buying lipo in Australia 2020 Hobbyking...

John Bozi

John Bozi

100 kW
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
1,892
Location
Brisbane, Australia
It's been a while since I had anything to ask about. Since getting my current bike working well for the last few years there's been not really anything to do..

So here I am now looking to buy a new battery. It used to be easy. I'd just study the cheapest set of lipos on Hobbyking Australia and get them sent...

I am looking at something like 16AH 100v / 24s but there is nothing in stock over 1 6s pack... I don't know if this is a covid thing or it's going to stay like this.

But I just don't know where to buy anymore.

Any Aussies on here got some advice about getting lipos? (I am not keen on hundreds of cylindrical cells that I cannot repair).

Thanks in advance.
 
John, i sympathise..
I too have been annoyed at HK not holding stock in Oz, and their bargain sales dont seem to be such a bargain these days, as well as i mourn the loss of their high capacity, 16-20Ah, “multistar” packs ..which have been excellent over the last few years of use, but no longer available at any price !
Incidentally, some time back i figured out the HK Oz warehouse location (from their postal return address), was down in Moruya on the NSW south coast. However recently passing by there i checked it out and found it completely empty ?
Have they moved ?
The commercial history of their address ( 38 Shelly road 2537 NSW) only records it as a “Freight Forwarding” company ..Hexatronics.. what we might know as a TPL or “Third Party Logistics” company that simply handles and distributes freight for bigger companies..
So i suspect “Hobbyking” NEVER actually had a dedicated warehouse in australia ? :roll:
 
Hey thanks for the reply. Very interesting share about the address. So they used some kind of dropshipping quasi method of outsourcing to another company to store their stuff, but they probably don't allow large volumes of lithium (a guess).

You can buy 1 of those 16ah packs from what I see but then....? useless if I can't get 4 at a time.

The weird thing is a few months ago I went to buy and it was set to hong kong and then I got a message I wish I screenshot... I then just stored in my mind that I can't buy from overseas until a day ago it appears I now can.

Also I am not sure if I will get hit by yet another fee of some sort for buying over $1k... I remember I got severely stung twice in the past. So I am so hesitant of buying much from overseas now.

Even the other option of putting 3 x 5ah packs is not much cheaper either.

Thanks again.
 
Wondering if anyone has bought lipo through Aliexpress? What the fees are.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000008127203.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.649d3f467SGXwi&algo_pvid=5c4cad88-2042-4e21-a657-4fe04724e12c&algo_expid=5c4cad88-2042-4e21-a657-4fe04724e12c-25&btsid=0bb0623916035082065277765e3003&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

These 16ah 6s are $208... which even if I get hit with gst somewhere will be much cheaper than the HK.
 
John, ..whilst i have never bought lipo from Aliexpress ( but various other kit) ,..i am sure you realise that anything from there is a gamble, both in quality and support, returns, refunds etc.
At least with HK , they are a known quantity, not perfect, but reliable service ,and proven return and refund policies.
What ticks me off most is not the lack of availability, high shipping , lousy refund policies, or dubious quality....
...no, what i really object to is the increased price compared to a few years ago.
And that when all the battery experts keep telling us how much the cost of batteries is falling year on year !
 
OK so finally I got a human reply in an email!

Bill A (HobbyKing Support Centre)
Oct 23, 2020, 8:12 EDT
Hi John,

I understand that you are having a problem ordering more than one 6s Lipo at a time

Unfortunately due to the new January 2020 regulations and guidelines*
*(Shipper restrictions, Transportation Safety precautions and Courier material stipulations), some items like rechargeable batteries are now classified as DG (Dangerous Goods) which fall under the heading now of Hazardous Materials and will no longer be allowed standard transport/delivery with the couriers that we deal with . Lipo have been known to catch fire and to even explode if not transported properly . Therefore there are 'Watt Hour " limitation on them to certain areas . There is a way to calculate this with the milli amps and cells that involves 9th grade advanced math, but suffice it to say it generally breaks down to ...If a battery is 5000 mah , you can generally get 5 pieces of 2S and 3s , 4pcs of 4s and 3pcs of 5s and 6s and so on shipped in the same box in your area.
Your selection of 6s 16000 mah ...puts you at the limit of one per box =one per order for the AU area.

