Utilizing LiPo Batteries for FPV Drones: Newbie’s Information with Prime Product Suggestions

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LiPo batteries are an unimaginable energy supply for FPV drones, offering a considerable quantity of vitality storage and supply capabilities. Nonetheless, if not dealt with accurately, they’ll pose security dangers. This information will cowl the fundamentals of LiPo batteries for FPV drones, together with protected charging practices and correct storage strategies when not in use.

Disclaimer: The knowledge on this web page is meant as common recommendation. Making certain battery security is your duty, and you need to use the knowledge supplied at your individual danger.

Battery Suggestions

When selecting LiPo batteries, at all times go for respected manufacturers to make sure efficiency and high quality. Select the smaller packs if you need a lighter, extra agile drone; select the bigger packs should you prioritize flight time over dealing with. Word {that a} bigger pack can ship extra present at the price of barely better weight, so there’s a commerce off to be made.

5″ Freestyle and Racing Drones

The commonest LiPo batteries used on 5″ FPV drones for freestyle and racing are 4S and 6S voltage. To know the variations between 4S and 6S, go to: https://oscarliang.com/6s-mini-quad-racing-drone/. Go along with 6S if you’re on the fence, it’s just about the trade normal in 2024. Typical battery capability for 4S is round 1300mAh  to 1600mAh, and for 6S that’s round 1000mah to 1300mah.

For 3″ FPV Drones

For micro drone batteries suggestions (Tiny whoops, 2″, 3″, 3.5″), try this submit: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/.

Are LiPo Batteries Secure?

When dealt with accurately, LiPo batteries are completely protected. Nonetheless, LiPo batteries could catch fireplace because of improper dealing with or bodily injury. Making certain security includes cautious therapy and vigilance in dealing with your batteries.

Understanding LiPo Battery Fundamentals

Lithium polymer batteries, or LiPo batteries, boast an distinctive power-to-weight ratio, making them a super alternative for FPV drones.

To pick out the suitable LiPo battery, it’s essential to discover ways to interpret its specs and change into aware of important terminology, which will probably be defined within the following sections.

LiPo Battery Voltage

LiPo batteries encompass particular person cells, every with a nominal voltage of three.7V, which is indicated on the battery label.

A LiPo battery is designed to function safely inside a selected voltage vary, sometimes between 3.0V and 4.2V. Overcharging a LiPo battery above 4.2V is harmful and will result in a fireplace. Discharging beneath 3V could lead to irreversible efficiency degradation or battery injury. This minimal voltage can also be known as the cut-off voltage. It’s usually really useful to cease discharging when the battery reaches 3.5V per cell to increase its lifespan.

Cell Rely

LiPo batteries could have a number of cells. The ‘S’ score on a battery refers to t±±he variety of cells it has. So, a 6S battery has six cells, a 4S battery has 4, and so forth. As a result of every cell has a nominal voltage of three.7V, a 4S battery has a nominal voltage of 4 x 3.7V = 14.8V, whereas a 6S battery has a nominal voltage of 6 x 3.7V = 22.2V.

Battery voltage immediately impacts motor pace, so utilizing a better cell-count battery can improve your drone’s energy (assuming the drone helps the upper voltage). Nonetheless, including extra cells additionally makes the battery heavier and dearer.

Within the interest, we sometimes seek advice from batteries by their cell depend or “S” designation:

• 1S = 1 cell = 3.7V
• 2S = 2 cells = 7.4V
• 3S = 3 cells = 11.1V
• 4S = 4 cells = 14.8V
• 5S = 5 cells = 18.5V
• 6S = 6 cells = 22.2V

For instance, we name a 14.8V battery a “4-cell” or simply “4S” battery.

