LiPo Newb

[Carolina Scaler]

Ok so I did a search but still did not get my questions answered. I have a few. I have run nimh batteries for years and years and have had no problems. So I decided to switch to lipo a couple months back and am having a few problems. First the packs, which are good packs Orion 5400 2s hard packs, have started to swell a little. Not much but just a little. Is this normal? I have used a good balance charger every time, Hi-Tech charging at 5 amps. I do store the packs fully charged. Should I do this? If not how do you guys charge yours? Lastly I have run my truck on one pack for over an hour and a half and have not had the LVD on my Traxxas XL-5 go off. I am running an Integy 35 turn motor. Is this normal run time? Thanks for the help, sorry to ask such stupid questions just want to keep everything safe.

[road_rascal]

Do not store lipos charged, best to store them at 3.8V per cell. If your charger is decent enough there should be a storage setting, and possibly a discharge setting. Also, I don't trust LVC's. I carry a few battery checkers (like these) when I'm running my vehicles (trucks or electric RC planes). I'll run the truck/ plane for a bit, then stop and check the battery level. I normally don't run my batteries down past 3.6v per cell, and most LVC's on ESC's shut down at 3v per cell, which personally I think is way too low.

[knnphillips1990]

Paying attention to this as I am also a LiPo noob except I haven't bought any yet.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Trubble]

I store all mine fully charged, too, and all my soft packs are fine. My two SMC hard packs have both swelled. I tried just peeling off the tape to see if I could get a look inside to see if it was just the case, or if the cells inside were shot, but the case halves are glued and I don't want to go stickin' anything in there and pry the case off until I can go and do it outside this spring. But voltages on all my packs look completely normal.

[road_rascal]

The voltages may look fine, but it's the capacity that may be compromised, and the battery may not be able to handle a high amp draw.

[Carolina Scaler]

Well maybe that was the problem...storing them full. Thanks.

[ik632]

I have a few that are slightly puffy but if you squeeze the casing the air squeezes out. I'm guessing they should be replaced sooner or later.

Since you're in Fuquay (I'm in Apex) if you want to go in on a HobbyPartz order I was going to order some new packs soon and it would save shipping if the order is a little bigger.

[Carolina Scaler]

Originally Posted by ik632

I have a few that are slightly puffy but if you squeeze the casing the air squeezes out. I'm guessing they should be replaced sooner or later.

Since you're in Fuquay (I'm in Apex) if you want to go in on a HobbyPartz order I was going to order some new packs soon and it would save shipping if the order is a little bigger.

Only problem is I just spent 100 for 2 of them only 2 months ago, so hopefully it is later not sooner.

[Carolina Scaler]

Looks like it was my dumb ass that may have damaged them. I was charging them on the "charge" setting not the "balance" setting. On my charger the "charge" setting is for batteries that apparently do not need balancing. Should they right themselves if I now charge them the proper way? What if I run the discharge cycle then charge them?

[ik632]

Try and charge them with balance, then run them through a storage cycle if your charger has it. This will bring them up to 4.2v/cell then back down to 3.8v/cell. Should make them a little more consistent. If they are damaged though they don't really heal (not like old NiCD where you could get rid of the memory).