Lithium-Polymer batteries:
Good to know:
LiPo batteries are no toys, please think about what enormous damage this batteries can do when handling with them. On the one side of course through fire, but on the other side especially trough smoke development with toxic gases which can last very long...
So how to handle them correct?
At first in line careful, don't charge them when you are not next to them, store them only in fireproof container and dispose damaged batteries. Also damaged batteries after a crash should be disposed if one cell is damaged.
To make the batteries last very long, if you don't use them for more then 48 hours, you should always charge them to storage voltage which maeans about 3,8V per cell. Every useful charger should have this option already.
LiPos should only be charged with special LiPo chargers which can obtain the target voltage fo 4,2V per cell very accurate. NiMh chargers are not suitable for LiPo batteries because the charging system for NiMh (delta peak) is something complete difficult. Also you should always use a balancer to have the voltage of every cell even.
If you know also want that the batterie lasts very long, you should not decharge them under 3,0V per cell, especially under power! If a cell is at 3.0V after the flight, he was guaranteed deeply discharged while the engine was running. A good point to start is about 3,6V to 3,7V directly after the flight.
A universal discharge rule of leaving 10% to 20% capacity in the battery after flying can I not recommend because that not secures that the voltage dropped under 3,0V during flight. Also it is important to choose the battery according to the C-rating. C stands for capacity and is a multiple of the capacity of the battery. If a battery has a capacity of 3.000mAh and a C-rating of 20C, so hsi maximum allowed discharge current is 60A (3x20). Similar to the charge rate, to charge the same battery with 1C means to cahrge it with 3A (3x1). If he would have a charge rate of 5C, he could be charged with 15A (3x5). The time for charging with 1C will always be a little more then one hour, if you charge with more current, it will last shorter. But there is also a limit that can't be exceeded, so a charging cycle with 5C still lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes.
So how to handle them correct?
At first in line careful, don't charge them when you are not next to them, store them only in fireproof container and dispose damaged batteries. Also damaged batteries after a crash should be disposed if one cell is damaged.
To make the batteries last very long, if you don't use them for more then 48 hours, you should always charge them to storage voltage which maeans about 3,8V per cell. Every useful charger should have this option already.
LiPos should only be charged with special LiPo chargers which can obtain the target voltage fo 4,2V per cell very accurate. NiMh chargers are not suitable for LiPo batteries because the charging system for NiMh (delta peak) is something complete difficult. Also you should always use a balancer to have the voltage of every cell even.
If you know also want that the batterie lasts very long, you should not decharge them under 3,0V per cell, especially under power! If a cell is at 3.0V after the flight, he was guaranteed deeply discharged while the engine was running. A good point to start is about 3,6V to 3,7V directly after the flight.
A universal discharge rule of leaving 10% to 20% capacity in the battery after flying can I not recommend because that not secures that the voltage dropped under 3,0V during flight. Also it is important to choose the battery according to the C-rating. C stands for capacity and is a multiple of the capacity of the battery. If a battery has a capacity of 3.000mAh and a C-rating of 20C, so hsi maximum allowed discharge current is 60A (3x20). Similar to the charge rate, to charge the same battery with 1C means to cahrge it with 3A (3x1). If he would have a charge rate of 5C, he could be charged with 15A (3x5). The time for charging with 1C will always be a little more then one hour, if you charge with more current, it will last shorter. But there is also a limit that can't be exceeded, so a charging cycle with 5C still lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Storage:
LiPos aren't toys, in the case of a technical defect or trough misshandling, they can burn or explode. The energy potential of LIPos is enormous and most time underrated. Please think of it, you can always treat a battery very good, but there is still the risk that a cable can be worn down what can lead to a short circuit. If that happens, the risk of fire is very high. So LiPos shouldn't lay around in your flat or house, the best is to buy an aluminium case which is covered inside with foam (danger of short circuit) and store them there closed. If there should then happen something, the danger of a fire is drasticaly reduced. Before LiPos start to burn, they are producing very much smoke which is very harmful and which also stinks a lot. That can also be protectet through a case. Trust me, a good case is definitely worth it.
Turnigy:
The blue Turnigy are maybe the most known LiPos. They have a very good price / performance ratio and enoug performance. Conspicuous are the quality fluctuations and sometimes it can happen that you get a battery that is already dead on delivery. Also I received packs which have not been selected very good and which started to drift when they became empty. The written C-rate is more whishful thinking, if you need a 20C rateing, get for the 30C one. But the batteries last very long, my oldest pack is since three years permanent used.
After all, good batteries for a good price that can be recommended.
After all, good batteries for a good price that can be recommended.
Zippy:
The Zippy ones are at beginning very good batteries that start to loose performance quite fast. The selection should be good, there is nearly no drifting and also i never received a faulty one. The C-rating is similar to the Turnigy, but the Zippy seems to be a little bit better. The only disturbing thing is, that they really start to loose performance after 20-30 cycles and really don't have the pwoer from the beginning anymore.
After all, they are still recommended for models you are not using every day.
After all, they are still recommended for models you are not using every day.
Zippy Compact:
These became now my first choice. At same C-rate and capacity they are significant smaller and lighter then the normal Turnigy or Zippy. The selection should be good, I haven't received a faulty one and they also don't drift. In the written C-rate you can trust, this I've tested with the Radjet. Sometimes they are also cheaper then the normal blue Turnigy.
The first long term experiences let expect the same durability like the blue Turnigy, only a small loss of power after 20-30 cycles but then they stay constant.
For me, the Compacts are an insider tip!
The first long term experiences let expect the same durability like the blue Turnigy, only a small loss of power after 20-30 cycles but then they stay constant.
For me, the Compacts are an insider tip!
Wellpower:
Are sold by Lindinger under his own brand and have shown that they are a quite good choice if you won't order at the king. The power is quite similar to the Zippys, very good in the beginning, but then loosing and also they became thick. What I find very good is, that every battery is shipped with a protective case.
If you need fast a bettery then you can for sure get one of these.
If you need fast a bettery then you can for sure get one of these.