Overview
The SPM 5000mAh 3S 11.1V 100C Smart LiPo Hardcase battery represents a significant upgrade for any serious RC enthusiast looking to maximise performance in their RC car or RC boat. This is a premium-grade lithium polymer battery pack engineered by Spektrum, a recognised leader in RC power systems and electronics. With an impressive 100C continuous discharge rating, this battery delivers the sustained power and raw performance that competitive RC drivers demand, whether you're bashing at the track, competing in races, or pushing your RC vehicle to its limits on the weekend.
What sets this Smart LiPo battery apart from standard RC batteries is its integrated microchip technology, which transforms how you charge, maintain and manage your battery. Rather than manually configuring charge parameters every time you plug in, the battery communicates directly with Spektrum Smart chargers, automatically uploading all its unique data and health information. This means you simply press the start button and let the charger do the rest — a game-changer for busy hobbyists who want convenience without compromising on performance. The 5000mAh capacity provides excellent runtime for most RC applications, making this an ideal choice for high-performance RC cars and boats across the UK market.
Built to last, the battery features an impact-resistant ABS plastic hardcase that protects the cells during transport and rough handling at the track. The modern IC3 connector is fully backwards compatible with older EC3 systems, ensuring this battery works with virtually any RC system you currently own. Whether you're upgrading an existing setup or building a new high-performance RC vehicle, this Spektrum Smart battery brings intelligent charging technology and raw power together in one reliable package.
Key Features
- Integrated Smart Microchip — Each battery contains a microchip that stores vital information about the battery including brand, type, capacity, C rating, cell voltage, temperature data, and complete charge/discharge cycle history, allowing you to make informed decisions about battery health and suitability for your application.
- Automatic Smart Discharge Technology — When programmed with a Spektrum Smart charger, the battery will automatically discharge itself to a safe storage voltage after a predetermined period (between 12 and 240 hours) that you set, preventing damage from prolonged storage at full charge and dramatically extending the lifespan of your battery pack.
- 100C Continuous Discharge Rating — This exceptional discharge rate delivers maximum power and performance for high-demand RC applications, ensuring your vehicle gets the acceleration, responsiveness and sustained power needed for competitive racing and aggressive bashing.
- Smart Error Logging — The battery automatically tracks and logs unhealthy events including over-charge, over-discharge and over-temperature incidents, creating a complete safety history that helps you understand how the battery has been treated and whether it remains suitable for your driving style.
- One-Button Charging with Spektrum Smart Chargers — Simply connect the battery to a compatible Smart charger and press start; all your previously-set charging preferences automatically populate and the charger takes care of everything, saving you time and eliminating the hassle of manual configuration.
- Customisable Charge Rates — The Smart technology allows you to set custom charge rates for each battery, and these settings are remembered automatically, so the next time you plug in the battery uses the exact same charging profile without you having to adjust anything.
- Impact-Resistant ABS Hardcase — The protective plastic hardcase shields the battery cells from damage during transport to the track, storage in your garage, or the inevitable knocks and bumps that come with RC hobby use.
- IC3 and IC5 Connectors with EC3/EC5 Compatibility — The modern IC3 connector features a data transfer wire that communicates with Smart chargers whilst remaining fully backwards compatible with existing EC3 and EC5 systems, meaning you can use this battery with older equipment whilst still enjoying Smart benefits with compatible chargers.
- No Soldering Required — The battery comes factory-assembled with connectors already installed, allowing you to unpack and use it immediately without any need for soldering or technical modification.
- Data-Rich Battery Management — The stored parameters allow Spektrum Smart chargers to understand exactly how to treat your specific battery, delivering optimised charging that maximises performance and longevity compared to standard one-size-fits-all charging approaches.
Technical Performance
This Spektrum Smart LiPo battery delivers professional-grade performance with its 11.1V nominal voltage across three cells and substantial 5000mAh capacity, providing the power envelope needed for serious RC car and RC boat applications. The 100C continuous discharge rating is where this battery truly excels, enabling high current draws that satisfy demanding brushless motor setups and racing ESCs without voltage sag or performance degradation. At 495 grams (1.09 lbs), the battery weighs appropriately for its capacity, and the compact dimensions of 138.5mm length, 46.5mm width and 35mm height allow it to fit into most modern RC car chassis and boat hulls without modification. The maximum charge rate of 3C ensures you can charge 5000mAh in approximately 20 minutes, striking a balance between convenient fast charging and battery longevity. The 12 AWG wire gauge provides excellent power delivery with minimal resistance, and the JST/XH balance connector is standard across quality LiPo batteries, ensuring compatibility with most quality Smart chargers. The battery chemistry is genuine LiPo (3.7V per cell), delivering the performance characteristics that RC drivers expect, with integrated charge protection circuitry providing safety during charging. Whether you're running a high-power brushless setup on a 1/10-scale RC car, a speedy RC boat, or any other application requiring serious power delivery, this battery's engineering meets the demands of the UK RC racing and bashing community.
