Storing batteries

[Capt. Crunch]

Hi all

I understand that you need to discharge lipo batteries for storage. But what is the time period of "storage"...  A week, a month, a year? How long can you have a fully charged battery before damage occurs

Thanks in advance for any info


Jeff

[retiredflyer]

RE: Storing batteries

Hi Capt,
If I don't plan on flying for over a week, then I usually go into storage mode. Of course during the summer when I try to fly as often as possible, then I usually just leave them at their last discharged state until the next day or two when I'll be flying again, then just change them up.
I made the mistake of charging up a bunch of batteries so I could just run out the door when I wanted to fly and some of them never got touched for months. When I did use some of those lipos, my planes lost power after about two minutes and I couldn't figure out why. Thought I had motor issues. One biplane would start making a squealing sound after a few minutes. Come to find out, I never looked at the voltage levels of those fully charged lipos and they were no where near what they should have been. My charger said they were full but they couldn't hold the capacity they were supposed to.
Be safe and put them into storage mode when you can see dry spot in your flying schedule.

[Capt. Crunch]

RE: Storing batteries

Thanks for the info Retiredflyer. I am doing what you used to do. Leaving them all charged up so I can run out the door to fly. And now I have some batteries that have been sitting there for quite some time. Kind of bums me out. Was planning on getting another plane, but now I'll probably have to spend that money on some new batteries. I'm in the process of discharging right now. Hopefully I can salvage some of them.


Jeff

[WintrSol]

RE: Storing batteries

Thanks for the info Retiredflyer.  I am doing what you used to do. Leaving them all charged up so I can run out the door to fly. And now I have some batteries that have been sitting there for quite some time.  Kind of bums me out. Was planning on getting another plane, but now I'll probably have to spend that money on some new batteries. I'm in the process of discharging right now.  Hopefully I can salvage some of them.


Jeff

Just FYI, you don't want them discharged too far for storage, either; most recommendations are 3.8V, but many others end up in the range of 3.7V to 3.9V resting voltage. The consensus is, outside that range, the battery ages faster, losing capacity and increasing internal resistance.