnwhtlw · #8 07-15-2006, 09:59 PM

Went to every Radio Shack within 45 minutes (yes I dont do anything halfa**ed) nada on the upgrade. Gonna have to watch evil bay.

Im considering a micro sizer motor. Any suggestions on which one is the fastest. I like tinkering. Im not going to do much in the ways of mods. My eyesight aint so great anymore and I dont have the patience for springs and screws the size of 8 grains of sand.

Also just picked up a porsche 911 (non SE) off ebay, so Im stoked to have a variety of things. Looking forward to trying out the older steering. I prefer the joy stick controller anyway.

The company that sells the Metl-tech cars is local. Im wondering if you could get those things to drift since they have some weight to them. I just dont know about that controller. Looks terrible.

Azimov · #9 07-15-2006, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Gonna have to watch evil bay.

I've seen a couple of listings on ebay for upgrade kits that have the purple motor in them. I think thats the fastest Zip motor made. I'm not sure if after market motors are still available or not.

Quote:

Im wondering if you could get those things to drift

Probably. I've heard they've got good proportional control. So, it's possible. If you can master that silly controller. The controller is the only thing thats stopped me from ordering two of them for my collection.

Quote:

Recently there were rumours about RadioShack cutting the entire line of ZipZaps

There's been rumors of new ones coming out too. I dunno, we'll see.

bnwhtlw · #10 07-16-2006, 01:33 AM

Anyone know what frequency that goofy controller uses?

It really does look odd doesnt it. The company that has them has a store front maybe they would have one I could demo or something.

bnwhtlw · #11 07-16-2006, 01:48 AM

Would this motor work?

Namuna · #12 07-16-2006, 02:34 AM

Yes, it would work, you might need to put a shim in there or bend the Motor connector, the Bit char-g motors are smaller than ZipZaps motors....But that Auction is WAY overpriced.

OMG!!! I just did an ebay search for "zipzaps nx" and they're asking INSANE money for the Initial-D Street Tuner kit!!! I paid $3 (on clearance) for this thing!!!

That's just OUTRAGEOUS gouging! I really hope NO ONE buys those things at such outrageous prices!

bnwhtlw · #13 07-16-2006, 03:14 AM

Find me one for 3 bux

The RS site doesnt even list this upgrade thingy anymore, so I cant even see if there is one in one of the other towns. Though its unlikley.

I found that other motor for 8 bux shipped...just the motor
21 bux for the street D kit. Thats outrageous.

I wont pay it, I tell you...no matter how much that purple motor is calling to me.

Azimov · #14 07-16-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

I wont pay it, I tell you...no matter how much that purple motor is calling to me.

Y'know, that's what bugged me about the purple motor to begin with long ago. RS couldn't just sell the motors individually. They had to stick em in with bodies, extra gear sets and collectable cards. Want two purple motors? More than that for racing your buddies? Well, you gotta buy 6 InitialD body sets. Or, maybe 3 and also 3 of the convertable body sets. Stupid. I know they're just trying to boost sales revenue by stacking product, but they missed out on the ability to get much more for the motors individually as well as selling many more of them. I would have bought dozens of them if they were individually packaged. As is, I think I have two of them.

bnwhtlw · #15 07-16-2006, 10:04 PM

Rather than create another thread about steering problems..can someone point me toward the steering chatter / center jitter mod-fix?

I just got the AM Vanquish to match up with my DB5. I have found that it turns sharper one way more than the other (common from what Ive read) The DB5 does the same.

I noticed that one of my wheels on the Vanquish seems to point in more than the other. At any rate...it chatters when I turn it and it centers itself. But it also does it whenever I accelerate. I speant 30 minutes trying to dial in the steering but it seems to still have issues. Should I take it back and exchange it?

Also when you turn it hard to the right I feel it kind of buzz / motor hum.