Fascinating information:

• Connecting two an identical batteries in sequence doubles the voltage however doesn’t change capability (e.g., two 2S 1000mAh batteries in sequence change into a 4S 1000mAh battery). Connecting them in parallel doubles capability whereas sustaining the identical voltage (e.g., a 2S 2000mAh pack).
• LiPos may use a “P” designation for voltage, with “P” indicating the variety of cells in parallel. 2S1P means “2 cells in sequence and 1 cell in parallel.” If a battery doesn’t have a “P,” it’s assumed to be “1P,” so 2S1P and 2S are the identical.
• 3S2P means “3 cells in sequence and a pair of cells in parallel.” This battery has a complete of 6 cells, with 2 parallel teams of cells, every containing 3 cells in sequence.

Capability

The capability of a LiPo battery, measured in mAh (milliampere-hour), signifies how a lot present you may draw from the battery repeatedly for an hour till it’s empty. Word that 1000mAh equals 1Ah.

For instance, with a 1300mAh LiPo (or 1.3Ah), it might take an hour to be utterly discharged should you draw a relentless 1.3A present from it. If the present draw doubles to 2.6A, the length could be halved (1.3/2.6=0.5). When you draw 39A of present continuous, the pack would final solely 2 minutes (1.3/39=1/30 of an hour).

Growing your battery capability may provide longer flight time, however the tradeoff is a heavier, bigger battery. Weight considerably impacts an plane’s flight time, so it’s important to decide on a battery with an optimum steadiness between capability and weight for max effectivity.

Increased capability batteries might additionally present larger discharge currents, as defined within the subsequent part.

C Ranking

C Ranking is an indicator of the utmost present you may safely draw from a LiPo battery with out inflicting injury. In idea, this may be calculated by:

Most Present Draw = Capability x C-Ranking

Drawing extra present than specified by the C-rating isn’t really useful, because the battery can overheat, improve inside resistance over time, shorten battery lifespan, and even trigger thermal runaway (catching fireplace) in excessive instances.

Batteries with larger C-ratings are usually heavier and bigger even on the similar capability. For instance, these two 4S 650mAh batteries proven within the picture have totally different weight and sizes because of differing C-ratings.

 The next C-rating battery presents higher efficiency, particularly for power-hungry drones, however it’s not at all times your best option. On a low-power cruiser, additional energy from a better C-rating battery may be pointless, whereas the added weight may very well be counterproductive and lead to much less flight time. It’s all about utilizing the proper software for the job.

Though C-rating may very well be a great tool, it has change into largely a advertising and marketing software lately, so take it with a grain of salt. Manufacturers may inflate C-rating numbers, making it meaningless for comparability between manufacturers. Nonetheless, it could nonetheless be useful for selecting a battery from the identical model, assuming they comply with the identical normal. So long as you choose batteries from our suggestions, C-rating shouldn’t be a serious concern.

Inside Resistance

All electrical elements have resistance, together with batteries. The resistance inside a battery is named inside resistance (IR), which signifies how a lot the battery resists present stream. Inside resistance can be utilized to measure LiPo battery efficiency. Decrease IR means the battery can ship energy to your FPV drone extra successfully.

Monitoring IR over time can also be helpful for figuring out when to retire a LiPo battery. LiPo cells’ IR will increase slowly with time and utilization, an inevitable and irreversible course of. The next unhealthy practices can speed up battery growing older:

• Over-discharging and over-charging
• Pushing the battery too laborious by discharging at a better present than it’s rated for, for an prolonged interval
• Overheating

The most important issue affecting a battery’s most discharge fee is its inside resistance. Excessive IR results in extra noticeable voltage drop as you improve throttle, a phenomenon referred to as “voltage sag”. As voltage decreases, motors lose RPM, and the drone feels much less highly effective and responsive.

Some batteries are designed for low-current purposes (e.g., 8C or 10C score for powering a radio), which inherently have larger IR. 18650 Li-ion batteries even have larger IR than typical LiPo batteries, which is regular.

For extra data on when to retire a battery and how one can measure inside resistance, try our devoted article on the subject: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/

Discharge Connector

All LiPo batteries include two units of wires/connectors: the discharge connector (essential lead) and steadiness connector (steadiness lead). Nonetheless, 1S batteries solely have a discharge connector since balancing isn’t required for 1 cell.

