Tips for Using LiPo Batteries after Sitting Idle
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
- If you're LiPo batteries have been sitting idle through the Winter, here are some tips to ensure they stay healthy in the coming season.
Check out the ProTek R/C LiPo Battery Manual for extra support: images.amain.com/images/manua...
Cell Checkers:
XBC100 Cell Checker/Cell Balancer: www.amainhobbies.com/spektrum...
ProTek R/C iChecker 3.0: www.amainhobbies.com/protek-r...
Bat-Safe LiPo Box: www.amainhobbies.com/batsafe-...
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Great information Brett! If I may add,it's also a good thing to balance charge as often as possible.Also,after a day's use,putting the batteries on a storage charge is extra insurance for safe storage.
You're absolutely right triskellian. I do the same after every pack is used, it goes on the Storage Charge and is usually done in 5-15 minutes, and offers peace of mind for months. Great tip, thanks.
-Brett
Vital info for our hobby (addiction) well delivered. Thanks again, Brett.
Another great & informative video, thanks everyone in the Amain family!
Thanks Bret, good info,getting ready to pull my packs out for the season,can't wait,gotta get me one of those cell checkers,thanks bro.😎
New to RC stuff and these were all the questions I needed answers too. Thanks!
Excellent video Bret! Important info we all need to know, thanks!
Great info Brett! Much needed for the upcoming season.
Thanks for your great videos! A-main is just an awesome company. Your support is great.
Thank you Dave! Happy Holidays and have a great New Year!
-Brett
Thank you. Another great video.
YOU Do good videos Brett i like them alot gives me alot to learn from
Thank you. I needed this info
As a beginner, i saved the video immediately! :)
Thanks a lot!!🤘🏼
Great. If you come across any questions let us know.
-Brett
@@AMain_Hobbies oh, i will! :)
Love your videos!
Lots of great advice for everyone
Another great video!
Good stuff. Safety first⛑
Thanks for the info. It was very helpful 🏁🏁👻
HUGE thumbs up!
Keep my batteries in a vented ammo can inside the house. Smoke can vent out under the latch, which should also keep potential flames from reaching the handle over the top lid. If it gets hot just find something to lift the handle up. Protek lipo charger keeps it simple
Amain!! These videos are great! Here’s an idea: get famous RC legends to present their tips tricks and a chance to plug one of their sponsors, which you could ask the sponsors for drivers to participate and some financial remuneration. Not much, but enough to make everybody happy. I’m buy a ton from amain, so just giving you some friendly advice.
Thank you PSM! Not a bad idea.
-Brett
Hey u got the Bat box, those r great
Agreed. It's all we use around here. We fried up a few 6S lipos in the Bat Box and the results were incredible. The Bat-Safe is a true must have.
-Brett
I wish there was a mini or something 60 is too much for my 2 traxxas batteries
Happy Halloween Brett
Happy Halloween to you too Troy. Thanks.
-Brett
intermediate tip: on a lipo, you can bring up the voltage back up to charging voltage (3v); to charge in LIPO mode. just charge it on 0.5C rate on Nimh. "not recommended" but how many of us dont do stuff like this? I saved 3 lipos like this. #DDMRACING
Yes you can do that. They would rather you buy new!
KM RC Adventure and the damn things didn’t cost so much maybe I would just buy new.
I got thunder power batteries that I haven't used for more than 5 yrs and recently took them out, the voltage were so low that my iCharger duo refused to charge them, but my old SkyRC charger charged them up with no problem.
Wow look what u can learn by reading comments! #rcnewbie
thats dangerous
great vid. I use venom, and have 2 - 3s 2200 packs that are both out of sorts. Each pack's 3rd cell is at a much higher voltage than 1 and 2. I will try your patience approach to balancing.
I just bought one of those and the 3rd cell was .5 lower. I used my smart checker to balance the cells before the first charge. Took about 40 min. It's weird because I have 2-2s 5000venom basher lipos and they are still super balanced w/ low impedance after a year or two
Will this show voltage on 1s lipos? Specs show for for 1s but also say input voltage starts at 5v.
I wish i was in California right so i could come to your shop and speak to you in person about my RUCKUS Truck
Your post sounds kinda creepish and serial killer esk! Lol
Why don’t you store the Lipos on storage charge?
