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

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

Disclaimer: The knowledge on this web page is meant as normal recommendation. Making certain battery security is your accountability, and it’s best to use the data offered at your personal threat.

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 would like a lighter, extra agile drone; select the bigger packs in case you prioritize flight time over dealing with. Observe {that a} bigger pack can ship extra present at the price of barely larger 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 grasp the variations between 4S and 6S, go to: https://oscarliang.com/6s-mini-quad-racing-drone/. Go together with 6S in case you are on the fence, it’s just about the business 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 publish: https://oscarliang.com/whoop-toothpick-lipo-battery/.

Are LiPo Batteries Protected?

When dealt with appropriately, LiPo batteries are completely secure. Nevertheless, LiPo batteries could catch hearth because of improper dealing with or bodily injury. Making certain security includes cautious remedy 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 perfect selection for FPV drones.

To pick out the suitable LiPo battery, it’s essential to learn to interpret its specs and develop into accustomed to important terminology, which can be defined within the following sections.

LiPo Battery Voltage

LiPo batteries include 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 particular voltage vary, usually between 3.0V and 4.2V. Overcharging a LiPo battery above 4.2V is harmful and should result in a fireplace. Discharging under 3V could end in irreversible efficiency degradation or battery injury. This minimal voltage can be known as the cut-off voltage. It’s typically really useful to cease discharging when the battery reaches 3.5V per cell to increase its lifespan.

Cell Depend

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 straight impacts motor velocity, so utilizing the next 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 costlier.

Within the passion, we usually consult with 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.

Fascinating info:

• Connecting two equivalent batteries in collection doubles the voltage however doesn’t change capability (e.g., two 2S 1000mAh batteries in collection develop 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 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 constantly for an hour till it’s empty. Observe that 1000mAh equals 1Ah.

For instance, with a 1300mAh LiPo (or 1.3Ah), it will take an hour to be utterly discharged in case you draw a continuing 1.3A present from it. If the present draw doubles to 2.6A, the length can be halved (1.3/2.6=0.5). For those who draw 39A of present continuous, the pack would final solely 2 minutes (1.3/39=1/30 of an hour).

Growing your battery capability would possibly 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 stability between capability and weight for max effectivity.

Increased capability batteries might additionally present greater 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 injury. In concept, this may be calculated by:

Most Present Draw = Capability x C-Score

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

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

 The next C-rating battery presents higher efficiency, particularly for power-hungry drones, nevertheless it’s not at all times the only option. On a low-power cruiser, further energy from the next C-rating battery could be pointless, whereas the added weight could possibly be counterproductive and end in much less flight time. It’s all about utilizing the precise instrument for the job.

Though C-rating could possibly be a great tool, it has develop into principally a advertising and marketing instrument in recent times, so take it with a grain of salt. Manufacturers would possibly inflate C-rating numbers, making it meaningless for comparability between manufacturers. Nevertheless, it will possibly 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 known as inside resistance (IR), which signifies how a lot the battery resists present move. 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 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 getting older:

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

The most important issue affecting a battery’s most discharge charge is its inside 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 functions (e.g., 8C or 10C score for powering a radio), which inherently have greater IR. 18650 Li-ion batteries even have greater IR than typical LiPo batteries, which is regular.

For extra data on when to retire a battery and the right way to 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 (important lead) and stability connector (stability lead). Nevertheless, 1S batteries solely have a discharge connector since balancing just isn’t required for 1 cell.

The discharge lead usually 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 stability lead. The variety of wires depends upon the battery’s cell rely.

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 related shapes however differ in sizes and present scores.

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

For extra data on electrical wires and connectors, consult with 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 stability lead, which is for monitoring and balancing cell voltages. The official identify of the stability connector is JST-XH.

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

The variety of wires in a stability 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 in your stability result in be broken by spinning propellers throughout flight. To learn to restore a damaged stability lead, consult with our detailed tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/fix-balance-plug-lipo-replace/

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

Maintaining Battery Balanced

It’s necessary to verify 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 develop into unbalanced, the cells most likely have completely different inside resistance and ought to be inspected extra carefully.

Simply plug within the stability 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 might be charged as much as 4.35V per cell (versus the usual 4.20V). Nevertheless, there are blended evaluations concerning the longevity of LiHV batteries, as they could expertise a lower in efficiency ahead of common LiPos. In our publish, we in contrast a LiHV battery with a LiPo when it comes to efficiency. Regardless of these considerations, LiHV batteries have develop into a preferred 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, usually have a a lot greater capability in comparison with LiPo of the identical weight. Due to its greater 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. Study extra about Li-Ion batteries and suggestions right here: https://oscarliang.com/li-ion-battery-long-range/

Selecting the Proper LiPo Battery

For those who comply with my LiPo battery suggestions, you may keep away from worrying about calculations I’m going to indicate you under. Additionally be sure that to avoid “no-name” batteries, and keep on with respected manufacturers comparable to:

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

Right here’s I’ll present you ways to decide on a perfect battery in your drone.

How Many Packs Ought to Freshmen Purchase?

You’ll be able to actually 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 (considering the time you stroll to choose 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 discipline, you may lengthen your flying time considerably. Study extra about discipline 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). For those who comply with my battery suggestions, the efficiency ought to be ok, and also you gained’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 unique measurement or weight class, you may comply with the extra guidelines under.

