Batteries.....

[jb cub]

hi,
 I just finished reading a lot of the posts to this battery section, what caught my eye was all info about them in the headlines of this part of the forum.
   I have five batteries that I use with my SC. I also bought a Hitec multi-charger x-one. I use my batteries at least three to four time each month, winter or summer. Yes my fingers can get cold but hey I fly every chance I get. Like someone posted I leave my batteries fully charged in the Lipo bag at all times. So far I have never had any issue with my batteries at all.
  I do check my batteries every time they are to be charged, I look for scratches or any signs of damage. When I was crashing a lot in the beginning I looked real close as I made changes to my battery box so they go vertically now with no pressure on wiring or the case. The original box it extremely tight for even the factory battery. I had read of a person causing damage just by installing the battery in box.

Since I started flying late in the fall last year I have never flown on hot days or dealt with battery storage in hot weather. It does make sense to keep them cool as in out of direct sunlight and heat sources at home. Mine will be stored in my basement as usual during the summer months. The temp there will be around 20c at the most during the summer. I also store them in the bag on a metal shelf that is low maybe three feet off the floor and open to the eight foot ceiling down there.

       I so I feel I'm doing things right as far as I know. If anyone has any suggestions for things I should be doing differently please let me know. I enjoy my flying too much to not take the right precautions of battery storage.

[sham]

The only thing I do differently, is to store mine discharged (but not past the low volt cuttoff). I read that it can damage them to store fully charged for more than a few days.

In a cool place, check.
Inspection for damage, check.

I also have a sticker on mine to note which are charged and which aren't.. Sometimes while charging the weather can change enough to stop play for a while.

[hghost]

You can ask 10 people and you will get 10 different answers.

If one is constantly flying, charging their batteries and than flying and recharging etc etc....is not much of an issue.

The real issue comes in when they are setting fully charged allot. And especially if in a warmer climate .

It is best, if your charger is equipped to do so...and you know they will be setting awhile and not being used is to put them in storage mode.

Most chargers have Charging mode, Balance charging mode, discharging mode and Storage mode.etc etc

This allows the battery to be set a a storage rate, not to low that would damage the battery and not to much as to stress the battery

Having your batteries fully charged all the time will shorten their life cycle.And stress them out.

I have multiple planes and multiple types of batteries , many that set for months on end.

I personally keep a log of each battery and I check them every so often to see if they are losing charge and at what rate and if need be
I reset the storage charge.

Many will disagree on how , but i have ran them in my plane just to discharge them and than reset them to a storage charge
Possibly not the safest way to do it, but it cycles the batteries if need be,and allows my model to run a bit. I never let them run wide open nor longer than a couple minutes and than i use my charger to either discharge or store charge whatever the need is.

I have read both sides of the story, but the majority of highly experienced members will tell you never to leave your batteries fully charged for long periods of time.

IF you planned to fly within a few days, personally I do not see an issue, but like me when it can be months and months before that battery will ever be used, I set them at a storage charge rate.And most important i check them .

Mine are set at storage mode and are in Lipo safe bags and in metal containers .

Try looking at these links

batteryuniversity.com/learn/

www.rc-hobbie.com/lipo-batteries-how-to-use-and-care-for-them-2/

www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-lipo-batteries.html

sites.google.com/site/tjinguytech/charging-how-tos

uterc.org/files/LipoStorageTips.pdf

there are many out there to read.

Hope that helps some.