The discharge lead sometimes consists of two thicker purple and black wires used to energy the FPV drone.

One other set of smaller wires connects to a white connector; that is the steadiness lead. The variety of wires is dependent upon the battery’s cell depend.

The commonest discharge connector is the XT60, primarily utilized in 5″ FPV drones or bigger. For smaller drones, the XT30, a smaller model of the XT60, is usually used. They’ve comparable shapes however differ in sizes and present rankings.

Different battery connectors generally utilized in FPV drones and tools embrace:

For extra data on electrical wires and connectors, seek advice from our in-depth article on the subject: https://oscarliang.com/wires-connectors/

Stability Connector

LiPo batteries with a couple of cell will at all times have a steadiness lead, which is for monitoring and balancing cell voltages. The official title of the steadiness connector is JST-XH.

You will have to attach the steadiness result in the charger when charging. This enables the charger to verify and steadiness the voltage of every cell throughout charging. Importantly, at all times plug within the steadiness lead earlier than charging!

The variety of wires in a steadiness lead begins at 3 for a 2S LiPo, and that quantity will increase by 1 for each increment in cell depend:

• 2S – 3 wires
• 3S – 4 wires
• 4S – 5 wires
• 5S – 6 wires
• 6S – 7 wires

It’s not unusual in your steadiness result in be broken by spinning propellers throughout flight. To discover ways to restore a damaged steadiness lead, seek advice from our detailed tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/fix-balance-plug-lipo-replace/

If the steadiness lead is lengthy, think about using a rubber band to strap it down, it could additionally reduces the vibrations brought on by the dangling cable.

Holding Battery Balanced

It’s vital to ensure the cells in a battery are inside comparable vary earlier than utilizing it, in any other case you may danger over-discharging the cells with decrease voltage. Additionally if a battery pack persistently change into unbalanced, the cells most likely have totally different inside resistance and ought to be inspected extra carefully.

Simply plug within the steadiness lead right into a voltage checker and it’ll show the voltage of all cells. Get a voltage checker right here: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-tools/#LiPo-Voltage-Checker

Battery Varieties

LiPo

LiPo stands for lithium polymer, it’s the usual battery chemistry used for racing and freestyle FPV drones. LiPo has a completely charged voltage of 4.2 V and storage cost voltage of round 3.85V.

LiHV

LiHV is a particular kind of LiPo battery, with HV standing for “excessive voltage.” They’re extra energy-dense than conventional LiPo batteries and might be charged as much as 4.35V per cell (versus the usual 4.20V). Nonetheless, there are combined evaluations concerning the longevity of LiHV batteries, as they could expertise a lower in efficiency ahead of common LiPos. In our submit, we in contrast a LiHV battery with a LiPo when it comes to efficiency. Regardless of these considerations, LiHV batteries have change into a well-liked alternative for 1S Tiny Whoops as a result of the influence of the upper voltage is important.

Li-Ion

Li-Ion stands for Lithium ion, sometimes have a a lot larger capability in comparison with LiPo of the identical weight. Due to its larger capability per weight, Li-Ion batteries are nice for lengthy vary flying. Nonetheless it has a lot decrease discharging efficiency, making it not appropriate for aggressive flying. Study extra about Li-Ion batteries and suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/

Selecting the Proper LiPo Battery

When you comply with my LiPo battery suggestions, you may keep away from worrying about calculations I’m going to indicate you beneath. Additionally make sure that to keep away from “no-name” batteries, and persist with respected manufacturers equivalent to:

• GNB (Gaoneng)
• CNHL (China Pastime Line)
• Lumenier (GetFPV)
• RDQ
• Tattu R-Line
• Dogcom

Right here’s I’ll present you the way to decide on a super battery in your drone.

How Many Packs Ought to Learners Purchase?