What's in the Box
- SPM 5000mAh 3S 11.1V 100C Smart LiPo Hardcase battery with integrated microchip
- IC3 connector (with data transfer wire for Smart charging)
- JST/XH balance connector
- Impact-resistant ABS hardcase
- Instruction manual
- Safety information sheet (multilingual)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use this battery with my existing RC charger? — Yes, the IC3 connector is fully backwards compatible with older EC3 charging systems, so this battery works with virtually any quality RC charger you currently own. However, to access all the Smart features like automatic charging profiles and smart discharge, you'll need a Spektrum Smart charger.
- What makes this battery smarter than a regular LiPo? — The integrated microchip stores unique data about your battery and communicates with Spektrum Smart chargers, automatically uploading charging preferences, temperature data, cycle count and health information. This means you never manually configure settings again and the charger always knows exactly how to treat your specific battery for optimal performance and longevity.
- How long does the battery take to charge? — With a maximum charge rate of 3C, you can charge the full 5000mAh capacity in approximately 20 minutes using a compatible charger set to the 3C rate, though many users choose slower charge rates to extend battery lifespan even further.
- Is this suitable for beginners? — Whilst the Smart features are genuinely beneficial for all users, the 100C discharge rating and 5000mAh capacity make this a high-performance battery best suited to experienced RC drivers with powerful brushless setups. Beginners might consider smaller capacity batteries first, though this battery's Smart technology does simplify charging considerably.
- What is smart discharge and why do I need it? — Smart discharge automatically reduces your fully-charged battery to a safe storage voltage (typically 3.6V per cell) after a time period you set (12 to 240 hours), preventing the battery from sitting fully charged for extended periods, which damages the chemical structure of LiPo cells and reduces lifespan. This feature alone can significantly extend your battery's useful life.
- What does the error log do? — The battery tracks every over-charge, over-discharge and over-temperature event and stores this information. By reviewing this history in your Smart charger, you can understand how your battery has been used and whether it's still suitable for racing or should be reserved for less demanding applications.
- Is this battery compatible with EC5 connectors? — The battery comes standard with IC3 connectors, which are designed from the ground up for Smart technology. However, Spektrum also manufactures this same battery with IC5 connectors for larger systems, and both IC connector types are backwards compatible with EC3 and EC5 systems respectively.
- What applications is this battery designed for? — The 5000mAh capacity and 100C rating make this ideal for high-performance RC cars and RC boats that demand sustained power delivery, whether for competitive racing, weekend bashing, or on-the-track training. It's particularly suited to 1/10-scale and larger vehicles with brushless motors and racing ESCs.
- How do I know when my battery needs replacing? — The Smart microchip logs all charge cycles and unhealthy events. By checking this data in your Smart charger, you can monitor battery health over time. Most LiPo batteries remain usable for several seasons of regular use, but the error log helps you identify when performance or safety begins to decline.
- Does this battery come with a charger? — No, the battery does not include a charger. You'll need a quality LiPo charger (ideally a Spektrum Smart charger to access all Smart features), which is sold separately. Most RC hobbyists already own a suitable LiPo charger.
Why Buy from RC Model Shop?
RC Model Shop is a trusted UK RC retailer and authorised dealer for all the brands we stock, including Traxxas, ARRMA, Losi, FTX, Hobbywing, Spektrum and more. Based in Walsall, we have a physical store where customers are welcome to come in, view products and purchase in store. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, a weekend basher, or just discovering the world of RC for the first time, our team of experienced RC enthusiasts is here to help you find the perfect setup and provide ongoing support. Order the SPM 5000mAh 3S 11.1V 100C Smart LiPo Hardcase; IC3 O-SPMX50003S100H3 today with confidence, knowing you are buying from an authorised retailer with genuine products, expert knowledge and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Shop online or visit us in Walsall — we look forward to helping you get the most out of your RC experience.
