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LiPo batteries are an unimaginable energy supply for FPV drones, offering a considerable quantity of power storage and supply capabilities. Nevertheless, if not dealt with appropriately, 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.
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Disclaimer: The knowledge on this web page is meant as normal recommendation. Guaranteeing battery security is your accountability, and you need to use the data supplied at your individual threat.
Battery Suggestions
When selecting LiPo batteries, all the time go for respected manufacturers to make sure efficiency and high quality. Select the smaller packs in order for you a lighter, extra agile drone; select the bigger packs in case you prioritize flight time over dealing with. Notice {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 most typical LiPo batteries used on 5″ FPV drones for freestyle and racing are 4S and 6S voltage. To grasp the variations between 4S and 6S, go to: https://oscarliang.com/6s-mini-quad-racing-drone/. In case you are on the fence, I like to recommend going with 6S, it’s just about the trade normal in 2025. Typical battery capability for 4S 5inch is round 1500mAh, and for 6S that’s between 1000mah and 1300mah.
For 3″ FPV Drones
For micro drone batteries suggestions (Tiny whoops, 2″, 3″, 3.5″), take a look at this put up: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/.
Dogcom 4S 850mAh / 6S 650mAh:
Tattu R-Line 4S 850mAh / 6S 550mAh:
Are LiPo Batteries Protected?
When dealt with appropriately, LiPo batteries are completely protected. Nevertheless, LiPo batteries might catch fireplace attributable to improper dealing with or bodily harm. Guaranteeing security entails cautious remedy and vigilance in dealing with your batteries. Retailer and cost them in a fireproof place to attenuate threat.
Understanding LiPo Battery Fundamentals
Lithium polymer batteries, or LiPo batteries, boast an distinctive power-to-weight ratio, making them an excellent selection for FPV drones.
To pick out the suitable LiPo battery, it’s essential to discover ways to interpret its specs and grow to be conversant in important terminology, which can 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 should result in a fireplace. Discharging beneath 3V might lead to irreversible efficiency degradation or battery harm. 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 Depend
LiPo batteries might have a number of cells. The ‘S’ ranking 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 instantly impacts motor pace, so utilizing a better cell-count battery can enhance your drone’s energy (assuming the drone helps the upper voltage). Nevertheless, including extra cells additionally makes the battery heavier and dearer.
Within the passion, we sometimes seek advice from batteries by their cell rely 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.
Attention-grabbing details:
- Connecting two equivalent batteries in collection doubles the voltage however doesn’t change capability (e.g., two 2S 1000mAh batteries in collection grow to be a 4S 1000mAh battery). Connecting them in parallel doubles capability whereas sustaining the identical voltage (e.g., a 2S 2000mAh pack).
- LiPos might also use a “P” designation for voltage, with “P” indicating the variety of cells in parallel. 2S1P means “2 cells in collection 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 collection and a couple of cells in parallel.” This battery has a complete of 6 cells, with 2 parallel teams of cells, every containing 3 cells in collection.
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. Notice that 1000mAh equals 1Ah.
For instance, with a 1300mAh LiPo (or 1.3Ah), it could take an hour to be utterly discharged in case you draw a relentless 1.3A present from it. If the present draw doubles to 2.6A, the length can be halved (1.3/2.6=0.5). Should you draw 39A of present continuous, the pack would final solely 2 minutes (1.3/39=1/30 of an hour).
Rising your battery capability may supply 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 optimum effectivity.
Increased capability batteries may additionally present larger discharge currents, as defined within the subsequent part.
C Score
C Score is an indicator of the utmost present you may safely draw from a LiPo battery with out inflicting harm. In principle, this may be calculated by:
Most Present Draw = Capability x C-Score
Drawing extra present than specified by the C-rating isn’t really useful, because the battery can overheat, enhance inner resistance over time, shorten battery lifespan, and even trigger thermal runaway (catching fireplace) in excessive instances.