You may actually purchase as many battery packs as you need, however I believe 4 packs is an effective quantity if you’re simply beginning to fly FPV. Assuming every flight lasts round 5 to 10 minutes (bearing in mind the time you stroll to select up your crashed quad, preflight preparation, and brief breaks between flights), you’ll have as much as 40 minutes of flying time with simply 4 packs. When you’ve got a option to cost your batteries within the subject, you may lengthen your flying time considerably. Study extra about subject charging right here: https://oscarliang.com/field-charging/

Weight

As a rule of thumb, the battery ought to weigh roughly half the load of the freestyle or racing drone (excluding the GoPro). When you comply with my battery suggestions, the efficiency ought to be adequate, and also you received’t want to think about anything. For lengthy vary and cinematic FPV drones, a bigger battery could also be used to maximise flight time, the place responsiveness and energy isn’t the priorities, the battery might be as heavy because the drone itself or extra.

In case your drone has a special measurement or weight class, you may comply with the extra guidelines beneath.

Figuring out Drone Present Draw

After deciding on motor and propeller sizes, you need to be capable to discover thrust information in your motor, in addition to the present draw for supported propeller sizes. For instance, with this motor and 5040×3 props, it attracts as much as 36.74A at 100% throttle.

The whole most present draw for a quadcopter with 4 motors could be 36.74 x 4 = 146.96A at 100% throttle. If you wish to play it protected, you should utilize this quantity to discover a battery with a excessive sufficient C-rating. Nonetheless, I often scale back it by 30-40% for 2 causes: firstly, we hardly ever fly at 100% throttle for various seconds (I personally largely fly at round 40-60% throttle); and secondly, motors draw considerably fewer amps in actual life than in static thrust assessments because of shifting air.

Though different elements additionally draw present, their influence is insignificant in comparison with the motors, so you may often disregard them.

Selecting optimum battery capability

I’ve a desk right here that can assist you resolve what battery measurement you want for specific setup: https://oscarliang.com/table-prop-motor-lipo-weight/

Now you want to work out the acceptable battery capability, which is dependent upon the dimensions of your quadcopter, and C score required. Right here is the final guideline I personally comply with for a freestyle/racing drone:

For 4S LiPo:

7 inch: 1500mah - 2200mah 5 inch: 1300mah - 1800mah 4 inch: 850mah - 1300mmah 3 inch: 650mah -1000mah

For 6S LiPo:

7 inch: 1200mah - 1500mah 5 inch: 900mah - 1300mah 4 inch: 550mah - 900mmah 3 inch: 400mah - 650mah

From there, we are able to calculate the C score requirement utilizing this system:

C Ranking = Present Draw / Capability

The best way to Cost LiPo

Deciding on A LiPo Charger

To cost LiPo batteries, you’ll want a charger particularly designed for them because of their strict charging necessities. You may discover ways to select a high-quality LiPo charger on this purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/choose-lipo-battery-charger-power-supply/

The next data applies should you select a charger from my suggestions.

Connecting a LiPo to a Charger

Charging LiPo batteries with most fashionable chargers is kind of easy. Sometimes, you simply have to plug within the XT60 and steadiness connectors, set just a few parameters, and also you’re good to go.

Charger Modes

• Stability Cost: Whereas charging the battery, the charger displays the voltage of every cell and retains them balanced. That is the most secure and most really useful technique of charging your LiPo battery.
• Storage Cost: The charger brings every cell to storage voltage (which is between 3.80V and three.85V, relying on the charger).
• Discharge: The charger makes an attempt to empty the LiPo battery (this course of might be extraordinarily sluggish, relying on the discharging energy of the charger).

The Significance of Stability Charging

At all times plug within the steadiness lead earlier than charging.

Every cell in a battery has slight variations, and after a flight, you may discover that the cell voltages differ. Charging a battery with imbalanced cell voltages with out utilizing the steadiness lead might result in some cells ending up beneath 4.2V and others exceeding 4.2V, which is harmful.

