Battery woes! Cell died while in storage.

[ferrebee88]

I bought these SMC 4s batteries about 2 years ago and they have performed great. They have only been used a handful of times. I put the in storage voltage about 6 months ago. Was going to charge them this morning to run my Baja 5b and I have one dead cell. All the other cells held their charge... so disappointing!

 

[DavidB1126]

Dang
First are we sure it's not a balance cord issue? Could cause that but I highly doubt it if the other cells are reading normally

This is also why if I put my batteries in long term storage I still check them time to time usually every month or so just to check in and make sure they're balanced and good to go.

But from my experiences SMC in long term storage was perfectly fine. Granted the pair I have is old and they don't even make them anymore lol.

 

[ferrebee88]

Dang
First are we sure it's not a balance cord issue? Could cause that but I highly doubt it if the other cells are reading normally

This is also why if I put my batteries in long term storage I still check them time to time usually every month or so just to check in and make sure they're balanced and good to go.

But from my experiences SMC in long term storage was perfectly fine. Granted the pair I have is old and they don't even make them anymore lol.

Definitely not a balance cord issue. Like I said, these batteries have been great so far. I have a couple 3s batteries from SMC and they have held up great. I checked their site, and they are out of stock along with most of their batteries. I guess the tarrifs hit them hard. Looks like my only option is to pick up 2 bran new batteries, but I really dont feel like dropping that much coin at the moment.

 

[WickedFog]

Dang
First are we sure it's not a balance cord issue? Could cause that but I highly doubt it if the other cells are reading normally

This is also why if I put my batteries in long term storage I still check them time to time usually every month or so just to check in and make sure they're balanced and good to go.

But from my experiences SMC in long term storage was perfectly fine. Granted the pair I have is old and they don't even make them anymore lol.

That was my first thought as well. It's happened to me a number of times.

 

[ferrebee88]

I'm think

That was my first thought as well. It's happened to me a number of times.

There is no damage to the batteries or to the balance cords. My multimeter has confirmed that the cell is dead.

I have used zeee batteries in the past, but not on a Castle Mamba Monster XLX2 8s with 800kv motor. I'm thinking about trying these out.
https://www.amazon.com/Zeee-10000mAh-Battery-Connector-Compatible/dp/B0CGR9FLSP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2LAI9CLE9ASJK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Jjv_6AscDB7iu2fgV3bWnQCq77Ae0-b26Z8x-MAvgIklaQxEOOhtmb5Bc0rmZHkdnqtHs5hmUbotxQaQ-8B4fkjANA4r9Ial7ndodIOXbRXC7SpBUj-BRrViiIL7etsJ8NXzwNKk9atz4Bn8RXxndQeJLNfmAEL3SNPOpSqcymuDV2GUvKBRc4zVsu3aeeqahZPMOJEIc4JyV1j4hLbay7stFKt8d6Ug2AevBfnvJ5hVVMPFcP72e9Iu0J4SsU2aMHKiqFrG3ISyxsgHtaeZZRFPycnMksngpkVoK1GbwXU.8WjLyPFCChHbQGj98ns_UyUBEj9scV43UNjQUlWW4eY&dib_tag=se&keywords=4s+qs8+battery&qid=1751213574&sprefix=4s+qs8+battery,aps,162&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

The other option are these gensacearespammers batteries from Amain Hobbies. I would just have to solder some QS8 connectors to them.
https://www.amainhobbies.com/gens-a...000mah-w-ec5-connector-gea8k4s10e5gt/p1502567

 

[DavidB1126]

From my experience Zeee batteries have issues. Especially with voltage drop under heavy load. That's just my experience with 2s's under a light 1/10 setup. Can't imagine them under a big heavy car and power system.

CNHL and SMC are my 2 top picks. G_E_N_S is ok imo.

@Greywolf74 if you're looking for good lipos he has a full spreadsheet of what he tested and what he recommendeds

 

[WickedFog]

I'm think

There is no damage to the batteries or to the balance cords. My multimeter has confirmed that the cell is dead.

I have used zeee batteries in the past, but not on a Castle Mamba Monster XLX2 8s with 800kv motor. I'm thinking about trying these out.
https://www.amazon.com/Zeee-10000mAh-Battery-Connector-Compatible/dp/B0CGR9FLSP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2LAI9CLE9ASJK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Jjv_6AscDB7iu2fgV3bWnQCq77Ae0-b26Z8x-MAvgIklaQxEOOhtmb5Bc0rmZHkdnqtHs5hmUbotxQaQ-8B4fkjANA4r9Ial7ndodIOXbRXC7SpBUj-BRrViiIL7etsJ8NXzwNKk9atz4Bn8RXxndQeJLNfmAEL3SNPOpSqcymuDV2GUvKBRc4zVsu3aeeqahZPMOJEIc4JyV1j4hLbay7stFKt8d6Ug2AevBfnvJ5hVVMPFcP72e9Iu0J4SsU2aMHKiqFrG3ISyxsgHtaeZZRFPycnMksngpkVoK1GbwXU.8WjLyPFCChHbQGj98ns_UyUBEj9scV43UNjQUlWW4eY&dib_tag=se&keywords=4s+qs8+battery&qid=1751213574&sprefix=4s+qs8+battery,aps,162&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

The other option are these gensacearespammers batteries from Amain Hobbies. I would just have to solder some QS8 connectors to them.
https://www.amainhobbies.com/gens-a...000mah-w-ec5-connector-gea8k4s10e5gt/p1502567

Look at www.rcbattery.com. Gens are junk. I have 3 of them. They're all terrible batteries, which is even worse considering how much they cost.

