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

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 secure charging practices and correct storage methods when not in use.

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Disclaimer: The data on this web page is meant as basic recommendation. Making certain battery security is your duty, and you need to use the data supplied at your personal danger.

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 when you prioritize flight time over dealing with. Notice {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 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/. Go together with 6S in case you are on the fence, it’s just about the trade customary 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″), take a look at this put up: 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 attributable to improper dealing with or bodily injury. Making certain security entails 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 really perfect alternative for FPV drones.

To pick out the suitable LiPo battery, it’s essential to learn to interpret its specs and turn 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 selected voltage vary, sometimes between 3.0V and 4.2V. Overcharging a LiPo battery above 4.2V is harmful and will result in a fireplace. Discharging under 3V could lead to irreversible efficiency degradation or battery injury. This minimal voltage can also be known as the cut-off voltage. It’s usually beneficial to cease discharging when the battery reaches 3.5V per cell to increase its lifespan.

Cell Rely

LiPo batteries could 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 straight impacts motor pace, so utilizing a better cell-count battery can improve your drone’s energy (assuming the drone helps the upper voltage). Nevertheless, including extra cells additionally makes the battery heavier and costlier.

Within the interest, 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 information:

• Connecting two equivalent batteries in sequence doubles the voltage however doesn’t change capability (e.g., two 2S 1000mAh batteries in sequence turn 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 sequence 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 sequence 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 sequence.

Capability

The capability of a LiPo battery, measured in mAh (milliampere-hour), signifies how a lot present you’ll be able to draw from the battery constantly 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 fully discharged when 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). If you happen to 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 max effectivity.

Greater capability batteries might additionally present increased discharge currents, as defined within the subsequent part.

C Score

C Score is an indicator of the utmost present you’ll be able to 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 will not be beneficial, because the battery can overheat, improve inner resistance over time, shorten battery lifespan, and even trigger thermal runaway (catching hearth) in excessive circumstances.

Batteries with increased C-ratings are usually 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.

 The next C-rating battery provides higher efficiency, particularly for power-hungry drones, nevertheless it’s not at all times your best option. On a low-power cruiser, additional energy from a better C-rating battery is perhaps pointless, whereas the added weight may very well be counterproductive and lead to much less flight time. It’s all about utilizing the correct device for the job.

Though C-rating may very well be a useful gizmo, it has turn into largely a advertising and marketing device lately, so take it with a grain of salt. Manufacturers may inflate C-rating numbers, making it meaningless for comparability between manufacturers. Nevertheless, it could possibly nonetheless be useful for selecting a battery from the identical model, assuming they observe the identical customary. So long as you choose batteries from our suggestions, C-rating shouldn’t be a serious concern.

Inner Resistance

All electrical elements have resistance, together with batteries. The resistance inside a battery is named inner resistance (IR), which signifies how a lot the battery resists present circulate. 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 old:

• 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 price is its inner resistance. Excessive IR results in extra noticeable voltage drop as you improve throttle, a phenomenon generally known as “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 ranking for powering a radio), which inherently have increased IR. 18650 Li-ion batteries even have increased IR than typical LiPo batteries, which is regular.

For extra info on when to retire a battery and tips on 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 (important lead) and steadiness connector (steadiness lead). Nevertheless, 1S batteries solely have a discharge connector since balancing will not be required for 1 cell.

The discharge lead sometimes consists of two thicker pink 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 depends 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 comparable shapes however differ in sizes and present scores.

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

For extra info on electrical wires and connectors, seek advice from our in-depth article on the subject: https://oscarliang.com/wires-connectors/

Steadiness Connector

LiPo batteries with a couple of cell will at all times have a steadiness lead, which is for monitoring and balancing cell voltages. The official title of the steadiness connector is JST-XH.

You have to to attach the steadiness result in the charger when charging. This enables the charger to examine and steadiness the voltage of every cell throughout charging. Importantly, at all times 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 in your steadiness result in be broken by spinning propellers throughout flight. To learn 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 could possibly additionally reduces the vibrations attributable to the dangling cable.

