HN Explorer

Is C-rating marketing, or does it still matter for LiPo packs?

1 points by nicole_chen ↗ HN
In RC/FPV, C-rating is still the first spec beginners look at… and probably the first one they get misled by. I’ve seen “high C” packs that feel soft, and “lower C” packs that hold voltage better in the air.

Curious how people here treat C-rating in 2026:

Do you ignore it entirely and look at IR / sag instead?

Any quick “bench test” you trust to compare packs fairly?

What brands/models have been consistently honest for you?

I put together a simple buyer’s guide with the stuff I wish I knew earlier (happy to adjust it based on what you all say): https://hobbyking.com/blog/rc-battery-buyers-guide

1 comment

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nicole_chen
OP here — I’d love to learn how people test/compare packs fairly without turning it into a whole lab setup.

Do you have a simple repeatable method (even a rough one) for comparing two packs: e.g., same quad, same throttle profile, measure sag/temps, etc.? What would you log, and what thresholds actually mean something?