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Thread: Lipo How Long Reply to Thread

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[QUOTE=JamesK;1512570]Thanks for posting that video oviroble; I'll be able to point people to it as short course in LIPO charge states.

Last spring I apparently demonstrated "destabilizing the polymer" that he speaks of at about 2:30 with a set of 5S Voltz packs that I accidentally left fully charged for about three months. I was trying to track down the cause of a vibration on my 600 heli, so I'd charge, then test, then discharge to store, then at some point try some fix and repeat. Eventually I lost my way.

The end result was that when I resolved the problem and started flying it again, that set of packs dramatically puffed on the second cycle. They had only 158 total cycles on them, while the the other two sets that I was using continued on to 220 cycles before I retired them. An expensive mistake.

On the other hand, low current draw applications must hide the damage - I've got club mates who leave their 3S 2200 packs fully charged at all times for their foamy warbirds and have many, many flights on them.

Regards,
James[/QUOTE]

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03-28-2014 12:07 PM

gixerfien

Re: Lipo How Long

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesK

I had a 3 cell 2200 go on me after only using it MAYBE 5 times and then leaving it charged the whole winter. Come spring went out to use it, worked perfectly fine, and then put it on charge and only registered on charger as a 2 cell. Was my first start into lipos and now I NEVER leave em charged, ALWAYS STORED

03-27-2014 01:02 PM

JamesK

Re: Lipo How Long

Quote:

Originally Posted by oviroble

Check this out

Thanks for posting that video oviroble; I'll be able to point people to it as short course in LIPO charge states.

Last spring I apparently demonstrated "destabilizing the polymer" that he speaks of at about 2:30 with a set of 5S Voltz packs that I accidentally left fully charged for about three months. I was trying to track down the cause of a vibration on my 600 heli, so I'd charge, then test, then discharge to store, then at some point try some fix and repeat. Eventually I lost my way.

The end result was that when I resolved the problem and started flying it again, that set of packs dramatically puffed on the second cycle. They had only 158 total cycles on them, while the the other two sets that I was using continued on to 220 cycles before I retired them. An expensive mistake.

On the other hand, low current draw applications must hide the damage - I've got club mates who leave their 3S 2200 packs fully charged at all times for their foamy warbirds and have many, many flights on them.

Regards,
James

03-08-2014 08:31 AM

davidmc36

Re: Lipo How Long

Quote:

Originally Posted by oviroble

Check this out

Yes, important point summed up at: 2:30-2:34

"Even storing batteries at a full charge will begin to destabilize the polymer."

Other important point at: 3:24-3:28

"On the low voltage side, umm, we actually start doing damage to the plating itself."

That's all you need to know.

03-08-2014 08:22 AM

davidmc36

Re: Lipo How Long

http://www.teamassociated.com/pdf/ca...%206_19_13.pdf

6) Higher cell voltage during storage will increase the self-discharge rate of the battery, which may lead to over-discharge and deteriorate battery performance. It is recommended that the battery remain at a lower voltage (about 3.8V/cell) throughout the period of storage. If the battery is to be stored for longer than one year, the user should charge the battery at least once per year to 3.8V/cell to prevent over-discharge.

03-08-2014 08:12 AM

oviroble

Re: Lipo How Long

Check this out

+ YouTube Video

03-08-2014 07:36 AM

astrofler

Re: Lipo How Long

When I first started flying lipos I kept them charged all the time. Came home from the field and charged that night for the next time out. The lipos lasted just fine. In fact some of those still work ok, just a bit lazy.

Then due to the current thinking I started leaving them discharged. Frankly I do not see any difference. The batteries I have now last about the same.

All batteries have a shelf life and start to deteriorate the moment they are manufactured. They get lazy as internal resistance goes up over time.

I think the big thing about Lipo storage is to have them kept in a cool place. I also think the discharge storage thing is like the old nicad memory argument. No definite answer for either.

Pulling to much current and letting them get hot because of that is a far bigger killer lipos IMHO.

03-08-2014 01:17 AM

gixerfien

Re: Lipo How Long

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4stripes

Not any hard data on this subject but after one winter a pair of my nano tech batteries were junk. Only a couple runs when new.

I've had batteries with only a couple flights on them crap out as well after a winter of being left charged. That was my first year with lipos and have now learned my lesson.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmc36

The longer you keep a LiPo at full charge the shorter it's life becomes. A few weeks may not be terminal but will certainly take some life off of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbourne

Best practice is to charge them up the day you need them or night before.

Leaving them full for a week or two probably won't do much, but longer than that may cause permanent damage as other have said.

I fully agree, as a general rule I'm not a fan of even leaving them charged for a week. All thought I have, and as it was mentioned, It will degrade the life of the pack even if they were left charged for a week I believe.

03-07-2014 11:16 PM

airbourne

Re: Lipo How Long

Quote:

Originally Posted by Con

Yes I have all my Lipos on storage right now, I just wondered how much harm if any it would do them to keep them on full charge for a few weeks, thanks for the advice guys.

03-07-2014 03:47 PM

Con

Re: Lipo How Long

Yes I have all my Lipos on storage right now, I just wondered how much harm if any it would do them to keep them on full charge for a few weeks, thanks for the advice guys.

03-07-2014 03:22 PM

davidmc36

Re: Lipo How Long

The longer you keep a LiPo at full charge the shorter it's life becomes. A few weeks may not be terminal but will certainly take some life off of it.

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