Simple Lipo Conversion for CYMA G18C AEP CM030

[DonDon]

This topic has been covered in numerous boards and in youtube.  I havent found anything that resembles what I have done but still I am not claiming that it is original.

I had some help from the guys at Hobby Action in Tempe with finding the right battery and taking the old battery apart.

Supplies used:

1.  Aero Model Inc 7.4v 320mAh lipo (local manufacturer btw) Bought at Hobby Action for 10 bucks
2.  Leads with JST connector 2pk $2
3.  Hot Glue Gun w/ glue
4.  Zip Tie
5.  Small piece of Heat Shrink 1/2" and 3/4"


I didnt take the battery apart or solder the new leads to the connector, since they offered to help me out.  Only trick is to be careful removing the batteries from the connector everything else you can rip apart.

Here is the final product.  A JST connector on the ends.





Since the connection looked fragile and will end up tearing out from the terminal from the constant disconnecting and reconnecting the lipo, I decided fill in the connector using a hot glue gun using a small zip tie to anchor into the glue.  Also added the heat shrink to make it look nice.





I removed the foam to get more room for the cable and battery



Battery used



Run the wire to the other side of the barrel



At this point the slide should close easily



Here it is with lipo installed and everything assembled.  I am still breaking in the battery but I will update how many rounds i get on a single charge.   As of 12/10/12 ~800 rds with 3.59v remaining per cell.






I did it this way so I can go back to using Nimh if I ever wanted to but mainly I didnt want to hack up the gun too much.

Reasons I did this:
1. Little modification to gun
2. Batteries are locally available
3. Better trigger response
4. Cheap
5. Can still upgrade to larger capacity lipo in the future


Now add a modded CYMA hicap and it becomes perfect for CQB 

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


Thanks...

 

[Rockit]

Cool  I've got an AEP Glock with a crappy battery. This inspired to do some kind of LiPo conversion.

[DonDon]

Cool  I've got an AEP Glock with a crappy battery. This inspired to do some kind of LiPo conversion.

There are larger capacities available if you want.  I saw on youtube a guy used eflite single cells 500mah, wired two in series.  Those batteries are pretty slim and long but fit nicely under the barrel completely.  I am not sure if the battery socket was removed though.

Good luck on your project

[Major payne]

Nice guide man, very clear and helpful I will definitely try this out!

[XavierMace]

Very clean guide.  A few points though.  You have to (obviously) have the stock batteries and be willing to scrap them.  Personally, I don't think that's much of a loss but worth mention.  It's also not practical on the SMG's (MP7/Skorp).  Lastly it won't fit with the larger LiPo's most use in their AEP's (IE the Tenergy 800mah-950mah cells).  I'm sure the shot count will be sufficient but ROF is going to be lower than with the previously mentioned Tenergy cells (or similar).  I'm also not sure if it will have enough juice for a motor/spring upgrade.

Still a good guide though.

[DonDon]

Very clean guide.  A few points though.  You have to (obviously) have the stock batteries and be willing to scrap them.  Personally, I don't think that's much of a loss but worth mention.  It's also not practical on the SMG's (MP7/Skorp).  Lastly it won't fit with the larger LiPo's most use in their AEP's (IE the Tenergy 800mah-950mah cells).  I'm sure the shot count will be sufficient but ROF is going to be lower than with the previously mentioned Tenergy cells (or similar).  I'm also not sure if it will have enough juice for a motor/spring upgrade.

Still a good guide though.

Thanks for that.

Right.  You do have to sacrifice the original battery. 

The larger lipos like the ones you mentioned do fit but they end up taking off the wrapper and splitting them apart to fit around the barrel possibly even taking out the faux ported barrel lol. 

If there is enough interest I can contact Aero Model Inc and see if they can make a battery size comparable to the original battery (with higher capacity of course  ).  The place I bought the battery from said they have been coming out different batteries all the time, so who knows. Probably have to still hack up our battery to connect to theirs unless those connectors can be supplied to them.

[XavierMace]

The larger lipos like the ones you mentioned do fit but they end up taking off the wrapper and splitting them apart to fit around the barrel possibly even taking out the faux ported barrel lol. 

I know, I've done it a few times. 

For most people this route to go.  However, I've got a LOT of AEP's and this route would require me to have separate battery's for the MP7's and Skorp's.  Only reason I mentioned it.

[DonDon]

Updated

Ok as far as round count on this 320mAh battery...

I am so satisfied on the results.  So far I have shot ~800 rds on a single charge

Here are my results using a 95 rd high cap (semi only)

After shooting 3 mags:  3.92V ea cell
4th: 3.81V
5th: 3.78V
6th: 3.73V
7th: 3.68V
8th: 3.59V

At this point i can probably get at least 2 more mags safely which should bring the count upward towards~1000 but I dont really feel the need to.  But you can try at your own risk.


For CQB in a field that is semi only, this should last all day for sure. 

The results (to me at least) prove that this mod was worth doing.  this battery exceeded my expectations compared to the nimh. 


All I have to say is this was the best thing that has been added to my collection.  I have the top rail coming in soon also.  Review for my G18C AEP will be next on list to do after a few field tests.   

[Rockit]

How's the trigger response?

[DonDon]

It has a good trigger response

I dont remember what it was like with the old battery but it shoots every time i pull the trigger with no delay

[Rockit]

What are the dimensions on that LiPo? It looks like you still have a little room in the front...

[DonDon]

I'm actually out of town right now but i'll let you know when I get back.

Yes there is some room but not much if you need more room then a different approach may be needed

I know there is a youtube vid to remove the battery slot, make note positive and negative terminal.  Once this is removed, solder a wire to positive side (where battery slot was soldered to) and to the negative side and add your choice of connector.

This should give more room to put in a longer battery, but finding the right one is the trick.

Initially I was gonna go this route but the way it is right now serves it purpose.

I'll update my field test on Sunday

[Rockit]

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/bsdelenela/20121206_152257.jpg

How did you get this part out and how do you tell which is posative/negative?

[XavierMace]

Related note, loaned out my TM Mac10 which runs the 900mah Lipo's like my other AEP's.  Person said they got roughly 20-25 mags (65rnds/ea) before the gun stopped firing.  Battery was still at 3.1v's a cell so still in the safe zone.  Battery may not have been 100% charged before hand though.

[DonDon]

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp194/bsdelenela/20121206_152257.jpg

How did you get this part out and how do you tell which is posative/negative?

Its part of the battery that was taken apart.  I used a voltmeter to tone out the positive/neg terminals in relation to where it is inserted into the gun.

It also helps to keep in mind where the positive is connected to the connector when taking apart the battery.