How Many Times Do You Condition Cycle Your New Expensive LiPo?
04-08-2008, 01:01 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minneapolis,
MN
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How Many Times Do You Condition Cycle Your New Expensive LiPo?
The following is recommended by Apogee - http://pfmdistribution.com/guidelines.asp
BATTERY CONDITIONING:
Contrary to popular beliefs, lithium polymer battery packs have a conditioning period. Before you run new Apogee packs at their maximum continuous discharge rate, we recommend you cycle the battery packs 12-15 times as follows:
1000 mAh – Discharge between 4A and 7A to 3.0 volts per cell.
1500 mAh – Discharge between 6A and 10.5A to 3.0 volts per cell.
2200 mAh – Discharge between 8.8A and 15.4A to 3.0 volts per cell.
3800 mAh – Discharge between 15.2 and 26.6A to 3.0 volts per cell.
5800 mAh – Discharge between 23.2A and 40.6A to 3.0 volts per cell.
If your pack is not listed above, discharge between 4C and 7C (Amp Rate = Capacity / 1000 * C-Rate) to 3.0 Volts per cell. The following conditioning routine is acceptable if you are unable to complete the conditioning process.
Aircraft: Reduce prop diameter by 2 inches from normal, anchor the aircraft in place and run at 80% throttle until the speed controller’s low voltage cut-off engages.
Helicopters: Gear the motor to where hovering is achieved around 75% throttle. Keep the heli low and slow during conditioning.
BATTERY CONDITIONING:
Contrary to popular beliefs, lithium polymer battery packs have a conditioning period. Before you run new Apogee packs at their maximum continuous discharge rate, we recommend you cycle the battery packs 12-15 times as follows:
1000 mAh – Discharge between 4A and 7A to 3.0 volts per cell.
1500 mAh – Discharge between 6A and 10.5A to 3.0 volts per cell.
2200 mAh – Discharge between 8.8A and 15.4A to 3.0 volts per cell.
3800 mAh – Discharge between 15.2 and 26.6A to 3.0 volts per cell.
5800 mAh – Discharge between 23.2A and 40.6A to 3.0 volts per cell.
If your pack is not listed above, discharge between 4C and 7C (Amp Rate = Capacity / 1000 * C-Rate) to 3.0 Volts per cell. The following conditioning routine is acceptable if you are unable to complete the conditioning process.
Aircraft: Reduce prop diameter by 2 inches from normal, anchor the aircraft in place and run at 80% throttle until the speed controller’s low voltage cut-off engages.
Helicopters: Gear the motor to where hovering is achieved around 75% throttle. Keep the heli low and slow during conditioning.
04-09-2008, 02:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minneapolis,
MN
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: How Many Times Do You Condition Cycle Your New Expensive LiPo?
Here's another TLC LiPo Guideline by CommonSenseRC - www.commonsenserc.com
How to Get the Most From Your Lipos
Does any one slow charge or trickle charge their LiPos? - Why Not?
How to Get the Most From Your Lipos
[b]• Cycle your packs when you first get them. Cycle them at least 3
times at low rates. Charge at .5C and discharge at 2C
• Try not to discharge your packs beyond 80% of their capacity. For
example try to use only 1600mAh of a 2000mAh pack. This will keep
the temperature down and prolong the life of your pack. Do not fly
your plane until the “low voltage cut-off” kicks in.
• Balance your packs after every flight. An “out of balance” pack and
a perfectly balanced pack look exactly alike. Charging an “out of
balance” pack one time with a conventional serial charger will result
in overcharging some of your cells and will do permanent damage.
This will shorten the life of the pack quicker than anything.
• Whenever possible, charge your packs at the slowest rate you can.
Of course, Lipos should never be charged unattended, so choose the
slowest rate that will still allow you to keep an eye on the process.
All battery types respond better to a slow charge.[b]
times at low rates. Charge at .5C and discharge at 2C
• Try not to discharge your packs beyond 80% of their capacity. For
example try to use only 1600mAh of a 2000mAh pack. This will keep
the temperature down and prolong the life of your pack. Do not fly
your plane until the “low voltage cut-off” kicks in.
• Balance your packs after every flight. An “out of balance” pack and
a perfectly balanced pack look exactly alike. Charging an “out of
balance” pack one time with a conventional serial charger will result
in overcharging some of your cells and will do permanent damage.
This will shorten the life of the pack quicker than anything.
• Whenever possible, charge your packs at the slowest rate you can.
Of course, Lipos should never be charged unattended, so choose the
slowest rate that will still allow you to keep an eye on the process.
All battery types respond better to a slow charge.[b]
04-10-2008, 08:36 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: How Many Times Do You Condition Cycle Your New Expensive LiPo?
The more you search on cycling, etc. on a brand new LiPo pack, the more differences in opinion you will find.
As for the "trickle" charge. The slower the charge rate, the more accurate the "actual" pack voltage reading will be on the charger. It is similar to putting the pack under load during flight, just reversed. If you are charging an 11.1volt manuf. spec. pack, depending on your charger, once the pack hits 12.6volts it shuts down. If you are charging at a high rate, the charger will hit the full voltage capacity of the pack quicker, and the charger will stop sending a current. Once the charge stops flowing to the pack, the pack will slowly rest, and will be well below the full charge capacity. I typically turn down to 0.25-0.50 amps or 250-500ma for the last 0.5volts (on a 11.1volt 3s pack) of the charge every time, so that once the charge is complete, the cells are as close to a resting state and a full charge capacity as possible. Hopefully that makes sense
As for the "trickle" charge. The slower the charge rate, the more accurate the "actual" pack voltage reading will be on the charger. It is similar to putting the pack under load during flight, just reversed. If you are charging an 11.1volt manuf. spec. pack, depending on your charger, once the pack hits 12.6volts it shuts down. If you are charging at a high rate, the charger will hit the full voltage capacity of the pack quicker, and the charger will stop sending a current. Once the charge stops flowing to the pack, the pack will slowly rest, and will be well below the full charge capacity. I typically turn down to 0.25-0.50 amps or 250-500ma for the last 0.5volts (on a 11.1volt 3s pack) of the charge every time, so that once the charge is complete, the cells are as close to a resting state and a full charge capacity as possible. Hopefully that makes sense
04-14-2008, 10:19 AM
#4
Senior Member
My Feedback: (16)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zephyrhills,
FL
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: How Many Times Do You Condition Cycle Your New Expensive LiPo?
I just charge them and fly. Regardless of whether the packs are new or used, try not to discharge them more than 75 percent of their capacity. One manufacturer indicated that if you discharge them too close to their rated capacity, you will reduce the life of the pack.