Most fashionable LiPo chargers have steadiness charging as the one charging mode. When you’ve got an affordable or outdated charger that enables charging with out the steadiness lead, discard it instantly and put money into a correct charger. Charging with out the steadiness lead is unsafe!

Charging Pace: How Quick Ought to You Cost?

Charging LiPo batteries at 1C or decrease is really useful, because it places the least pressure on the battery. This implies setting the cost present to 1 instances the battery’s capability. For instance, for a 1500mAh LiPo, charging at 1C means setting the cost present to 1.5A (1C x 1500mA), and for a 900mAh battery, that’s 0.9A, and so forth.

Enjoyable Reality: Charging at 1C will take roughly one hour to completely cost the battery from empty.

Many batteries now assist sooner charging, equivalent to at 3C and even 5C. Make sure you perceive your LiPo’s specs earlier than charging at larger charges. If doubtful, simply cost at 1C, as charging your battery at larger C charges will increase the danger of LiPo overheating or inflicting a fireplace.

Select a Secure Charging Location

It’s essential to cost your batteries in an space freed from flammable objects and supplies. In case you are charging indoors, attempt to do it close to a window or door so as to rapidly throw the battery out in case of a hearth.

I personally retailer and cost my batteries in an ammo field (accessible on Amazon). Don’t rely solely on “LiPo Baggage”; they might decelerate a LiPo fireplace, however they received’t utterly comprise it. At all times hold a fireplace extinguisher close by when charging batteries.

By no means Depart Charging LiPo Batteries Unattended

Don’t depart the room whereas charging your batteries. Many LiPo-related fires happen as a result of folks depart the charging course of unattended. It’s best to at all times supervise LiPo batteries throughout charging. Recurrently verify their temperature; they need to stay cool. If a battery turns into heat or begins to swell, cease charging and examine. It may very well be a defective LiPo that must be retired, an overcharging problem, or just charging too rapidly.

Different Security Guidelines

Incorrect dealing with of LiPo batteries can probably trigger fires. Please familiarize your self with these security guidelines earlier than dealing with or charging batteries:

• Choose up LiPo batteries by the physique, not the wires, which might be pulled off from fragile solder joints.
• Permit batteries to chill down utterly after a flight earlier than charging them.
• By no means use or cost a broken or swollen battery.
• Confirm the variety of cells and battery kind are set accurately in your charger earlier than charging.
• Keep away from overcharging. Whereas sensible chargers can usually handle this for you, it’s clever to verify cell voltages recurrently.
• Preserve batteries out of direct daylight.
• At all times take away the battery from the machine it’s powering and place it in a protected space earlier than charging.
• By no means brief the outputs of a battery at any time.

Parallel charging

Parallel charging will not be the most secure technique for charging LiPo batteries, however it presents a fast option to cost a number of batteries concurrently. I’ve a complete tutorial that explains how one can safely carry out parallel charging: https://oscarliang.com/parallel-charging-multiple-lipo/

Charging 1S LiPo batteries

Charging small 1S batteries is usually a bit totally different than charging bigger packs. One choice is to cost a number of 1S batteries utilizing a parallel board, which basically combines them as one massive 1S battery. Nonetheless, the simplest technique for charging 1S batteries is to make use of a devoted 1S battery charger or serial cost board. Try my suggestions for 1S battery chargers right here: https://oscarliang.com/best-tiny-whoop/#Finest-Tiny-Whoop-Chargers

The best way to Use LiPo Batteries Safely

How lengthy you may depart LiPo batteries totally charged?

It’s okay to cost your batteries the day earlier than your flights. Nonetheless, personally, if I don’t fly the subsequent couple of days, I at all times return my batteries to storage voltage (e.g. 3.8V per cell).

