Storing Lipo's between use

[FlexinTLT]

I have a couple of 3600 LIPO battery packs. The instructions say they keep best when stored at 80% capacity.

When I charge the packs for use I set my charger to 3600mah.

If I'm going to store them would I set my charger to 2880mah ? (3600 x .80)

I use a Great Planes ElectriFly Triton Jr DC Computer Charger
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMAH9&P=7

Thanks

[JohnRobHolmes]

They are actually stored best around 50% capacity, or 3.75-3.8v per cell. Charge em to half capacity after running them down and you are there

[yotachump]

I wish I knew this A month ago. My lipos are puffy now:-( guess I wrecked them

[rcjunky3]

does puffy even matter i have a few vislero 3s that came out of the package puffy they have been charged and used a couple of times with no issues

[Tanis]

Originally Posted by rcjunky3

does puffy even matter i have a few vislero 3s that came out of the package puffy they have been charged and used a couple of times with no issues

Yes, puffy=not good. I had a couple older Vilsero 2100 that puffed up, but still charged fine and worked OK. But I always kept a close eye on them. Finally disposed of them properly last week.

[yotachump]

Originally Posted by Tanis

Yes, puffy=not good. I had a couple older Vilsero 2100 that puffed up, but still charged fine and worked OK. But I always kept a close eye on them. Finally disposed of them properly last week.

How long did you keep them around for before you properly disposed of them?

Mine work fine also, but I am having a hard time getting rid of them because I only had the battery's (2 packs) about 2 months at the max:-(

[Tanis]

Originally Posted by yotachump

How long did you keep them around for before you "properly disposed of them"?

They started puffing for the first time in December(let my buddy run them, but he didn't have the cutoff set on his mamba). Used them countless times after that(I wouldn't advise it though unless you are willing to keep an eye on it, and willing to risk your rig spontaneously igniting

I cut the plugs off, and submerged them in a mixture of salt water until they stopped bubbling(all day essentially) then to the recycler they went.

[FlexinTLT]

Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes

They are actually stored best around 50% capacity, or 3.75-3.8v per cell. Charge em to half capacity after running them down and you are there

Thanks for the tip, so I would set my charger to 1800mah ?

Or does it not work that way? would I need to charge and monitor them to get to 3.75- 3.8v per cell ?

[JAM MaxAmps.com]

We recommend that you put them at 50% of the rated capacity and then cycle them at least once every 30 days. If they sit for say 2 to 3 weeks at full charge that is fine but any longer put them to 50%.

Jason

[HaSharetz]

Originally Posted by FlexinTLT

I use a Great Planes ElectriFly Triton Jr DC Computer Charger

Does this charger have a balancer or does it require a separate balancer?

[FlexinTLT]

Originally Posted by HaSharetz

Does this charger have a balancer or does it require a separate balancer?

No it doesnt have one, you would need to use an external balancer.

[Mortimer Snerd]

Originally Posted by rcjunky3

does puffy even matter i have a few vislero 3s that came out of the package puffy they have been charged and used a
couple of times with no issues

Visleros suck. I had to 1300mah 3s that I got about 20 cycles out of before they puffed. Really annoying. I ditched them immediately, and went to 18c 2500mah Polys. They were a bitch to place on the truck but work really well.

[JohnRobHolmes]

I got about 75 cycles out of my best one, and the one in my TX is still working well. The premature puffing is why I stopped carrying them though.

[rojo]

My Vislero 2100 is all puffy now as well... I had it for about a year with somewhere around 60-70 cycles I would guess. I run Lipo cutoff on my MM and charge/balance them properly. I guess it was just a bad battery...