 

[ferrebee88]

From my experience Zeee batteries have issues. Especially with voltage drop under heavy load. That's just my experience with 2s's under a light 1/10 setup. Can't imagine them under a big heavy car and power system.

CNHL and SMC are my 2 top picks. G_E_N_S is ok imo.

@Greywolf74 if you're looking for good lipos he has a full spreadsheet of what he tested and what he recommendeds

I use zee batteries in my crawlers, but they don't need to be great batteries. I have used Zeee/Power Hobbies in an Xmaxx I used to have, but this Castle 8s setup is hungry... It needs only the best batteries, or it may catch fire!

I found these on Amazon. They are made by Innovation RC but powered by CNHL
https://www.amazon.com/CNHL-10000mA...1&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_hp_atf_d&th=1

 

[DavidB1126]

I use zee batteries in my crawlers, but they don't need to be great batteries. I have used Zeee/Power Hobbies in an Xmaxx I used to have, but this Castle 8s setup is hungry... It needs only the best batteries, or it may catch fire!

I found these on Amazon. They are made by Innovation RC but powered by CNHL
https://www.amazon.com/CNHL-10000mAh-Battery-Connector-Compatible/dp/B0CDWN5R76/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=C6MeI&content-id=amzn1.sym.255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e:amzn1.symc.a68f4ca3-28dc-4388-a2cf-24672c480d8f&pf_rd_p=255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e&pf_rd_r=FRWS0AZNF0B4SRFY1D9N&pd_rd_wg=S5vOS&pd_rd_r=16a9ac64-805d-4ffd-95cd-88b09830feb1&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_hp_atf_d&th=1

Yea I heard those are pretty good. Must be tested and proven as a sponsored YouTuber/speed run guy. The Liperior ones that @WickedFog linked above are also really good I heard
I plan on using CNHL g+ 4s's with my Typhon build.

 

[ferrebee88]

I went ahead and ordered the CNHL 10000mAh batteries. I checked out the link to the Liperior batteries, but all the high mAh ones were out of stock.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDWN5R76?smid=A212D7G6FDC73N&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp&th=1

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Isn't 6 months an awfully long time to store lipo's? I get nervous after a month or so and if nothing else, charge and discharge with a charger.

 

[ferrebee88]

I'm pretty sure you should be able to keep them at storage voltage for much longer than that if stored correctly. I would assume most batteries sit on the shelf at that voltage for months before they even make it to us.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

True, but I've also received brand new batteries that had dead cells. I'm no expert by any means, but I think once you have the torch, its up to you to keep it burning.

 

[WickedFog]

Isn't 6 months an awfully long time to store lipo's? I get nervous after a month or so and if nothing else, charge and discharge with a charger.

I've gone as much as a year with no issues. They're fairly stable when stored at 3.85v. In fact, I know I have one I just cycled the other day that was well over a year in storage and it was sitting at 3.75v per cell roughly. Bit it's a good idea to check them from time to time.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

You really trust them to sit that long? Not arguing, just surprised. Maybe my ADD is worse than yours. I start to worry after a month or so.

 

[WickedFog]

You really trust them to sit that long? Not arguing, just surprised. Maybe my ADD is worse than yours. I start to worry after a month or so.

Yeah, I have a bunch of cheap lipo's I don't even use. So if they go bad... no worries. But they seem to be doing just fine. The ones I use don't sit near that long.

 

[Greywolf74]

Isn't 6 months an awfully long time to store lipo's? I get nervous after a month or so and if nothing else, charge and discharge with a charger.

My long term storage lipos get cycled once per year. I've had very little issues. That being said 6-9 months is more optimal.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

My long term storage lipos get cycled once per year. I've had very little issues. That being said 6-9 months is more optimal.

Thats just crazy to me. I would never store one that long. I use them too much.

I see some of the manufacturers claim up to 2 years at storage voltage under optimal conditions is OK. Far from ideal and I bet most folks dont store them in optimal conditions but to each their own. If your only using them once a year, whats the point in having them?

 

[WickedFog]

Thats just crazy to me. I would never store one that long. I use them too much.

I see some of the manufacturers claim up to 2 years at storage voltage under optimal conditions is OK. Far from ideal and I bet most folks dont store them in optimal conditions but to each their own. If your only using them once a year, whats the point in having them?

When you have a good sized collection of RC's, some of them end up not getting ran for a long time. I have operational RC's that haven't been ran in 5 years or more, and they have their own batteries.

 

[ferrebee88]

My Baja 5b is the only rig I have that takes 4s batteries, and I only get it out 2-3 times a year, usually in the summer months. That's why the batteries stay in storage late fall through late spring.