Batteries with larger C-ratings are typically heavier and bigger even on the identical capability. For instance, these two 4S 650mAh batteries proven within the picture have completely different weight and sizes attributable to differing C-ratings.
Though C-rating might be a useful gizmo, it has grow to be principally a advertising software lately, so take it with a grain of salt. Manufacturers may inflate C-rating numbers, making it meaningless for comparability between manufacturers. Nevertheless, it might 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 significant concern.
Inner Resistance
All electrical parts have resistance, together with batteries. The resistance inside a battery is known as inner resistance (IR), which signifies how a lot the battery resists present movement. Inner 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 arduous by discharging at a better present than it’s rated for, for an prolonged interval
- Overheating
The largest issue affecting a battery’s most discharge fee is its inner resistance. Excessive IR results in extra noticeable voltage drop as you enhance throttle, a phenomenon often called “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 ranking 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 find out how to measure inner resistance, take a look at 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 (predominant lead) and steadiness connector (steadiness lead). Nevertheless, 1S batteries solely have a discharge connector since balancing isn’t required for 1 cell.
The discharge lead sometimes consists of two thicker crimson 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 rely.
The most typical 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 commonly used. They’ve related shapes however differ in sizes and present rankings.
Different battery connectors generally utilized in FPV drones and gear embody:
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 multiple cell will all the time have a steadiness lead, which is for monitoring and balancing cell voltages. The official title of the steadiness connector is JST-XH.
You will want to attach the steadiness result in the charger when charging. This permits the charger to verify and steadiness the voltage of every cell throughout charging. Importantly, all the time 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 rely:
- 2S – 3 wires
- 3S – 4 wires
- 4S – 5 wires
- 5S – 6 wires
- 6S – 7 wires
It’s not unusual on 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 might additionally reduces the vibrations attributable to the dangling cable.
Preserving Battery Balanced
It’s necessary to ensure the cells in a battery are inside related vary earlier than utilizing it, in any other case you may threat over-discharging the cells with decrease voltage. Additionally if a battery pack persistently grow to be unbalanced, the cells in all probability have completely different inner resistance and ought to be inspected extra intently.
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 Sorts
LiPo
LiPo stands for lithium polymer, it’s the usual battery chemistry used for racing and freestyle FPV drones. LiPo has a totally charged voltage of 4.2 V and storage cost voltage of round 3.85V.
LiHV
LiHV is a particular sort of LiPo battery, with HV standing for “excessive voltage.” They’re extra energy-dense than conventional LiPo batteries and may be charged as much as 4.35V per cell (versus the usual 4.20V). Nevertheless, there are combined opinions relating to the longevity of LiHV batteries, as they could expertise a lower in efficiency prior to common LiPos. In our put up, we in contrast a LiHV battery with a LiPo when it comes to efficiency. Regardless of these considerations, LiHV batteries have grow to be a well-liked selection 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. Nevertheless it has a lot decrease discharging efficiency, making it not appropriate for aggressive flying. Be taught extra about Li-Ion batteries and proposals right here: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/
Selecting the Proper LiPo Battery
Should you comply with my LiPo battery suggestions, you may keep away from worrying about calculations I’m going to point out you beneath. Additionally make sure that to keep away from “no-name” batteries, and follow respected manufacturers resembling:
- GNB (Gaoneng)
- CNHL (China Interest Line)
- Lumenier (GetFPV)
- RDQ
- Tattu R-Line
- Dogcom
Right here’s I’ll present you ways to decide on an excellent battery on your drone.
How Many Packs Ought to Freshmen Purchase?