I had a few batteries stored fully charged. Went to fly but it sure drains a lot faster now. Guess the lipos may need to be replaced 😥
How do you charge a lipo battery with an old charger like the MRC SuperBrain 989 and an external balancer like the Tenergy 5-in-1 Cell Meter?
I don't know. That's an older and now discontinued charger and I cannot find information on it. I recommend finding and reading the manual for more information.
-Brett
Personally, I’ve found using the impedance setting on my charger to be the next step on a battery inspection, after a good visual check. Checking for cell resistance will tell you if you have a cell that is beginning to fail.
That's a great tip Alex. What charger are you using?
-Brett
AMain Hobbies I use both a Hitech X1mf and a Hitech X2ac, they both offer the impedance test.
@@RC-ScalerandBuilder Nice! Hitec makes some nice chargers.
-Brett
AMain Hobbies thank you for all you do, your videos are informative and entertaining and I’ve found ordering from Amain has always been an awesome experience, with customer service that’s second to none.
Thank you Alex! Really appreciate it. If there is anything we can do to help, let us know. Thanks.
-Brett
What about the resistance values of a battery? I have the Hi-Tec ×2 multi charger. The difference between low resistance levels like
2's & 3's vs higher levels like 8's, 10's? What about batteries stored at 50 or 60% that are charged at 1c to 100% when used won't preform when they get back to 50% (it's a Gen's Ace 2s 7200mah)
Less than 8 months old?
Would love to see more maintenance videos, thanks for your time. 😎🇺🇸☝️
What good is a comment when A main doesn't answer. 👍
Hey Robert. Sorry for the delay. The resistance of the pack is a good topic. Higher resistance packs will generally have less performance. For your Gens Ace packs, I don't quite understand what is happening. How does the battery not perform at 50%?
-Brett
Battery thinks it empty at 50%
Doesn't have full memory
@@renobob7781 In a way, the battery is empty at 50%. You should not use the battery in a model at 50%. The battery must always have 50% even when being stored. Also, if your pack has high IR (internal resistance) then the capacity will be effected; this is common for old batteries in general; capacity decreases over time. Not sure if that helps or not.
-Brett
Great vid! Wish I would have seen it 3 days ago lol. So is there any amount puff that is okay? I have a protek 7200 2s lipo " softcase" and it slightly puffed after about 3,4 charges. I know how to charge and take care of my batts. It's not bad and hasn't puffed any more! I was told soft case batts will puff a small amount?
Good point. I'd keep an eye on the pack and the internal voltages moving forward, and don't let the pack become unbalanced.
-Brett
what if the individual cell voltage has dropped slightly my manual says it should be at least 3.75 and its slightly lower
Hey YP. It's best to follow whatever guidelines your batteries' manufacturer has created for their batteries so you don't void your warranty if there is one, but if your cells are out of balance, you can follow the instructions outlined in this video to balance them again; using a cell balancer, or by cycling your LiPo on a charger: Balance Charge, then Discharge and repeat. Hope this helps.
-Brett
What is ideal store voltage for 2s lihv?
Great question jungyul. For storage, a cell voltage of 3.7V - 3.8V is good; or 7.4V-7.6V. The end voltage is adjustable in most chargers, so not everyone uses the same voltage, but 3.8V is our recommendation and a safe place. LiPo chargers have a "Storage Charge" mode, and that mode will either discharge or charge the battery until the battery is 3.8V a cell. Please use this mode to store your batteries. Let me know if we can help answer any more questions. Thanks.
-Brett
been seeing videos of people unpuffing there LiPos has anyone here done it is it safe to use?
How long should you keep a lipo battery?
They can last for years. Usually the case, wires or connector fall apart before the battery lives its last cycle. If it starts to puff or not hold a charge, then it's time. 5+ years of use is common though.
-Brett
Does storage charge balance the cells as well?
Yes, or it should. Best to check with your charger.
-Brett
What about Traxxas ID batteries
Use this Traxxas Adapter for help checking balance voltage and levels: www.amainhobbies.com/traxxas-id-lipo-battery-voltage-checker-balancer-w-tra2938x-lead-adapter-tra2968x/p793344
-Brett
Dry important info here
Is there an automatic tool to set single-cell batteries to storage voltage?
Yes. Even the cheapest "4 button" chargers have a "storage charge" mode.
Nothing automatic that I can think of unless you want to use Spektrum Smart batteries that can auto discharge themselves at a pre-programmed rate. Something like the SkyRC 30AMP Discharger is a great way to quickly discharge packs but overkill for single cells. Like Mike replied, using the storage mode on your Lithium Balance Charger may be the best way to go.
