2s vs 3s Lipo – The Ultimate Comparison of 2023

Lipo batteries are popular to be used in many electronic devices at present. The s count on the Lipo batteries point to the number of cells they have. Initially, often people are confused about the 2s vs 3s Lipo batteries while choosing their preferred battery type.

2s Lipo battery spins less than 3s Lipo battery does and as a result, 3s Lipo battery has a longer run time, longer life and an overall greater impact.

Both the 2s and 3s Lipo batteries have their own pros and cons as well as differences. Let’s take a look at their individual characteristics and differences in this guide.

2s vs 3s Lipo: The Ultimate Comparison

Lipo batteries are undoubtedly the number one choice in the radio control industry. Anyone in need of long run time and a high amount of power turns to choose Lithium Polymer, aka LiPo batteries now.

These batteries come in a variety, such as 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s. The voltage of the batteries depends on the s on the battery, which indicates how many cells the particular battery has.

The comparison between the 2s and 3s Lipo batteries is something many people do before using a battery, as using the wrong one could lead to overloading of the circuit. For your convenience, here are the four main differences between these two batteries:

1. The parameters of 2s vs 3s Lipo Batteries

The voltage of Lithium Polymer batteries is determined by the cell number. The standard voltage of one Lithium Polymer cell is 3.7V. The s count on 2s and 3s Lipo batteries means how many cells there are in one battery.

Following this method, the 2s Lipo battery has a standard voltage of 7.4V since it consists of 2 cells. On the other hand, the 3s Lipo battery has a standard voltage of 11.1V since it consists of 3 cells.

That was just the standard voltage. The full voltage of one Lithium Polymer cell is 4.2V, and the storage voltage is 3.8V. Even these voltages will be higher in the 3s battery than in the 2s battery. After calculating all three kinds of voltages, it ends up like this:

Configuration	2s	3s
Cell number	2	3
Standard voltage	7.4	11.1
Full voltage	8.4	12.6
Storage voltage	7.6	11.4

2. The speed (rpm) of 2s vs 3s Lipo Batteries

How fast your electric motor will go depends directly on the voltage of the Lipo battery you use. If the voltage on your battery is greater, the vehicle will go faster as well. That’s why 3s Lipo batteries provide a great boost in speed and torque as compared to a 2s Lipo battery.

The formula for calculating the speed from the voltage is

Speed= RPM*voltage. By using this, we get to see that 3s provide more speed while driving an RC car.

If you use a brushless motor with a 2s Lipo battery, the motor will spin at 25,900 RPM for every volt you apply. On the other hand, if you are using a 3s Lipo battery on the motor, it will spin at 38,850 RPM for every volt you apply to it.

Since the 3s Lipo battery possesses a higher voltage, it will also result in a higher speed.

3. The Capacity of 2s vs 3s Lipo Batteries

The amount of power a battery can hold is an indication of its capacity. Another way to say it can be how much drain the battery can put up with for being discharged in an hour.

From ohm’s law of resistance, we get the formula:

Amps = Volts / Resistance

Following this formula, we can find out that 2s consume more current than 3s. As a result, 3s can lessen the burden on the battery by using less current. This ultimately gives 3s more time to run. The 3s battery discharges slower than 2s because of this.

Moreover, the more current you will be providing, the more the voltage of the battery will keep on dropping. Under low power, the voltage of Lithium batteries drops rather quickly.

However, the cutoff voltages of 2s and 3s differ. The cutoff voltage of the 2s battery is 7 V, and the 3s battery is 10.5V.

4. The Run time of 2s vs 3s Lipo Battery

The difference between the runtime of the 2s and 3s batteries is that 3s Lipo batteries have a longer lifetime than the 2s batteries. It is under the same capacity and same discharge rate.

The main reason for this is the higher voltage of the 3s lipo battery again. Higher voltage increases the torque of the motor and lets it turn more smoothly and faster.

As a result, it takes less power and also runs faster. In the end, consumption of less power ends up in a long runtime for the 3s battery.

The 3s battery is also lighter in build than the 2s battery. It makes your RC car less burdensome and provides a strong impact. 3s Lipo battery can even increase the battery life up to 33% and more.

Pros and Cons of Using 2s or 3s Lipo Batteries

Lipo batteries are a popular choice for electrical devices, especially RC cars. Whether it is a 2s or a 3s Lipo battery, there are some common characteristics in both that you should be aware of before starting to put them to use.

Here are the pros and cons of both 2s and 3s Lipo batteries:

Frequently Asked Questions

So, if you still have issues and questions, then the following FAQs will clear things out for you.

How Do I Choose 2s or 3s Lipo Battery?

Take a look at your motor manual. If the motor of your vehicle and ESC are suitable and compatible with the 3s lipo battery, then choose the 3s battery. If not, then the 2s Lipo battery will work perfectly on your vehicle.

How Long Does a 2s or 3s Battery Last?

A good 2s or 3s Lipo battery can last about 250-300 cycles for 1 to 3 years. It can lessen due to the usage it is under. However, the 3s Lipo battery will last longer than the 2s battery.

Will Replacing 2s with 3s Provide More Speed?

If the RPM of the motor of the vehicle is low, then changing the battery will not give it a better speed. The battery will only increase the acceleration but not the speed.

Can You Run Both 2s and 3s Batteries at The Same Time?

As long as the ESC of the motor can handle it, you can run both batteries at the same time. You have to run the batteries in series in that case.

Bottom Line

Now that we have taken a look at the key differences between the 2s vs 3s Lipo batteries, it is safe to say that the 3s Lipo battery has more benefits than the 2s Lipo battery overall.

Anyone driving an RC car looks for a battery that will ensure a faster speed with a longer runtime and impact. 3s Lipo battery undoubtedly covers all of those traits.

At the end of the day, it really depends on personal preferences and compatibility when choosing the battery anyway. But if the motor and ESC are compatible, then it is recommended to choose a 3s Lipo battery.