[jnidd]

Thanks for posting all the good ideas guys. I now have some reading to do

[Windfree]

That's what I do . I put a series / parallel bulb setup I used to use for checking NiCad motor packs across the output and leave them outside far from any flammables until dead and then in that state leave them for 12 hours or so still hooked up. I generally cut off the leads and take them to the recycle at the transfer centre with other stuff but occasionally just pitch them as they are not hazardous . If they contain any charge they can be bad news .

[airbourne]

Originally Posted by Beerwiser

Posts not relevant to this subject will be removed after a few days to keep the thread on topic.

Lipo Battery basics

Unlike conventional NiCad or NiMH battery cells that have a voltage of 1.2 volts per cell, LiPo battery cells are rated at 3.7 volts per cell. A fully charged cell is 4.21V and a dead cell is 3.0V which you never want to go below.

So if you got a battery such as a Flight Power that I have in my hand which has these numbers on it, this is what each of the numbers mean:

1200 mAh 3s 11.1V Li-Po
30C 36 Amp continuous 60C 72 Amp max bursts

First mAh= milliamp hours: how many milliamps you can draw for one hour before the battery is completely dead. This particular battery has a rating of 1200mAh so you can draw 1200ma for 1 hour before the battery is dead. Or you can draw 600mA for 2 hours or 2400mA for 30 minutes etc.

3s= 3 cells hooked in series. Like I said earlier each cell has a rating of 3.7V/cell so this battery has a voltage of 11.1V (3X3.7=11.1) When this battery is fully charged it will be at 12.63V (4.21X3) and when it is fully discharged it would be at 9V(3X3v). Some batteries will have a 3S2P. The 2P part means that there are cells hooked up in parallel, therefore doubling the capacity. If it were a 3S3P the capacity would be tripled and so on. When you hook cells up in parallel you don't increase voltage you just increase the amperage of the battery just like boosting a car battery.

30C means the capacity draw of the battery. On this battery 1C=1.2Amps (1200mAH/1000=1.2C). So under normal flying this battery can safely deliver 30C or 36 Amps continuously. This battery will also able to provide you with 60C or 72Amps of power in short burst.

Hopefully this help some people out.

Thanks To Michel Gravelle for posting this link, full of info on all your lipo question
http://sites.google.com/site/tjinguy...arging-how-tos

I would be very hesitant doing any math calculation having to do with continuous (or max/burst) amp draw a lipo is capable of based on the label that's been glued on.

Those are well known to be primarily for marketing purposes and have very little to do with what the battery can actually deliver.

[TobyFlenderson]

Thanks

[jgillies2001@gmail.com]

Thanks for the tutorial!