-Brett
What if i charge my lipo below 1C charge, for example 0.2 C, is it a good idea? or Is charging lipo slower is better for battery life?
Hey coco. Charging below 1C is perfectly fine and safe to do. Very low charge rates are best for longtime battery life, but offer reduced performance, or in R/C terms, lower "punch" and it takes longer to charge a battery. Higher charge rates provide higher "punch" but reduces overall long term battery life. Hope this helps.
-Brett
@@AMain_Hobbies This is the answer i wonder for years. now i know its safe to charge below 1C and i have time for that, i prefer more lifetime than punch. Thanks a lot Brett, its really helps.
You bet coco! Anything you need, let me know. Thanks.
-Brett
What does Cycle charge mean? Also you mention 5000mAh = 5apm = 1C, so if my batteries are 6800mAh = 7apm = 1.125 C? (My batteries are: 11.1V 6800mAh 3S 120C Smart G2 Basher Lipo)
You're 6800mAh batteries would have a 1C charge rate of 6.8amps. To find 1C, divide the battery capacity by 1000. So a 7200mAh battery would have a 1C of 7.2amps; a 2200mAh pack would be 2.2amps.
For a cycle charge, it's the philosophy of "breaking in the battery" before pushing it to the limits. Some chargers have a cycle charge mode, where the unit will first charge the battery up and then discharge the battery back down, effectively putting a "cycle" on the battery. Some people do this a few times with a brand new battery, some people do not, but that's the idea of cycle charging a LiPo battery.
-Brett
@@AMain_Hobbies Wow now I learn something new! Thank you! I believe I really Don't Need to be that extra careful and do a cycle charge since I have Smart G2 Sprektum 3S and 4S 6800mAh 120c batteries with the Sprektum S2200 charger?
How long can a lipo" months " remain in storage before dropping below 3.2?
n g short answer is a year or more from experience. Just remember to always put a “storage charge” in them before you store them.
@@davesmith9342 thanks for the answer Dave
At 2:07 does anyone know what the name of connector is called and where to get it? Thanks
That wire is the balance lead for certain 4S racing lipos. It looks like this: www.amainhobbies.com/protek-rc-4s-lipo-charge-balance-adapter-xh-female-to-xh-female-ptk-5331/p340403
-Brett
@@AMain_Hobbies thank you
What if it is puffed and it still works as it should? I know its not good if it is, but is it kinda ok to use, or is it a time bomb or something?
Ok thank you
Throw it in your neighbors trash can.
Sean Hatch hehe
@@bretrishelrc9789 Define puffed. SMC says their betterys will puff and its ok and common for the cells to expand. Thats what they told me after i took pics and emailed them.
@@stuart3712 i have 2, 8400 mah traxxas 3 cells and they are puffed to where they wobble around on the table easily and they have been like that for 2? years now
How do you safely remove a bad cell? I have made a 4s into a 3s after one cell puffed up, but twice I shorted it out and it took a chuck off the end of my pliers.
Lawrence - You should NEVER attempt to dismantle, disassemble or remove a bad cell from a Lithium Battery. This is not recommended and very dangerous. Please safely dispose your battery, as per the instructions of the original battery manufacturer.
-Brett
@@AMain_Hobbies indeed. #livingontheedge I didn't attempt. I succeeded 👌
#gamblingman #becarefulplease
@@AMain_Hobbies I will. As a retailer I guess it is not a good idea to recommend this. I will have to ask someone who is less responsible and less sue able 👍
I like to tape the terminals on the cells I'm not soldering on so nothing gets shorted out during the process. Take your time and make sure you cover whatever your not working on in that moment cause it's very easy to short it out with the soldering iron
how do you safety discharge a lipo battery
Most mid to high end chargers have a discharge feature, but a fully charged battery may take hours to discharge using the discharge function. Driving or flying your battery would be way faster. If you’re trying to discharge the battery it so it can be thrown away, discharge to 3.3 volts per cell, then soak it in salt water for 24 hours.
@@Mark-Dibble the salt water method has been reported to cause terminals to corrode quickly and break off before voltage is 0, connect it to a light or some source of draw in a safe location.
@@jayhagan8562 car headlight works. When the light goes out drive nail in the battery make sure it's safe for disposal
.02v? Not a lot of wiggle room. I found online anywhere up to .1 difference between cells issue ok. It all depends on how good of a charger you have. What does everyone else say the minimum difference between cells should be?