Holding Battery Balanced

It’s necessary to verify the cells in a battery are inside comparable vary earlier than utilizing it, in any other case you’ll be able to danger over-discharging the cells with decrease voltage. Additionally if a battery pack persistently turn into unbalanced, the cells in all probability have completely different inner resistance and must 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 completely 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 critiques concerning the longevity of LiHV batteries, as they may expertise a lower in efficiency ahead of common LiPos. In our put up, we in contrast a LiHV battery with a LiPo when it comes to efficiency. Regardless of these issues, LiHV batteries have turn into a well-liked alternative for 1S Tiny Whoops as a result of the impression of the upper voltage is critical.

Li-Ion

Li-Ion stands for Lithium ion, sometimes have a a lot increased capability in comparison with LiPo of the identical weight. Due to its increased 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

If you happen to observe my LiPo battery suggestions, you’ll be able to keep away from worrying about calculations I’m going to indicate you under. Additionally be sure that to keep away from “no-name” batteries, and stick with respected manufacturers akin 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 really perfect battery in your drone.

How Many Packs Ought to Newcomers Purchase?

You’ll be able to actually purchase as many battery packs as you need, however I feel 4 packs is an effective quantity in case you are simply beginning to fly FPV. Assuming every flight lasts round 5 to 10 minutes (taking into consideration the time you stroll to choose up your crashed quad, preflight preparation, and brief breaks between flights), you’ll have as much as 40 minutes of flying time with simply 4 packs. When you’ve got a strategy to cost your batteries within the subject, you’ll be able to prolong your flying time considerably. Study extra about subject 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). If you happen to observe my battery suggestions, the efficiency must be adequate, and also you received’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 dimension or weight class, you’ll be able to observe the extra guidelines under.

Figuring out Drone Present Draw

After deciding on motor and propeller sizes, you need to be capable to 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 overall 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 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 not often fly at 100% throttle for various seconds (I personally largely fly at round 40-60% throttle); and secondly, motors draw considerably fewer amps in actual life than in static thrust assessments attributable to shifting air.

Though different elements additionally draw present, their impression is insignificant in comparison with the motors, so you’ll be able to often disregard them.

Selecting optimum battery capability

I’ve a desk right here that can assist you resolve what battery dimension you want for explicit 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 ranking required. Right here is the final guideline I personally observe 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 ranking requirement utilizing this method:

C Score = Present Draw / Capability

How you can 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’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 info applies when 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 must plug within the XT60 and steadiness connectors, set a couple of parameters, and also you’re good to go.

Charger Modes

• Steadiness Cost: Whereas charging the battery, the charger displays the voltage of every cell and retains them balanced. That is the most secure and most beneficial methodology 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 may be extraordinarily sluggish, relying on the discharging energy of the charger).

The Significance of Steadiness Charging

At all times plug within the steadiness lead earlier than charging.

Every cell in a battery has slight variations, and after a flight, you may discover that the cell voltages differ. Charging a battery with imbalanced cell voltages with out utilizing the steadiness lead might result in some cells ending up under 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 enables 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 beneficial, 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 completely cost the battery from empty.

Many batteries now assist sooner charging, akin to at 3C and even 5C. Make sure you perceive your LiPo’s specs earlier than charging at increased charges. If unsure, simply cost at 1C, as charging your battery at increased 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 objects and supplies. If you’re charging indoors, attempt to do it close to a window or door so that you could shortly throw the battery out in case of a fireplace.

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 received’t fully include it. At all times preserve a fireplace extinguisher close by when charging batteries.

By no means Depart Charging LiPo Batteries Unattended

Don’t go away the room whereas charging your batteries. Many LiPo-related fires happen as a result of folks go away the charging course of unattended. You need to at all times supervise LiPo batteries throughout charging. Repeatedly examine their temperature; they need to stay cool. If a battery turns into heat or begins to swell, cease charging and examine. It may very well 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 probably 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.
• Permit batteries to chill down fully 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 care for this for you, it’s clever to examine cell voltages commonly.
• Preserve batteries out of direct daylight.
• At all times take away the battery from the gadget it’s powering and place it in a secure space earlier than charging.
• By no means brief the outputs of a battery at any time.