You may definitely purchase as many battery packs as you need, however I believe 4 packs is an effective quantity in case you are simply beginning to fly FPV. Assuming every flight lasts round 5 to 10 minutes (making an allowance for the time you stroll to select up your crashed quad, preflight preparation, and quick breaks between flights), you’ll have as much as 40 minutes of flying time with simply 4 packs. When you’ve got a method to cost your batteries within the area, you may lengthen your flying time considerably. Be taught extra about area charging right here: https://oscarliang.com/field-charging/
Weight
As a rule of thumb, the battery ought to weigh roughly half the burden of the freestyle or racing drone (excluding the GoPro). Should you comply with my battery suggestions, the efficiency ought to be ok, and also you gained’t want to contemplate the rest. 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 may 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 on 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 can be 36.74 x 4 = 146.96A at 100% throttle. If you wish to play it protected, you should use this quantity to discover a battery with a excessive sufficient C-rating. Nevertheless, I often scale back it by 30-40% for 2 causes: firstly, we hardly ever fly at 100% throttle for various seconds (I personally principally fly at round 40-60% throttle); and secondly, motors draw considerably fewer amps in actual life than in static thrust exams attributable to shifting air.
Though different parts 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 determine what battery measurement you want for specific setup: https://oscarliang.com/table-prop-motor-lipo-weight/
Now you must work out the acceptable battery capability, which is dependent upon the scale of your quadcopter, and C ranking required. Right here is the overall 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 will calculate the C ranking requirement utilizing this system:
C Score = Present Draw / Capability
Tips on how to Cost LiPo
Choosing A LiPo Charger
To cost LiPo batteries, you’ll want a charger particularly designed for them attributable to 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 in case you select a charger from my suggestions.
Connecting a LiPo to a Charger
Charging LiPo batteries with most fashionable chargers is kind of easy. Usually, you simply have to plug within the XT60 and steadiness connectors, set the cost mode and cost present, and also you’re good to go.
Charger Modes
- Stability Cost: Whereas charging the battery, the charger screens 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 round 3.80V to three.85V).
- Discharge: The charger makes an attempt to empty the LiPo battery (this course of may be extraordinarily gradual, relying on the discharging energy of the charger).
The Significance of Stability Charging
All the time plug within the steadiness lead earlier than charging, this enables the charger to learn the voltage of every cell.
The cells in a battery are slight completely different in inner resistance, and after a flight, you may discover some cells have larger voltage than others. Charging a battery with imbalanced cell voltages with out utilizing the steadiness lead may 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 permits charging with out the steadiness lead, discard it instantly and spend money on 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 occasions 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 Truth: Charging at 1C will take roughly one hour to totally cost the battery from empty, regardless the scale of the pack.
Many batteries now help quicker charging, resembling 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 chance of LiPo overheating or inflicting a fireplace.
Select a Protected Charging Location
It’s essential to cost your batteries in an space freed from flammable gadgets and supplies. In case you are charging indoors, attempt to do it close to a window or door so to rapidly throw the battery out in case of a fireplace.
I personally retailer and cost my batteries in an ammo field (accessible on Amazon). Don’t rely solely on “LiPo Luggage”; they might decelerate a LiPo fireplace, however they gained’t utterly comprise it. All the time maintain a fireplace extinguisher close by when charging batteries.
By no means Go away Charging LiPo Batteries Unattended
Don’t go away the room whereas charging your batteries. Many LiPo-related fires happen as a result of individuals go away the charging course of unattended. You must all the time supervise LiPo batteries throughout charging. Commonly verify their temperature; they need to stay cool. If a battery turns into heat or begins to swell, cease charging and examine. It might be a defective LiPo that must be retired, an overcharging situation, or just charging too rapidly.
Different Security Guidelines
Incorrect dealing with of LiPo batteries can doubtlessly trigger fires. Please familiarize your self with these security guidelines earlier than dealing with or charging batteries:
- Decide up LiPo batteries by the physique, not the wires, which may be pulled off from fragile solder joints.
- Enable 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 sort are set appropriately in your charger earlier than charging.
- Keep away from overcharging. Whereas sensible chargers can usually deal with this for you, it’s clever to verify cell voltages usually.
- Preserve batteries out of direct daylight.
- All the time take away the battery from the machine it’s powering and place it in a protected space earlier than charging.
