A few lipo questions on storage

[2pfspiff]

How long should a lipo battery be charged for storage? I have a mrc super brain 989 with a balance board. What damage can take place if the battery is stored with a full charge? New to lipo's so I am tring to get a idea of how to handle them. I am running the Traxxas 7.4 2200 mah battery and already fried run ( charge batteries at 3.10 amps and discharge at 1 amp to a cut off of 2.9 volts per cell).
If a battery should be stored with what is called a storage charge, then what would be the average charge time length considered as a storage charge length. Thanks for all of the help.

[EmaxxChris]

I'm no expert, but storage voltage PER CELL should be typically 3.8-3.85V per cell. When you charge it, the lipo should be at 4.20V per cell. I typically charge/discharge mine to 3.85V per cell storage wise if I'm going to not take my EMBE out for more than 2 days. I generally always charge/discharge mine to storage voltage after each time out. Sure it takes a little more time to get them charged the next time, but I feel better about it. I have my LVC set at 3.5V per cell, I believe you can go down to 3.2V, but I don't want to push the limits. The 2.9V per cell is not a setting you want to keep, minimum is 3.2 when running it, 3.80-3.85 when storing it. I'm sure there are other ideas on this, I'm just saying what I do.

[bentrocker]

I go away for a month at a time so I like to keep mine between 3.80 to 3.88. I have had no issues with my lipos. They are a year old now and the sit for a month every other month.

[redlightrandy]

how do you discharge a lipo besides by putting it in your rc and using it? i have the traxxas vxl brushless setup in my slash. when my esc cuts power to 50% when i use lvd what voltage is it at?

[trax de max]

theres no need to discharge a lipo on the charger, it doesn't have memory effect and until someone comes along and proves the benefits of doing it I wouldn't do it.
Maybe to break in a lipo, cycling the lipo, but even then using the rc to discharge them is good enough. When the lva/lvd kicks in charge the lipo back up, simples.
But remember always balance charge.
After a nights run I always put in storage mode because the next run, which should be the next day could end up being over a week away.

[redlightrandy]

ya i shut down as soon as my lvd kicks on and cuts power to 50%. but when i get home i put my lipo on the charge/balance charge then when its done charging i unplug it(unless i fall asleep, then it stays on the charge) and leave it till i use it next. my charger for my lipo has balance charge and automatic shut off when its done charging. same thing with my nimh and the charger i use for them.

[randy0050]

what could possilbly happen to a fully charged liPo battery if stored ? to me its just stored static power and unless acted upon, what could really happen ? are the molecules gonna get together and say, hey guys lets explode, or lets catch this baby on fire ? i just don't see it. i new to lipo,s but even the chemistry is different as other batteries, it is indeed a battery. just my 2 cents worth

[Makg]

What could possibly happen? Well for one the internal resistance increases over time if the cells are not at the proper storage voltage (3.8-3.85v per cell). This causes decrease in runtime, making it seem as if your Li-Po is losing mAh. This increase of internal resistance is cumulative, so it adds up over time.

[rag6]

what could possilbly happen to a fully charged liPo battery if stored ? to me its just stored static power and unless acted upon, what could really happen ? are the molecules gonna get together and say, hey guys lets explode, or lets catch this baby on fire ? i just don't see it. i new to lipo,s but even the chemistry is different as other batteries, it is indeed a battery. just my 2 cents worth

I puffed one of my best packs by leaving it fully charged for about 3 weeks. Some packs are less prone to this than others. I have 2 other lower grade packs that have been left peaked for months with no problems. I voided my warranty on the puffed pack, because the seller expressly stated in the instructions that after 24 hrs of full charge, the v must be reduced to 3.8v. Follow the instructions that came with the pack.

That s;ightly puffed pack still runs perfect, but I will be replacing it soon.