RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100%

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100%
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Batteries & Chargers >> RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100%

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RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 1:22:00 AM

mrasmm

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Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Sometown, Northern Utah, USA
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you want the packs internal temp to be something between 70 and 80 degrees when you charge it, so however long you think that will be =)

About the fridge, use it for long term storage, but if you are still using them regularly 60 degrees is fine =) actually it is also fine for long term storage as well.

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Post #: 51

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 1:27:30 AM

Whistler71

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From: Squamish, BC, CANADA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mrasmm

you want the packs internal temp to be something between 70 and 80 degrees when you charge it, so however long you think that will be =)

About the fridge, use it for long term storage, but if you are still using them regularly 60 degrees is fine =) actually it is also fine for long term storage as well.

What would you consider "long term"?

I am just trying to do the best that I can to preserve and ensure long life for my packs...

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Post #: 52

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 1:34:08 AM

mrasmm

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Joined: 1/9/2007
From: Sometown, Northern Utah, USA
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=)

I'd probably say something that will be over a month or so. If you take the voltage down to 3.8, then put them in the fridge I guess. I usually do that 1 to 2 weeks after no flying time, and then it's usually another week or two or more until I get back to flying again. Just whatever works for you =)

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Post #: 53

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 2:36:25 PM

PlaneHeli

Posts: 608
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From: Australia & Asia &, NEW ZEALAND
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I had 3, 3S Lipos ruin by storing them at full charge for six weeks. Room temp around 25-30C (75-85F).

This was enough to ruin them. It wasnt just reduced performance, they were ruined. IE: a full charge gave me 30 seconds flying in a Trex 450.

Ive bought an Imax B8 charger which is basically an exact copy of the Batum BC8. (I downloaded the Batum BC8 manual and the Imax B8 is almost a word for word replication).

It has a storage function which is great. Charges the battery to about 3.85V which settles to around 3.80V.

I leave my Lipos out for a fews days if using them. But if im not planning on using them for a week or more I store them in the fridge at around 3.80V.

Im not sure how long you can leave them out of the fridge or fully charged.
Im not even sure if it had anything to do with the temperature where they were stored at, or if it was by storing them at 100% without been cycled for six weeks.
Thats why I asked for advise on this forum.

A few members have made a good point on a storage voltage of 3.7-3.8V as thats there approximate voltage when you buy them and it may be a considerable time from the manufacture date to when to buy them and cycle them for the first time.
Temperature?? Who knows???, but sounds reasonable to me.

Sorry I cant be more specific, its just trial and error for me.

My new batteries have not had a lot of use, but they do get cycled every two weeks at the moment. Will be interesting to see what happens if I dont cycle them for six weeks but thats not happening at the moment.

Cheers..

< Message edited by PlaneHeli -- 10/25/2007 2:51:13 PM >

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Post #: 54

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 6:39:23 PM

Whistler71

Posts: 405
Joined: 8/7/2007
From: Squamish, BC, CANADA
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Why is it all trial and error with these ***** batteries! Could it not be simple to give a play by play as to what exact protocol should be followed to best take care of them...

I.E.

- Store them at this temp when not in use

- If not in use more tha X days, then do this

- Etc, etc.

I think I will charge my batteries to 3.8V everytime after use and store them at around 60 degrees in the garage. In summer, I may use the fridge that I have which is set at the highest temperature. Then, I wil charge them to 4.2V per cell the day of or the day prior to flying.

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Post #: 55

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 10:37:25 PM

belloq

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Joined: 10/24/2007
From: Newberg, OR, USA
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Man, reading all this back-and-forth on Lipo makes me just want to stick with NiMH for the near future. While the technology is cool and has promise for long run times, the amount of work it takes to care for them, and having zero consensus on how to actually do that, makes me just want to stick with what works.

Here's to hoping the future brings easy management of Lipo batteries.

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Post #: 56

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/25/2007 11:11:00 PM

Whistler71

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From: Squamish, BC, CANADA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: belloq

Man, reading all this back-and-forth on Lipo makes me just want to stick with NiMH for the near future. While the technology is cool and has promise for long run times, the amount of work it takes to care for them, and having zero consensus on how to actually do that, makes me just want to stick with what works.

Here's to hoping the future brings easy management of Lipo batteries.

Fortunately and unfortunately, I just got into RC and jumped straight into lipos, I just wish there was some sort of recommended protocol to follow. I actually looked at my FMA 4S Cellpro manual and it does say NOT to store fully charged batteries below room temperature. Also stating that packs that are less than 90% charged CAN be cooled below 32 degrees F...?

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Post #: 57

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/26/2007 5:02:24 AM

PlaneHeli

Posts: 608
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From: Australia & Asia &, NEW ZEALAND
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Whistler71,

Totally agree. Every manufacturers lipo should come with an instruction manual stating -

Ideal /- & Maximum charge rate
Recommended Storage voltage range, & actual recommended storage voltage.
Storage temp recommended /- max /- & min
Maximum time between cycles (if required)
etc, etc.