Please understand that there are generally no ways currently around these new restrictions or parameters. This is Not a decision that Hobbyking.com has made, just one we must comply with.
Only once the official agencies that imposed these new restrictions rescinds them, then we hope to resume shipping the now restricted and prohibited products in larger quantities to locations like yours.

However if you find yourself in the Moruya, NSW area you can place an order for 10 of these lipos < if stock prevails> and come and collect them in person yourself.

Kind Regards,
Bill A (USCS)
HobbyKing Support Specialist
 
John Bozi said:
Surely though there could be a simple solution of staggering the deliveries per day????
Click to expand...

If a battery is 5000 mah , you can generally get 5 pieces of 2S and 3s , 4pcs of 4s and 3pcs of 5s and 6s and so on shipped in the same box in your area.
Click to expand...

That shipping will add up, so was HK shipping without dg before Jan 2020?

The lipo was pretty cheap years ago.
 
well yes the shipping would quadruple in 4 pieces....

SO the question then is if I did buy from China what will happen to the items and where will they get stopped. Since it is a law across Australia, then we are all screwed wherever we buy from except walk-in shops which cost ridiculous amounts more...

I am getting quite depressed about this now. It's bad enough blowing over a thousand bucks for my hobby but doubling and tripling that is just making me want to pull my hair out.

YES, THEY ARE DANGEROUS GOODS! I carry them around in a bicycle up and dirt tracks too HAHA....

OH GOD...

thanks for bouncing ideas here hillhater. I need a beer because each time come to another wall with this battery buying I just delay it till one day I won't be able to go for a ride with my buddies.
 
However if you find yourself in the Moruya, NSW area you can place an order for 10 of these lipos < if stock prevails> and come and collect them in person yourself.
Kind Regards,
Bill A (USCS)
HobbyKing Support Specialist
Click to expand...
:shock: OK,, so he is saying the Moruya W/h is still functioning ?
I am going past there next week, so i will check it out again.
But , even if it is functioning, what stock do they have there ?
Answer.. they currently show the 6s, 16Ah packs as in stock... :)
Also, note this from their site..
Australian Warehouse
All orders of USD $100 and over, qualify for free shipping from the Australian warehouse to Australia. This excludes New Zealand. The maximum allowable weight to qualify for free shipping from the Australian warehouse is 22kgs.
Click to expand...
Does that make it less painful, John. ?
Obviously HK are still $100+ per pack more exy than that Aliexpress seller, but maybe you could test that HK “price match” offer they show on their site ? :wink:
 
I only every buy LiPo cells individually from my supplier in China who no doubt gets them made in the same factory as Hobbyking. But the cost of LiPo cells is at best US$8.50 each in orders of 1000+ and typically end up at about $15-$16 AUD each once the GST and customs are paid. Alibaba and Aliexpress are an absolute crapshoot - sometimes good, often ordinary, occasionally you lose all your money :x
 
Oct 26, 2020, 8:06 EDT
Hi John,
Unfortunately what you have suggested is not possible. < 4 on one order with one shipping each day>
The automated system will not accept an order for more that 1 per order. < and there is no manual overide>
You can make 4 separate orders , each 24 hours apart. <Please do not think to make 4 separate orders , each 24 minutes apart as this would create other worse issues.>
OR you can make 4 separate orders on the same day and send one home , one to work, one to a neighbor and so on.
And each would be a separate order < because of the labeled destination being different> , but each would have a separate shipping fee as well

--------------------
Click to expand...

So I put in bold the fee business. As Hillhater said it should be free!

Still for me the fact that I do not know if each day they will have stock, like how many questions will I have to keep reasking these guys... that would be the same with trying to get a price match thing......

Hillhater you are very lucky to be able to go in yourself.... WHEN YOU DO GO IN see if you can find out their actual stock level for those bigger 16ah ---

If I end up with less that 4 I will be extremely pissed offf....

----

So yeah thanks Markz $80 DG certificate sounds still cheaper than HK prices... TO WHOM DID YOU PAY THAT? AT WHAT POINT OF THE SALE? (was it later that someone added it on?)

---

And Jones I am hearing you too, I thought about you recently, but I am still in the same boat, I am going for the cheapest and something I can dismantle and reassemble myself.

I've also wondered about those individual cells - and I'm not full of confidence 'playing' with them... I've reconstructed a few old packs to test myself with the possibility, but I reckon I'd end up damaging new cells with my soldering abilities... and looking inside these old turnigy packs they use some kind of clamping of tabs that leaves like a criss cross pattern... not sure what tool they use. But pulling apart cells that have had this is impossible without losing the length of the tab making further resoldering too close to the plastic covering on the lipo.....