- By no means quick 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 gives a fast method to cost a number of batteries concurrently. I’ve a complete tutorial that explains find out how to safely carry out parallel charging: https://oscarliang.com/parallel-charging-multiple-lipo/
Charging 1S LiPo batteries
Charging small 1S batteries generally is a bit completely different than charging bigger packs. One possibility is to cost a number of 1S batteries utilizing a parallel board, which basically combines them as one massive 1S battery. Nevertheless, the best 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/#Greatest-Tiny-Whoop-Chargers
Tips on how to Use LiPo Batteries Safely
Storage Cost
Should you don’t plan to make use of a LiPo battery for an prolonged interval (as an illustration, longer than 2 weeks), you need to:
- Storage cost it to three.80V to three.85V per cell
- Retailer the battery in a fireproof place (in LiPo baggage, ammo steel containers, and so forth.)
- Retailer it at room temperature – excessively chilly or sizzling circumstances can influence battery lifespan and security
When a LiPo cell is round 3.80-3.85V, it has roughly 40% to 50% cost remaining. That is probably the most secure state for a LiPo battery, your battery will last more and it’s safer. That’s additionally why model new batteries sometimes arrive at this voltage.
Most fashionable LiPo chargers have “Storage Cost” operate, which is able to put your battery within the appropriate storage voltage for you.
How lengthy you may go away LiPo batteries absolutely charged?
It’s alright to cost your batteries the day earlier than your flights. Nevertheless, personally, if I don’t fly the following couple of days, I all the time return my batteries to storage voltage (e.g. 3.8V per cell).
Keep away from leaving them absolutely charged or empty for prolonged intervals. Batteries not at their storage voltage will degrade quicker over time. Usually, most individuals discover it acceptable to go away batteries absolutely charged or discharged for just a few days. Nevertheless, in case 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 may be gradual. You may wish to think about getting a devoted discharger in case 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 lowered flight time. Preserve your batteries heat earlier than a flight (e.g., by putting them in your pocket). Listed here are some extra recommendations on find out how to fly FPV in chilly climate: https://oscarliang.com/fly-fpv-winter/
LiPo batteries additionally endure in extreme warmth, as they’ll swell and even catch fireplace. Ensure to not go away them beneath direct daylight in the summertime!
When to Land
You must land your drone when your battery voltage reaches 3.5V to three.6V.
Though you may proceed flying with decrease voltages, doing so places further pressure on the battery and should shorten its lifespan. All cells in a battery are completely different, and through a burst of throttle, the battery will sag with some cells sagging greater than others. This can lead to cells going beneath the protected restrict and inflicting harm. Touchdown at round 3.5V reduces the chance of this taking place.
One more reason to land early is that voltage drops considerably quicker beneath 3.5V. Persevering with to fly may lead to over-discharging your battery earlier than you may land safely. Over-discharging may cause everlasting harm and shorten battery life.
With that stated, for tiny whoop 1S batteries, it’s fairly widespread to land at a lot decrease voltage, e.g. 3.2V and even 3.0V. that’s as a result of the voltage sag is so nice on these small batteries, they are going to ultimately get better above the protected voltage when landed. Additionally this lets you get probably the most flight day trip of them. Moreover, 1S batteries are comparatively low-cost so individuals don’t thoughts abusing them.
LiPo Protected Luggage
LiPo baggage are made of material, typically with a metallic compound woven into them, and usually have both a zipper or Velcro fastener. They supply light-weight, cheap storage for battery transportation. Whereas LiPo baggage might 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. Nevertheless, LiPo baggage are comparatively reasonably priced 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 fireplace (or make sure the field isn’t tightly shut) to stop strain buildup inside an hermetic steel container.
