![]() Store, charge and discharge them in fire proof LiPo safety bag, metal ammo box, or other fire proof container (it’s always worth investing the $10 in a explosion-proof LiPo bag or ammo can).Avoid pushing the battery too hard by discharging at a current higher than it’s rated.Never overcharge your batteries (and never over-discharge them, too).Never run down the battery to a point where it is completely dead.With proper care, you can make the same LiPo battery last longer than someone else’s. “If they have dropped below 3v or show no voltage at all, they are unusable and should be discarded.” How to keep LiPo batteries in peak condition Strazzulla said he also tests to check if old batteries in storage are still usable by measurinig their voltage before being hooked up to a charger. “I would not advise anyone to keep a LiPo battery in operation for four years, even if it was stored correctly and not used very often,” she said, adding that the electrolytic solution of the battery goes into decomposing mode after too long a period of inactivity. “In my experience for typical 1300mAh to 1500mAh packs (no matter the amount of cells), I consider under 10mΩ to be brand-new condition, 10mΩ to 15mΩ to be good, 15mΩ to 20mΩ to be limited performance, and everything over 20mΩ to be ‘retired,” Petrova said.Īnd for what it’s worth, Petrova said she replaces batteries after a maximum of three years. You can measuree internal resistance through most standard LiPo chargers. Higher internal resistance means lower performance. Internal resistance is one of the best indicators of battery health by determining how effectively a battery can deliver current. While age and recharge cycles have an impact on your battery’s health and safety, the real metric in determining whether your LiPo battery is safe to use is internal resistance. ![]() The metric that matters most: internal resistance “Many LiPo batteries will not even last for 300 charges,” he said. Bradbury said that only applies to higher quality batteries. “The maximum charge cycles for most LiPo batteries tends to be around 300,” said Thomas Bradbury.īut even 300 recharge cycles is optimistic. While LiPos are great because they can be recharged, they won’t last forever. What you need to know about recharge cycles Years, with only a slight voltage drop, when stored at room temperatureĪnd at a voltage of around 50% of full charge (3.6 to 3.7v),” said tech entrepreneur Phil Strazzulla. “A conservative estimate for battery life would be 18 months to over two But LiPo batteries are sensitive and while they can last more than four years sitting on a shelf, temper your expectations. “For example, if your battery has three cells, you should charge it to 11.4V for storing it.”Īssuming you stored them at the correct storage voltage, your battery is probably safe to use. “If you plan on letting your battery sit for a few weeks (or four years), storage charge it to 3.8V per cell,” Abraham said. ![]() However, remember to slowly balance charge the battery before you use it again.” What voltage to store your LiPo battery atĪ fully charged LiPo cell is 4.2 volts, while a dead cell “My LiPo batteries which had been stored for more than eight years worked fine when I checked recently. “Four years of storage is not enough to ruin a properly stored battery,” said Mathayi Abraham, a professional electronics and telecommunication engineer, and founder of the site Robot Powered Home. To 18 months,” said Sarah Petrova, a hardware engineer at Intel.īut that doesn’t mean you can’t use them. “LiPo batteries show a significant drop in performance after 12 LiPo batteries don’t have expiration dates, but they can see a drop in performance after excessive use or passed time. So, you’re already doing the right thing to be concerned about using old LiPo batteries! While LiPo batteries are one of the safest forms of R/C battery, they can still be extremely dangerous if charged, discharged, stored, maintained, or handled improperly. Are they safe to use, or should I get rid of them? How long do LiPos last if stored at the correct storage voltage? And how could I test them to see if they are ok? They were stored at the correct storage voltage. I have two LiPo batteries with about 40 recharge cycles that I’ve been storing for about 4 years in an ammo box. ![]() If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here. Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about using old lipo batteries.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |