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LiPo battery packs have the highest power to weight ratio than any other battery
available. These batteries are being used in just about everything portable these
days ranging from hearing aids to laptop computers.
By drastically extending flight
times and greatly increasing
power, LiPo battery packs are
making it possible for electric
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RC airplanes to compete with
gas powered airplanes of Email
similar size.
Name
This was not even
conceivable a few years back!
So what exactly are LiPo Then
batteries and what makes Subscribe
them so special?
The voltage produced between the two metals is called the electrochemical
potential. This energy is directly related to the types of metal used in the battery.
Lithium is the lightest metal in the universe and has the highest electrochemical
potential. Lithium would be perfect for making lightweight powerful batteries
right?
Well, almost... Because lithium metal is very unstable, battery manufacturers
began using non metallic lithiumions.
Lithium Ion vs. Lithium polymer Battery Cells
A lithiumion battery pack, Li Ion, uses a liquid electrolyte solution just like Ni Cad
and other common batteries. A rigid container is necessary to hold this liquid.
A lithium ion polymer battery back ,LiPo, pack uses a “geltype” polymer as the
electrolyte media. This polymer can take any shape and does not require a rigid
enclosure. LiPo battery packs have a much higher energy density than other
battery packs because the cells are not bound to cylindrical containers with dead
space in between.
Electronic speed controllers (ESC's) designed for LiPo battery packs have a Low
Voltage Cutoff (LVC) that will automatically cut the power to the motor when the
battery voltage (of an individual cell) reaches 3.0 volts.
To understand how LiPo battery packs are put together, you need to have a basic
understanding of voltage and capacity. If you are not familiar with batteries, think
of voltage as the "muscle" and capacity as the "energy" of a battery.
LiPo Cells in Series Increases Voltage
To build voltage, cells are added
together in series. The voltage
(muscle) of the LiPo battery pack
will continue to increase as more
and more cells are added in series.
But the capacity (energy) will NOT
increase as cells are added in series.
To build capacity, cells are added together in parallel.
The capacity (energy) of the LiPo battery pack will
continue to increase as more and more cells are added
in parallel. But the voltage (muscle) will NOT increase
as cells are added in series.
Total Voltage = 3.7 V
Total Capacity =2100mAh + 2100mAh + 2100mAh =
6300mAh
4s2p Lipo Battery Pack
The 4s2p battery pack illustrated above consists of two 4s packs in parallel.
The voltage of a 4s2p battery pack is 4 x 3.7V = 14.8V
The capacity of *this 4s2p battery pack is 2 x 2100mAh = 4200mAh
2s4p Lipo Battery Pack
A 2s4p Lipo Battery packs consists of four 2s
packs in parallel.
The voltage of a 2s4p battery pack is:
2 x 3.7v = 7.4V
The capacity of *this 2s4p battery pack is:
4 x 2100mAh = 8400mAh
*All LiPo cells are 3.7V, but the capacity of LiPo
cells vary
Using Lithium Polymer Batteries
Lithium ion polymer batteries harness an enormous amount of energy in a very
small space. These batteries will explode if used improperly. I don't say this to
scare you. When proper LiPo battery safety precautions are followed, these
batteries are completely safe. Lithium polymer battery care can be broke down
into three categories, which are discharging, charging and storage.
For example, a 5000mah LiPo battery pack with a 20C rating can safely provide
20 x 5000mah = 100,000 mA or 100 amps.
Discharging a LiPo battery pack at higher current than it is rated for is very
dangerous.
If you are new to the hobby, don't let all of this technical jargon intimidate you.
Ready to fly RC airplanes come with the correctly sized battery for the motor being
used, and most all RC airplanes will tell you what size battery to use.
Lithium polymer battery packs do not develop a "memory" as NiCad batteries do.
You don't have to worry about fully discharging LiPo battery packs before charging
them. Your RC LiPo battery will be especially hot immediately after a flight. Always
wait until the battery has reached ambient temperature before charging.
Current and voltage are the two variables that must be determined when
charging LiPo batteries. The voltage should be set to the nominal voltage of the
LiPo battery pack. A 5000mAh 11.1V LiPo battery pack would be charged at 11.1V.
The current should never exceed a 1C charge rate. For example, a 5000mAh
11.1V pack should be charged at 5 Amps or less. Charging at lower rates down
to .77C could increase the life of the battery, although there is not conclusive
evidence that I am aware of to support this. For example, a .77C charge rate of a
5000mAh pack would be 3.85 Amps.
Most LiPo chargers automatically detect the voltage (or cell count) of the LiPo
battery pack. It is always a good idea to double check, or confirm that the charger
detects correct the voltage pack.
LiPo Balancers
As stated above, lithium polymer cells must stay between 3.0V and 4.2V for
optimal performance. A standard LiPo charger looks at voltage of the entire LiPo
battery pack when charging. Some times the individual LiPo cells become
unbalanced over time. For example, one cell may have a voltage of 3.8V while the
rest are at 4.2V.
A LiPo balancer monitors and controls how much each cell in the LiPo pack is
charged or discharged. Balancing the pack will allow for the fullest possible safe
voltage which results in more power while in flight. A balanced pack also tends to
last longer as no individual LiPo cells become over charged.
Retain charge significantly longer than NiCad or NiMH batteries when not
being used
Do not develop a "memory" as NiCad batteries do
With LiPo cells in combination of series and parallel, LiPo packs can be built
to power most all RC aircraft
Very sensitive to high temperatures
Very sensitive to high and low voltages. Exceeding either will damage the
battery
Prone to explode if exposed to heat, or charged/discharged improperly
If you follow the below LiPo battery safety guidelines you can rest assured that
you will avoid what happened in the above video.
Always let your LiPo batteries cool to ambient temperature before charging
Make sure your charger is designed specifically for Lipo battery packs
Double check that your charger has counted the cells correctly and is
charging at or below 1C charge rate
Always charge your batteries on a solid non flammable surface in a well
ventilated area
Always check your LiPo batteries for any damage after a crash. If the LiPo
back is punctured or damaged in any way, don't use it.
Always charge and store your LiPo batteries in a charging bag ! Charging
bags are relatively inexpensive and could potentially prevent your housing
from burning down.
Never, under any circumstances, leave your batteries charging unattended
Never leave your batteries inside aircraft while charging
This page was provided for informational purposes only. Always consult with the battery
manufacturer for specific procedures for charging and handling of your lithium polymer
batteries.
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