Keep away from leaving them totally charged or empty for prolonged intervals. Batteries not at their storage voltage will degrade sooner over time. Usually, most individuals discover it acceptable to depart batteries totally charged or discharged for just a few days. Nonetheless, should you don’t plan to fly for greater than a few weeks, it’s finest to place your batteries at storage cost. Most fashionable chargers can do that simply, however discharging might be sluggish. You may wish to contemplate getting a devoted discharger should you do that steadily: https://oscarliang.com/discharge-lipo-batteries/

Working Temperature

FPV drone LiPo batteries carry out optimally between 30°C and 60°C. Chilly climate negatively impacts LiPo battery efficiency, leading to worse voltage sag and diminished flight time. Preserve your batteries heat earlier than a flight (e.g., by putting them in your pocket). Listed here are some further tips about how one can fly FPV in chilly climate: https://oscarliang.com/fly-fpv-winter/

LiPo batteries additionally undergo in extreme warmth, as they’ll swell and even catch fireplace. Be sure to not depart them below direct daylight in the summertime!

When to Land

It’s best to land your drone when your battery voltage reaches 3.5V to three.6V.

Though you may proceed flying with decrease voltages, doing so places additional pressure on the battery and will shorten its lifespan. All cells in a battery are totally different, and through a burst of throttle, the battery will sag with some cells sagging greater than others. This may end up in cells going beneath the protected restrict and inflicting injury. Touchdown at round 3.5V reduces the danger of this taking place.

Another excuse to land early is that voltage drops considerably sooner beneath 3.5V. Persevering with to fly might lead to over-discharging your battery earlier than you may land safely. Over-discharging could cause everlasting injury and shorten battery life.

The best way to Retailer LiPo Batteries

As talked about earlier, should you don’t plan to make use of a LiPo battery for an prolonged interval (longer than just a few weeks, for instance), you need to:

1. Storage cost it to three.8-3.85V
2. Retailer it in a fireproof place (in LiPo baggage, ammo field, and so forth.)
3. Retailer it at room temperature – excessively chilly or scorching circumstances can influence battery lifespan and security

When a LiPo cell is round 3.8V-3.85V, it has roughly 40% to 50% cost remaining. That is essentially the most steady state for a LiPo battery, which is why new batteries from retailers sometimes arrive half charged.

LiPo Secure Baggage

LiPo baggage are made of material, usually with a metallic compound woven into them, and customarily have both a zipper or Velcro fastener. They supply light-weight, cheap storage for battery transportation. Whereas LiPo baggage could decelerate a battery fireplace, they don’t seem to be efficient at stopping or containing one. For long-term storage, a steel ammo field is really useful. Nonetheless, LiPo baggage are comparatively inexpensive and nonetheless higher than nothing.

Get your LiPo baggage from:

Ammo Field

Earlier than utilizing an ammo field to retailer your LiPo batteries, take away the rubber seal on the lid (simply pry it off with a screwdriver). If attainable, drill a few small holes to permit air to flee within the occasion of a hearth (or make sure the field isn’t tightly shut) to forestall stress buildup inside an hermetic steel container.

Get your Ammo Field from:

Bat-Secure LiPo Field

The Bat-Secure field safely incorporates battery fires, vents scorching gases, filters flame and soot, whereas guaranteeing straightforward battery charging and transportation. It’s just like the upgraded model of the Ammo field. See my full overview right here: https://oscarliang.com/bat-safe-lipo-battery-charging-box/

Yow will discover the Bat-Secure Field right here:

What to do with over-discharged LiPo

Utterly discharging a LiPo battery may end up in oxidation of the cells over time, inflicting a everlasting discount in efficiency. Nonetheless, if detected rapidly sufficient, you may often save the battery with out vital injury to its efficiency.

Chargers could not acknowledge an over-discharged battery because of low cell voltage. In such instances, it’s advisable to discard the battery. There are methods to rescue an over-discharged LiPo, however proceed at your individual danger.

