Hi
Is there a minimum air temp you should not fly lipo powerpacks. If so what is it and what would be the result of using your packs at that temp?

Mike

G'day Mike,

I don't have an answer for you regarding a minimum temp but I do know that you will notice a big difference in pack performance if the pack is pre warmed. The local TP distributor here in Aus recommends warming the packs up prior to use not only for better performance but also pack longevity. You can damage the packs if they are too cold and under high discharge. A hot water bottle in an eski works great to warm up the packs.

Cheers
Jason.

Mike,

You can also use a rice bag which you heat up in the microwave before heading out to the field. Keep the batteries and rice bag in a cooler and you should be fine.

Good luck,

Teo

Hi
It is currently hovering around the 0 to -1 mark C is is really a good idea to risk my LiPo packs in these conditions?

M

Mike,

Just warm them up and they will be fine. If you can warm them to 40C before flight they will perform great. Once the electrons start flowing, the packs will maintain the warmth through the flight.

Been upto 43C in Sydney of late....

Cheers
Jason.

I have flown in -10`C without problems. I keep the batteries warm, and in addition you could cover some of the cooling/vents on the plane if it isn`t running at extreme high C.
LiPoes don`t get harmed if they are stored at some few degrees below zero, but do not charge LiPoes which are cold! Allow to get room temperature before charging.

Operating temps for Thunder Power


Charge: 32 to 113 degrees F
Discharge: 32 to 140 degrees F

Chris

Great tread guys, I've been curious about this. Just need clarity on your last statement Chris.

Ok, are you equating the 'normal operating temps' of TP packs as the 'normal temps for flying'? ie. Are you saying it's ok to fly a pack with a known temp of 32F - 140F and no damage to the battery pack should be incurred? Or was that meant to be for 'normal temps for charging'?

Hi airsurfer.

Well, the way I interprit that is that the charging temps are from 32 to 113 degrees F, and the flying temps are 32 to 140 degrees F.

Chris

I appreciate the clarity to your post. I also agree with Jason in post #2 about pre-warming packs for better performance. I have several sets of TP 5S5000 that are 2 years old (internal resistances still under 10) and some new sets of Zippy Flightmax 5S5000 that all like the temps around 70F or better.
I have definitely felt the restrictions in power available immediately on take-off thru the first few passes until the packs warm up. I remember the first time it happened, I thought my batteries were going into retirement!!! So I landed, checked the packs, found nothing wrong, switched them out for another set and got the same result.[:@]
After the third switch-out of batteries, one of the seasoned electric pattern guys walked over and ask me the temp of my packs. They were 62F on landing. He told me he'd heard about guys warming them to around 70F or warmer then flying. I tried that with one of the packs in question and 'BINGO!!!' they worked as advertised.
I don't claim to be a guru, but just wanted to share what has been working for me.

I always warm my packs in the winter. No specific temp, just warm to the touch is fine. Jerry Budd actually has a flight box made up with 1 or 2 heating pads in it. It works really well.

Chris