That should be the responsibility of the Lipo manufacturer, not the Lipo charger manufacturer.

My batteries have all been bought in Asia, and no doubt are manufactured in Asia (mainly China, possibly Taiwan).

There lies part of the problem.
Many things manufactured in China are manufactured at the same factory then sold under different brand names. Often with no manual.

Strangely many smaller items sold here in Asia, are packaged and dont even have any brand name on them. Difficult to stay clear of a certain unreliable brand when you dont know which one it is. Similarly difficult to go to a retailer and ask for another if you like the product.

Do the top Lipo brands sold in the USA come with a manual providing all this info?.

Are any Lipos manufactured in the USA, or are they all imported from Asia under different brand names?.

Hopefully they will improve on the lipo technology, or the A123 technology. Although the A123 doesnt have the power to weight of the Lipo (Yet), it is far more robust and less tempremental. So a better technology to develop IMHO.

Cheers

< Message edited by PlaneHeli -- 10/26/2007 2:19:01 PM >

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Post #: 58

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/26/2007 5:37:47 AM

Whistler71

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From: Squamish, BC, CANADA
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I have Flightpower Evolites for my T-Rex 450 which may have come with instructions. I will contact them to see exactly what is the BEST thing to do to ensure long life!

From today forward, I will charge them to 50% of capacity (3.8V per cell) and store them in a fridge which will be solely used to store my batteries, set at the highest setting. (Probably around 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F) The day of, or the day before flying, I will remove the batteries from the fridge, let them warm up to room temp and bring them to full charge.

My 2 cell lipos that are used for indoors flying which are used everyday, I will continue recharging them to full charge after every flight.

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Post #: 59

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/27/2007 12:26:01 AM

bldrums

Posts: 478
Joined: 9/30/2002
From: C-Ville, VA, USA
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Gotta have a little help here.

I understand that my lipos need to be stored at less than full charge. My 2200 reads 12.404 and my 1800 reads 12.123 ( just charged )
So how do I check each cell? I have a AccuCycle Elite charger and a Equinox balancer. I also have a multi meter.
I am not sure what the steps would be to check these out even after reading over the posts. Anyone have the time to walk me through the proceedure, I would be grateful for your time.
I also have read up on the Blinky and wonder if that would solve my problem.

thanks all
Bil

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Post #: 60

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/27/2007 1:20:52 AM

Khatsalano

Posts: 341
Joined: 9/26/2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
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I have a FMA Cellpro 4S charger and all I have to do is select the Storage Mode and it charges the batts to 50% capacity, perfect.

- K

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Post #: 61

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/27/2007 2:51:30 AM

bldrums

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From: C-Ville, VA, USA
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Khatsalamo

The FMA Cellpro sounds like a great item. Could be that I will have to purchase that or some other equipment in order to maintain my lipos properly. Since the Accu Cycle Elite works so well as a Lipo and Nimm / nicad charger, Im kinda hoping to keep my charger & Eqinox balancer , and work from there. Of course, batterys are not cheap and I may have to invest more than I think to keep them in good condition. For sure, all suggestions are a big help.

Thanks for the reply,
Bill

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Post #: 62

RE: Storing Lipo batteries at 100% - 10/27/2007 4:04:50 AM

Whistler71

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Bldrums, I, like Khatsalano, have FMA 4S Cellpro chargers that work quite well, and I think they are the best option out there to charge lipo batteries at the present time. Surely the best bang for the buck. It tells you individual cell voltage, then after a charge, it tells you how many mAh it has put into the pack, it enables you to charge the packs up to 3C without damaging the pack, it can charge the pack to storage voltage (3.8V or so per cell) all in a hands off way. It does it all for you, all you have to do is decide which mode you want to charge in (1C, 2C, 3C, storage, and from .25A all the way up to 4A) It can charge up to 4 cell batteries, this is one of it's limitations, but if you don't plan on getting anything bigger than let's say a T-Rex 450, then it is just fine. All this for a cost of $75 or so...

I actually have 3 of these chargers! I did have some problems with the first one that I purchased and then found their customer service to be less than adequate. My replacement charger as well as 2 more chargers that I purchased ended up showing up in the end, they just sent the slowest possible method...

Do keep your charger, try to charge your batteries with the FMA and alternatively charge your batteries with one have now, alternating between the two if you need to charge two batteries at once. Or after a charge in your present charger, you can plug it into the Cellpro to see the voltage in each cell...

As for the Blinky, I don't think it can discharge cells to 3.8V per cell, all it does is discharge all cells to the voltage of the lowest cell in the pack.

One drawback of the Cellpro is that it does NOT have a discharge mode.

In trying to "beat" that, here is what I have started to do:

From today forward, after flying them down to around 20% capacity, I will
> charge them to 50% of capacity (3.8V per cell) and store them in