I think he meant .2v variation.
You're right, it really depends on the charger. If your charger can shrink the balance gap quickly, more power to you (see what I did there ;). If not, it can be a little work to get that spread balanced. Our 0.02V figure is just to keep beginners mindful of LiPo batteries, balancing cells, and creating the habit of being conscious of it. If you are an experienced R/C'er, take the voltage number with a grain of salt; the point is that you know how to remedy the situation when it occurs. Thanks for the feedback.
-Brett
AMain Hobbies thank you but stating ten times the deviation amount (.02 vs .2) hardly benefits beginners.
When I start from stowage. I check for less than .2v deviation. Balance cells to equal .01v. Charge at 1c. Slow discharge in respective application. Return to service.
To beginners, new batteries should always punch harder and maintain less than .02v cell to cell deviation in standard use discharge.
Thanks again.
I store my lipos with one lipo bag for each of them and all of that in one big lipo safe bag.. if you store in one lipo safe metal box if one catches fire... bye bye all your lipos could go up to 100$-500$ on baterries
Protect each baterry from each other
I thought I was the only one that stores each battery separately. 😂
All my batteries puff kind of a waste throw away. They charge and hold a storage and are balanced. So explain if you have lots of money to throw away?
KM RC Adventure ?
@@bigbearddaddy9067 ?
? Your question if you have lots of money to throw away?
In the video he said throw away any batteries the have puffed or bulged. Most of my batteries have slightly puffed but still balance and charge and hold a charge. So throwing them away is a waste of money because they still work. Now I did have a battery that puffed and I felt it was getting worse, so I threw that out. But generally all lipos puff slightly.
Christ!...having to keep a battery in a safe in a safe because it is unstable?. I recently built a cross rc mammoth which came with a LIPO. I had only used NIMH in the past but having researched the care and issues surrounding the use of LIPO has really put me off using it. For the added performance they give, I feel unless you are an RC Devotee, they are not worth the extra worry. I personally just use crawlers on a very casual basis, and they often stay stored for ages.
I disagree. A lipo with very different balance has most times a bad cell. Balancing it will work, but your battery often again draws more from one cell. Check your batterys "Internal Resistance" if your charges has that function. If the cells have very different IR dispose of it in a proper way.
I don't want backwoods tips. You're telling me one thing ( A-main) reputation on the line as professionals meanwhile comments and other major professional companies tweaked another way who do I believe. I spent 499 on a slash ultimate 4x4. Another 99 + on a 2s lipo/ charger Id I got 4 runs followed by the storage setting now I can't do a thing. I raced from the release of the sledgehammer to through stampede Lipo is new as am I fresh back in the game. Not a tinker toy boy. I need help. Should I contact traxxas? I did get a dusty face opening the batt charger combo box. Thought nothing of it at the time. My total was near 700 4 runs does not cut it.
Sorry to hear that Tom. How long did the LiPo's sit without use? Eventually, batteries discharge from sitting around, albeit slowly. But with enough time, they can discharge below the same zone, and the charger will no longer recognize them.
-Brett
I have never charged a battery at 1c, first of all my charger doesn’t go that high and charging them at max speed will reduce the life of that battery
It will not noticeably reduce the battery life☝🏽. Over discharge will, or overload. That always happens first 🤷🏾♂️
Only problem with how protek states to drain is it could get a "recharge" when not being actively drained. this is why it's BEST to drain SHORT CIRCUIT (cut off connectors and twist stripped wire ends together) THEN dispose of in trash. the "salt water" doesn't actually do anything except corrode the wires off making the battery even MORE dangerous.
Thank you for taking the time to read the manual Vyper. I will forward your notes to our team and see if the manual deserves a revision. Appreciate it and thanks for watching.
-Brett
Short circuit will immediately melt the wires off or cause the battery to explode!! Never ever do that! Might work for really small capacity lipos, but honestly a really really bad idea!!!
@@AMain_Hobbies actually no because you drain it to 0 first so there's no charge/power to melt. It's then also impossible for the battery to get a resting charge. Making it truly inert
Just because you balance the cells "voltage", does not mean the pack is OK, balance capacity (is the capacity per cell close enough) is another issue and IR per cell is one more. I never will trust Spektrum electronics, especially their radios.
Coppery haha
Exacterly ;)
-Brett