Touring with LiPo Batteries

Many airways and airports enable LiPo batteries in passengers’ carry-on baggage. Preserve the next factors in thoughts:

1. At all times verify along with your airline about touring with LiPo batteries
2. Don’t carry LiPo batteries in your checked baggage
3. Place your batteries in storage cost
4. Tape or cowl the connectors and retailer them in a LiPo protected bag
5. By no means journey with broken batteries

For extra data, see my information on “The best way to journey with mini quad and LiPo batteries”: https://oscarliang.com/travel-fpv-drone-lipo-plane/

What to Do if a LiPo Battery Catches Fireplace

1. Don’t panic; if attainable, unplug all connections first
2. Use a fireplace extinguisher
3. If that’s not an choice, sand can successfully put out a LiPo fireplace; cowl the burning LiPo with sand
4. Keep away from inhaling smoke and anticipate the fireplace to exit and the battery to chill
5. Do NOT use water

LiPo Disposal

When to Retire a LiPo Battery

LiPo batteries have a restricted cycle life, with every cost and discharge counting as one cycle. A well-maintained LiPo battery for RC fashions might probably final over 300 cycles. Nonetheless, for a lot of customers, damaging the battery bodily earlier than reaching that time is a typical incidence.

There isn’t a selected rule for when to get rid of a battery, however LiPo batteries can lose their “punch” and capability as inside resistance builds up over time. Inside resistance is an effective indication of battery well being. It’s best to positively get rid of a battery if it turns into dented from a crash or if it’s swollen like a balloon.

Study extra about when to retire or get rid of a LiPo battery on this article: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/

The best way to Get rid of LiPo Batteries

Outdated and broken LiPo batteries ought to be disposed of correctly. Study in regards to the alternative ways of disposing LiPo batteries on this article: https://oscarliang.com/dispose-lipo-battery-safely/. By no means to puncture LiPo batteries, as doing so could cause a fireplace.

FAQ

Listed here are some widespread questions from hobbyists.

Q: Are swollen (puffed) LiPo batteries harmful? A: Sure, swollen LiPo batteries usually are not protected to make use of or retailer.

Q: What causes LiPo batteries to change into swollen? A: LiPo batteries swell when fuel will get trapped contained in the cells. This may happen naturally, however bodily abuse (equivalent to injury, overheating, or over-discharging) could cause the battery to generate extra fuel.

Q: Can I repair a puffed LiPo battery? A: No, you may’t. As soon as a LiPo battery turns into swollen, it’s irreversible. Get rid of it correctly as quickly as attainable.

Q: How can I keep away from swollen batteries? A: To keep away from swollen batteries:

• Don’t over-discharge – use a voltage alarm or monitoring system
• Don’t overheat – keep away from leaving batteries below the solar or near warmth sources, and don’t overload the battery
• By no means overcharge – arrange your charger correctly and monitor it whereas charging
• Retailer your LiPo batteries correctly, as talked about earlier on this article

Q: Do new batteries have to be damaged in? A: Break-in procedures for brand spanking new batteries are a controversial subject within the FPV group. Some consider that new batteries ought to undergo a sequence of sluggish cost and discharge cycles earlier than being totally utilized. Others, like myself, have tried this technique and located no noticeable distinction. For extra dialogue on the subject, see this discussion board thread.

Technical Phrases

• Minimize-off voltage – the voltage at which a battery is taken into account discharged utterly; For LiPo it’s 3.0V
• Cycle life – 1 cycle is while you cost and discharge a battery. The cycle life is the whole variety of cycles the battery will final
• State of cost – the vitality degree of a battery from 0% to 100%.
• Burst C-Ranking – the utmost discharge fee over a brief time frame (usually inside 10 seconds)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you made it!

Hopefully, you’ve realized one thing about LiPo batteries and how one can use them safely. Nonetheless, this information doesn’t cowl all the pieces you want to know. When you’re unsure about something, proceed researching to make sure you’re dealing with your LiPo batteries as safely as attainable. Completely satisfied flying.

Edit Historical past

• 2017 – Article created.
• 2018 – Added product suggestions.
• 2019 – Up to date Rationalization of Cell Rely and IR, added data on “how one can cost”.
• 2023 – Up to date information.
• Could 2024 – Up to date information and product suggestions.