Figuring out Drone Present Draw

After deciding on motor and propeller sizes, it’s best to be capable of 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 can be 36.74 x 4 = 146.96A at 100% throttle. If you wish to play it secure, you should utilize this quantity to discover a battery with a excessive sufficient C-rating. Nevertheless, I normally cut back it by 30-40% for 2 causes: firstly, we not often 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 checks because of shifting air.

Though different elements additionally draw present, their influence is insignificant in comparison with the motors, so you may normally 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 must work out the acceptable battery capability, which depends 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 Score = 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’ll be able to learn 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 sort of easy. Usually, you simply have to plug within the XT60 and stability connectors, set a couple of parameters, 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 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 gradual, relying on the discharging energy of the charger).

The Significance of Stability Charging

All the time plug within the stability lead earlier than charging.

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

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

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

Many batteries now assist quicker charging, comparable to at 3C and even 5C. Make sure you perceive your LiPo’s specs earlier than charging at greater charges. If doubtful, simply cost at 1C, as charging your battery at greater C charges will increase the danger 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. If you’re charging indoors, attempt to do it close to a window or door so to shortly throw the battery out in case of a hearth.

I personally retailer and cost my batteries in an ammo field (obtainable on Amazon). Don’t rely solely on “LiPo Luggage”; they might decelerate a LiPo hearth, however they gained’t utterly comprise it. All the time preserve 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 need to at all times supervise LiPo batteries throughout charging. Commonly examine their temperature; they need to stay cool. If a battery turns into heat or begins to swell, cease charging and examine. It could possibly be a defective LiPo that must be retired, an overcharging difficulty, or just charging too shortly.

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 might 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 good chargers can usually deal with this for you, it’s smart to examine cell voltages commonly.
• Preserve batteries out of direct daylight.
• All the time take away the battery from the machine it’s powering and place it in a secure 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, nevertheless it presents a fast method to cost a number of batteries concurrently. I’ve a complete tutorial that explains the right way 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 choice is to cost a number of 1S batteries utilizing a parallel board, which primarily combines them as one giant 1S battery. Nevertheless, the best technique for charging 1S batteries is to make use of a devoted 1S battery charger or serial cost board. Take a look at 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 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 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 absolutely charged or empty for prolonged intervals. Batteries not at their storage voltage will degrade quicker over time. Typically, most individuals discover it acceptable to go away batteries absolutely charged or discharged for a couple of days. Nevertheless, in case you don’t plan to fly for greater than a few weeks, it’s greatest to place your batteries at storage cost. Most fashionable chargers can do that simply, however discharging might be gradual. You would possibly need to contemplate getting a devoted discharger in case you do that ceaselessly: 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 below are some further recommendations on the right way to fly FPV in chilly climate: https://oscarliang.com/fly-fpv-winter/

LiPo batteries additionally endure in extreme warmth, as they will swell and even catch hearth. Make sure that to not go away them below direct daylight in the summertime!

When to Land

You need 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 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 may end up in cells going under the secure 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 quicker under 3.5V. Persevering with to fly might end in 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, in case you don’t plan to make use of a LiPo battery for an prolonged interval (longer than a couple of weeks, for instance), it’s best 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 secure state for a LiPo battery, which is why new batteries from retailers usually arrive half charged.

LiPo Protected Luggage

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 hearth, they aren’t efficient at stopping or containing one. For long-term storage, a steel ammo field is really useful. Nevertheless, 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 doable, drill a few small holes to permit air to flee within the occasion of a hearth (or make sure the field just 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 incorporates battery fires, vents scorching gases, filters flame and soot, whereas guaranteeing simple 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/

You’ll find the Bat-Protected Field right here:

What to do with over-discharged LiPo

Fully discharging a LiPo battery may end up in oxidation of the cells over time, inflicting a everlasting discount in efficiency. Nevertheless, if detected shortly sufficient, you may normally 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 circumstances, it’s advisable to discard the battery. There are methods to rescue an over-discharged LiPo, however proceed at your personal threat.

Touring with LiPo Batteries

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

1. All the time examine 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 secure 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 Hearth

1. Don’t panic; if doable, unplug all connections first
2. Use a fireplace extinguisher
3. If that’s not an choice, sand can successfully put out a LiPo hearth; cowl the burning LiPo with sand
4. Keep away from inhaling smoke and look forward to 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 doubtlessly final over 300 cycles. Nevertheless, for a lot of customers, damaging the battery bodily earlier than reaching that time is a typical prevalence.

There isn’t a particular rule for when to eliminate 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. You need to positively eliminate 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 eliminate 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 concerning 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 below are some frequent questions from hobbyists.

Q: Are swollen (puffed) LiPo batteries harmful? A: Sure, swollen LiPo batteries aren’t secure to make use of or retailer.

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

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 doable.

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 new batteries are a controversial matter within the FPV neighborhood. Some imagine 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 if you cost and discharge a battery. The cycle life is the full variety of cycles the battery will final
• State of cost – the vitality degree of a battery from 0% to 100%.
• Burst C-Score – the utmost discharge charge over a brief time period (usually inside 10 seconds)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you made it!

Hopefully, you’ve discovered one thing about LiPo batteries and the right way to use them safely. Nevertheless, this information doesn’t cowl all the things you must know. For those who’re unsure about something, proceed researching to make sure you’re dealing with your LiPo batteries as safely as doable. Pleased flying.

Edit Historical past

• 2017 – Article created.
• 2018 – Added product suggestions.
• 2019 – Up to date Rationalization of Cell Depend and IR, added data on “the right way to cost”.
• 2023 – Up to date information.
• Might 2024 – Up to date information and product suggestions.