Get your Ammo Field from:
Bat-Protected LiPo Field
The Bat-Protected field safely accommodates battery fires, vents sizzling gases, filters flame and soot, whereas making certain straightforward battery charging and transportation. It’s just like the upgraded model of the Ammo field. See my full evaluation right here: https://oscarliang.com/bat-safe-lipo-battery-charging-box/
Yow will discover the Bat-Protected Field right here:
What to do with over-discharged LiPo
Fully discharging a LiPo battery can lead to oxidation of the cells over time, inflicting a everlasting discount in efficiency. Nevertheless, if detected rapidly sufficient, you may often save the battery with out important harm to its efficiency.
Chargers might not acknowledge an over-discharged battery attributable to 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 threat.
Touring with LiPo Batteries
Many airways and airports enable LiPo batteries in passengers’ carry-on baggage. Preserve the next factors in thoughts:
- All the time verify together with your airline about touring with LiPo batteries
- Don’t carry LiPo batteries in your checked baggage
- Place your batteries in storage cost
- Tape or cowl the connectors and retailer them in a LiPo protected bag
- By no means journey with broken batteries
For extra data, see my information on “Tips on how 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
- Don’t panic; if attainable, unplug all connections first
- Use a fireplace extinguisher
- If that’s not an possibility, sand can successfully put out a LiPo fireplace; cowl the burning LiPo with sand
- Keep away from inhaling smoke and watch for the hearth to exit and the battery to chill
- Do NOT use water
What’s the Lifespan of a LiPo Battery?
For an in depth clarification, take a look at this put up: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/
Abstract:
- Gradual Efficiency Degradation: LiPo battery efficiency steadily degrades over time and utilization. It has no expiry date.
- Efficiency Loss: Primarily based on my testing, you may anticipate a lack of about 3.8% in efficiency over the primary 100 cost cycles for traditional LiPo batteries (5.4% for LiHV batteries).
- Alternative Timeline: Personally, I change my LiPo batteries each 200 to 300 cost cycles or each two to 3 years, whichever comes first.
- Prolonged Use: You may proceed utilizing a LiPo battery so long as it’s protected to take action. Nevertheless, it should expertise extra voltage sag attributable to larger inner resistance, and its capability can be decrease, leading to lowered flight time.
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 may doubtlessly final over 300 cycles. Nevertheless, 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 inner resistance builds up over time. Inner resistance is an effective indication of battery well being. You must undoubtedly get rid of a battery if it turns into dented from a crash or if it’s swollen like a balloon.
Be taught extra about when to retire or get rid of a LiPo battery on this article: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/
Tips on how to Get rid of LiPo Batteries
Previous and broken LiPo batteries ought to be disposed of correctly. Be taught concerning the other 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 may cause a fireplace.
FAQ
Listed here are some widespread questions from hobbyists.
Q: Are swollen (puffed) LiPo batteries harmful? A: Sure, swollen LiPo batteries will not be protected to make use of or retailer.
Q: What causes LiPo batteries to grow to be swollen? A: LiPo batteries swell when fuel will get trapped contained in the cells. This could happen naturally, however bodily abuse (resembling harm, overheating, or over-discharging) may 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 beneath 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 new batteries are a controversial matter within the FPV neighborhood. Some consider that new batteries ought to undergo a collection of gradual cost and discharge cycles earlier than being absolutely 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
- Lower-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 entire variety of cycles the battery will final
- State of cost – the power degree of a battery from 0% to 100%.
- Burst C-Score – the utmost discharge fee over a brief time frame (usually inside 10 seconds)
Conclusion
Congratulations, you made it!
Hopefully, you’ve discovered one thing about LiPo batteries and find out how to use them safely. Nevertheless, this information doesn’t cowl all the pieces you must know. Should you’re unsure about something, proceed researching to make sure you’re dealing with your LiPo batteries as safely as attainable. Blissful flying.
Edit Historical past
- 2017 – Article created.
- 2018 – Added product suggestions.
- 2019 – Up to date Rationalization of Cell Depend and IR, added data on “find out how to cost”.
- 2023 – Up to date information.
- Might 2024 – Up to date information and product suggestions.