---- mad scientist rave over...
 
I contacted that aliexpress place "Moseworth Lipo battery Store"

25/10 09:42

Hello I would like to buy 4 x 6s Lipo
6s 16AH
Can you explain the shipping to Australia
My postcode is...(removed for privacy)......... Australia
I am worried that China or Australia cannot deliver "dangerous goods"
I heard there is a new law in January 2020 about how much can be sent.
Yesterday 18:01
Click to expand...

their useless reply
Dear, thank you for your supporting. The battery we have in stock, if you need, you can order them and I will send to you today.
If you can buy 6pcs 16ah in one time, I can send you a Australia special line, delivery time is very fast and very safe. About 10-15 working days can delivery to you.
Look forward to your order. If you have any quesetions pls let me know, when I see your message I will reply to you ASAP. Thank you.
06:00
Click to expand...

my braindead reply a second time this morning:

Yes my questions are above. Will I have a problem with 'dangerous goods' law?
Click to expand...
 
John,
I just did a “dummy” order from HK,Au for 4x 16Ah , 6s packs Turnigy 12C.
They confirmed as in stock, Au$1273 , free shipping to Brisbane , 3-10 days delivery .
I will take a trip by there later this week to ask a few Q’s.
 
I've had good success ordering from AliExpress...so far.
Most recently I ordered 14 of these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32974873177.html
Got here pretty fast without any issue.

I've also had good success with Queen Battery. I bulk order direct from them to get discounts. The MOQ is 200 cells for 18650's. They also do pouch cells, but I haven't ordered those from them as yet.

Cheers
 
well the good news is there will be a lithium battery producing factory in tomago ( near newcastle nsw) in about a years time they say.
you can read more here
https://www.pv-magazine-australia.c...-ion-gigafactory-breaks-ground-in-tomago-nsw/
Its likely they will be aimed a high price paying customers, such as govt depts etc initially, but at least there might be a chance at
getting cells in oz in near future.
If anyone is interested read up on company named Cadenza, quite an interesting venture which I believe has been the force behind this project.
While on the subject, it is interesting also to note that this project is based on funding from various investors.
 
John Bozi said:
I checked now too and yes you are right they now say they are in stock!

Who do I believe now....

I'll wait for you to visit them...
Click to expand...
I dropped in at the Moruya W/hs today.
Its just a small W/hs logistics operation with 2 guys there part time.
They dont let you in the door, and they know nothing about what is in the boxes.
.. they are just a Pick, Pack, and Dispatch,...operation for multiple businesses.
I had to give then a SKU number for then to check on their computer, but they did also do a physical check in the Rack to make sure the computer record was correct and the packs physically there.
14 packs of the Turnigy 16Ah, 6 s packs in stock.
The main guy did say that Hobby king, Singapore, are a shambles to deal with, and suggested avoiding them if possible ! ..( advice from their own distributor !?)
 
OK I have tried to reach ES for a long time and have had issues with the DNS of all things. This is the first time I am seeing the page load....

Guys thanks for all the info I am a little lost with ES forums for now, if I say I will respond soon and I don't it's because I actually can't work out what's going on...

holly molly 16 and singapore!
 
Cowardlyduck said:
I've had good success ordering from AliExpress...so far.
Most recently I ordered 14 of these: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32974873177.html
Got here pretty fast without any issue.

I've also had good success with Queen Battery. I bulk order direct from them to get discounts. The MOQ is 200 cells for 18650's. They also do pouch cells, but I haven't ordered those from them as yet.

Cheers
Click to expand...

they are serious sized cells 40ah.... thanks for sharing mate, these might be good for my dad one day.
 
district9prawn said:
John Bozi said:
(I am not keen on hundreds of cylindrical cells that I cannot repair).
Click to expand...

Have you seen the nese modules?
Click to expand...

I might have, not sure, but I have seen that sort of thing a while ago and I think high power discharge might have been a problem....

Looking at your link, it is not clear what I would be learning to order and construct.... as usual. The thing is when you learn a way of putting packs together its hard to find the motivation to keep doing it again for other chemistries.

I can only say I had a very bad experience with cylindrical cells and lost lots of money not finding it worth my time trying to repair faults.
 
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