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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Paul Allen on November 16, 2009, 01:38:42 AM
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How long do Lipo's hold their charge?
Thanks
Paul Allen H^^
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I have gone at least a week waiting for good weather with a charged up lipo. Actually holding their charge is one of the "pluses" of a Lipo.
That being said, leaving the Lipo fully charged for a "long" time ("long" not being well defined, but maybe starting at a week in length) is considered a form of Lipo abuse! Apparently they tend to age faster. So if I know I won't be flying for a week or more, I'll discharge (slowly) my pack to roughly 1/2 capacity.
For really long periods--like over winter when you aren't going to fly at all, the current "best practice" is to discharge (or charge) to 1/2 capacity and refrigerate (not freeze!) in a sealed plastic bag--trying to keep condensation to a minimum. Then when you are ready to fly again, let them warm up in the bag, and then charge and go fly!
This like I said is considered to be the proper way to treat your lipo. I think there is some science behind it. It is also the reason, I think, that you get your lipos from the distributer at 1/2 capacity.
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I just charged a couple of 3S 460 mah batteries that I have had for over a year (bought for a 1/2 A project that never happened) and they seem fine. These batteries were not refrigerated but were in the "storage charge" condition that they had when I bought them (about 50%). I just soldered on the connectors and put them on the charger. I have not checked to see if they still have the 460 mah capacity so I may be being over optimistic.
John
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My GT-A6 Charger (similar to the Accucel-6) has a "Lipo Storage" mode, which discharges back to nominal 3.7V per cell - about 1/2 capacity as Alan noted.
I do not have any spare refrigerator space (the cook would also throw a fit) so I leave them outside in the garage; it does not freeze but it chills out nicely!
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Thanks for the info,just found the LiPo Store Mode on the charger!
Paul Allen
Australia y1
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Hi Fellas,
I have an original triton charger. When I store my LIPO batteries for the winter, can you tell me how I would discharge them to 1/2 power. Any help would be appreciated.
Ron
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The easy way would be to put an undersized prop on the setup and run the lipo down to a safe charge level, and then charge it back up to the 50% level, which as I recall, is about 3.8 V/cell. You don't have to be super precise, anywhere from 3.7V to 4.0 V is just fine.
Main point is to NOT store them fully charged or discharged!
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Thanks for getting back to me Alan. I appreciate the info.
Ron