Lithium Polymer Battery LiPo Storage
TIME:2014-07-11There are many specific things that you cando to achieve long-term LiPo storage that will extend the life of your batterypack. The storage method of the packs probably has the biggest effect onprolonging their lifespan. A refrigerator is a good place to store your packsbecause it can be set to stay between 40 and 45 degrees; just be sure to use adifferent refrigerator where you don't store food. Before you use or charge thebatteries, let the packs come to room temperature. Never allow a battery tostay directly in the sun or near another heat source, as this will kill abattery quickly. Just as heat is detrimental to the pack, allowing them tofreeze will also damage them to the point where they are unusable.
Packs that fall under 2.5 volts per cell ordie completely can be harmed beyond repair and become unusable. If you donot have a balanced cell you will eventually see them drift apart after eachcharging session. Instead, have a 'storage charge' of 3.85 volts beforeplacing the battery in storage. Be sure to never store discharged batteries fora long period of time. Furthermore, refrain from storing a battery thathas been charged because the cells will move and erupt at different rates, andthe pack will become unbalanced. This type of battery cell discharges at aconsistent rate and have a better balance of power during use. This willgive the cell enough voltage to be stored for long periods of time, if needed. Whenthe time is right for the charge and discharge cycles to begin, the batterypack will begin the cycle in balance, and this will result in betterperformance.
Another great thing about the 3.8SV chargeis that it continues to offer sufficient storage prior to the pack reaching thelow-voltage minimum of 2.5 volts per cell. Since it is easy to forget whenyou've last charged a particular battery pack, you could benefit by labelingbatteries with the date and level of charge. This helps to keep the cellsin balance because they are brought up at a slower pace. If you followproper suggestions for care and storage of your LiPo batteries, you can extendthe life of your battery pack, giving you peak performance with lots of e-power.Whencharging the battery for the first time after getting it out of storage, chargeit at 2C until fully charged.