Lipo storage charge checks......🫣

[Wooders28]

Time passes way way to quickly, and I realised I've not really run a car this year, with general life ,and awaiting the Scottish summer for some speed runs.....Still waiting..🙄

I have thinned the stock down a bit, but I've still got around 20, meaning some haven't been used for a good few years.

It's looking like only 3 have (well 2, but) decided to let some significant voltage leak out.

 

This battery, is one that was used in the 5s speed runs of the Dark Impact and the DT03, the latter where the motor and ESC went pop, then this took an age to balance charge since, so not really a shock its dropped, but quite surprised its dropped to almost 1v!! (The other cell, still at 3.8v)

 

This one, was last used racing my RB5, so probably a good 8yrs+ since its last use in anger (its been storage charged since then), but still surprised at one cell sat at 0.5v (again, the other cell still at around 3.8v).

 

This one fits easily in every Tamiya I've got, and still undecided if I should open it up and try and fix it, (could just extend the wire, and solder it to the deans plug?) as although one cell can't be checked , one cell is 3.83v and the overall voltage is 7.66v, says they're pretty much matched bang on.

It is many years old though, and a new one is fairly cheap....🤔

 

Anyway, as winter (in the UK anyway) is drawing ever closer, its maybe time to have a wee peek at your lipos, before tucking them in...

[ad456]

Top shout @Wooders28! I meant to do this last week. 

And yeah, the “summer” eh, haven’t gotten out for much of a play myself either. 

[ChrisRx718]

You absolutely need to invest a few quid in one of these cell testers -

They're so cheap, and so much safer to use than a multimeter. They'll also tell you the individual cell voltage and % level, down to 3 decimal points (which is overkill, but nice!)

Many of my LiPo's have been stored at 3.4v per cell (because I always used to think this was correct) but Google reckons 3.8 or 3.85v. Now that I have a fancy charger with 'storage' mode, I will address all my LiPo's before retiring them to the ammunition case I store them in!

[Wooders28]

17 hours ago, ChrisRx718 said:

You absolutely need to invest a few quid in one of these cell testers

Didn't even know those existed!! 

Tbh, my charger gives individual voltages anyway, unless there's a fault , (a low cell voltage or a balance lead fault), where checking with my meter let's me know the problem. 

Yes, I could put it on Nicad/Nimh setting ,and charge until the cell came above 3v, and then balance charge, but I think I had to do that with the Orion once before (when the 6v lipo cut off kicked in, it was 3.4/2.6v) so although it's one of my more expensive packs, it's done.

[alvinlwh]

5 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Didn't even know those existed!!

This is what I use. 

Not only it shows cell voltage, it also acts as a discharge (slow), USB charger (discharge the lipo faster), servo tester and PWM tester. 

[Pylon80]

On 11/19/2024 at 2:46 AM, Wooders28 said:

Tbh, my charger gives individual voltages anyway,

Yep, all chargers do. I'm not sure I see the point in buying yet another gizmo...

[ThunderDragonCy]

Thanks for the reminder. Just been through all mine, and although all were fine and dandy at 3.79-3.81V per cell, I can't have used a couple for a year or more, so good to know they're safe.