Parallel charging

Parallel charging will not be the most secure methodology for charging LiPo batteries, nevertheless it provides a fast strategy to cost a number of batteries concurrently. I’ve a complete tutorial that explains tips on 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 choice is to cost a number of 1S batteries utilizing a parallel board, which primarily combines them as one giant 1S battery. Nevertheless, the simplest methodology 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/#Greatest-Tiny-Whoop-Chargers

How you can Use LiPo Batteries Safely

How lengthy you’ll be able to go away LiPo batteries totally 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 totally charged or empty for prolonged durations. Batteries not at their storage voltage will degrade sooner over time. Typically, most individuals discover it acceptable to depart batteries totally charged or discharged for a couple of days. Nevertheless, when 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 may be sluggish. You may need to contemplate getting a devoted discharger when 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 extra tips about tips on 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 hearth. Be 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’ll be able to proceed flying with decrease voltages, doing so places additional pressure on the battery and will 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 under the secure restrict and inflicting injury. Touchdown at round 3.5V reduces the chance of this occurring.

Another excuse to land early is that voltage drops considerably sooner under 3.5V. Persevering with to fly might lead to over-discharging your battery earlier than you’ll be able to land safely. Over-discharging may cause everlasting injury and shorten battery life.

How you can Retailer LiPo Batteries

As talked about earlier, when you don’t plan to make use of a LiPo battery for an prolonged interval (longer than a couple of weeks, for instance), you need to:

1. Storage cost it to three.8-3.85V
2. Retailer it in a fireproof place (in LiPo luggage, ammo field, and many others.)
3. Retailer it at room temperature – excessively chilly or scorching circumstances can impression battery lifespan and security

When a LiPo cell is round 3.8V-3.85V, it has roughly 40% to 50% cost remaining. That is probably the most secure state for a LiPo battery, which is why new batteries from outlets sometimes arrive half charged.

LiPo Protected Luggage

LiPo luggage are made of fabric, usually 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 luggage could decelerate a battery hearth, they don’t seem to be efficient at stopping or containing one. For long-term storage, a steel ammo field is beneficial. Nevertheless, LiPo luggage are comparatively reasonably priced and nonetheless higher than nothing.

Get your LiPo luggage 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 potential, drill a few small holes to permit air to flee within the occasion of a fireplace (or make sure the field will not be tightly shut) to forestall stress 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 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

Utterly discharging a LiPo battery can lead to oxidation of the cells over time, inflicting a everlasting discount in efficiency. Nevertheless, if detected shortly sufficient, you’ll be able to often save the battery with out vital injury to its efficiency.

Chargers could not acknowledge an over-discharged battery attributable to 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 danger.

Touring with LiPo Batteries

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

1. At all times 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 info, see my information on “How you can 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 potential, 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 hearth 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 probably final over 300 cycles. Nevertheless, for a lot of customers, damaging the battery bodily earlier than reaching that time is a standard prevalence.

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 need to undoubtedly get rid of 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 get rid of a LiPo battery on this article: https://oscarliang.com/when-retire-lipo-battery/

How you can Get rid of LiPo Batteries

Previous and broken LiPo batteries must 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 may cause a fireplace.

FAQ

Listed below are some frequent questions from hobbyists.

Q: Are swollen (puffed) LiPo batteries harmful? A: Sure, swollen LiPo batteries are usually not secure to make use of or retailer.

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

Q: Can I repair a puffed LiPo battery? A: No, you’ll be able to’t. As soon as a LiPo battery turns into swollen, it’s irreversible. Get rid of it correctly as quickly as potential.

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 group. Some imagine that new batteries ought to undergo a sequence of sluggish cost and discharge cycles earlier than being totally utilized. Others, like myself, have tried this methodology and located no noticeable distinction. For extra dialogue on the subject, see this discussion board thread.

Technical Phrases

• Reduce-off voltage – the voltage at which a battery is taken into account discharged fully; For LiPo it’s 3.0V
• Cycle life – 1 cycle is once you cost and discharge a battery. The cycle life is the entire variety of cycles the battery will final
• State of cost – the power stage of a battery from 0% to 100%.
• Burst C-Score – the utmost discharge price over a brief time frame (usually inside 10 seconds)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you made it!

Hopefully, you’ve realized one thing about LiPo batteries and tips on how to use them safely. Nevertheless, this information doesn’t cowl every part you must know. If you happen to’re unsure about something, proceed researching to make sure you’re dealing with your LiPo batteries as safely as potential. Glad flying.

Edit Historical past

• 2017 – Article created.
• 2018 – Added product suggestions.
• 2019 – Up to date Rationalization of Cell Rely and IR, added data on “tips on how to cost”.
• 2023 – Up to date information.
• Could 2024 – Up to date information and product suggestions.