Freezing LiPo Battery

[Racer 1966]

Just curious if temps below freezing will hurt a LiPo battery? I have a new one that the tracking shows delivered to my shop but I haven't made it there to pick it up and tonight is supposed to get down to about 20*F.

 

[slowngreen]

I've read to not let them freeze but most of mine have been in below zero temps at times and steady below freezing temps through the last couple winters and still work fine. My rc room is away from the house and is always really cold all winter.

 

[zrock]

I always used to put my batteries in the freezer before charging. And those things lasted for years

 

[Greywolf74]

I've read a few times that freezing them is bad but I've ready that some people store them in their fridge. I know that people take em outside in below freezing weather quite often and dont seem to have any issues with that either so Id say 20F over night wont hurt it if I had to guess.

 

[JoeMAXX]

http://www.electricwingman.com/guides/lithium-polymer-battery-guide.aspx

I am also still new to LiPo Battery packs after using NiCad and NiMH packs for years so when ever a question comes up that I would also like an answer to I google it. Than also learn from it.

This link should answer most of your questions about LiPo battery packs.

How does cold weather affect my LiPo battery?

Like most batteries, the temperature of a Li-Po has an impact on its performance. Consider that batteries rely on a chemical reaction in order to provide a current – a low temperature reduces the speed of this reaction and a reduction in overall pack performance may be observed on a cold day. Allowing a Li-Po pack to freeze is certainly not recommended, as this would almost certainly damage the pack.

 

[Racer 1966]

No worries,put it to use today and had no issues.

 

[ChasCS]

Costly

Hi,
Why are decent quality LiPo batteries so much more costly than nimh or others?
Aside from holding a charge much longer, I don't see the value.

The Spektrum LiPo 4000mAh (29.6Wh) - 2S 7.4V Transmitter Pack takes 36 hours for the initial charge and 30 hours for subsequent charges, in the DX8.
That is a lot of time, and how does one not leave it unattended for 30-36 hours?
I hope nothing goes wrong, as that would ruin my new DX8 as well.

The prices for the 6S Li-Po 4500 ~ 5200mAh x 2
and the 2S Li-Po 1900 ~ 2300mAh x 1, Batteries needed for my TRex 700 E DFC HV 3GX are scary/frightening... I guess I'll buy four and two.
Not to mention the expensive charger needed for these.

OUTCH!!

Chas

 

[alien13]

Hi,
Why are decent quality LiPo batteries so much more costly than nimh or others?
Aside from holding a charge much longer, I don't see the value.

The Spektrum LiPo 4000mAh (29.6Wh) - 2S 7.4V Transmitter Pack takes 36 hours for the initial charge and 30 hours for subsequent charges, in the DX8.
That is a lot of time, and how does one not leave it unattended for 30-36 hours?
I hope nothing goes wrong, as that would ruin my new DX8 as well.

The prices for the 6S Li-Po 4500 ~ 5200mAh x 2
and the 2S Li-Po 1900 ~ 2300mAh x 1, Batteries needed for my TRex 700 E DFC HV 3GX are scary/frightening... I guess I'll buy four and two.
Not to mention the expensive charger needed for these.

OUTCH!!

Chas

Don't overpay for batteries, buy them here: http://www.hobbypartz.com/

 

[Greywolf74]

I second the hobbypartz bit and while you're there pick up a lipo charger that way you can charge your lipos in 1 hour and not 30.

 

[ChasCS]

Awesome direction

Don't overpay for batteries, buy them here: http://www.hobbypartz.com/

Hi alien13,
Show me your 'Green' card!! Smile
lil green men always carry id...

Well, I went to www.hobbypartz.com and was pleasantly greeted with an invitation to enter a free iPad contest there. No purchase needed, and WoodiE, No need to like them on Facebook. Just saying, bud.

I won't search out previous giveaways as suggested.
I'd rather not know what all I've been missing out on.

Chas

 

[ChasCS]

I second the hobbypartz bit and while you're there pick up a lipo charger that way you can charge your lipos in 1 hour and not 30.

Hi greywolf,
Yes, that would be an awesome way to go.
But the Spectrum LiPo for the DX8 has the tiny plug which fits the plug in the DX8.
Unless I was willing to cut and solder both with different male and female connections, thereby likely rendering the nimh battery pack, which came standard with the DX8, useless.
Anyway, that upgraded LiPo pack, will last for several weeks between needed subsequent charging refills.
A plus too, with the LiPO upgrade installed, the internal DX8 charger will shut itself off, when the battery pack is fully charged.

Chas

 

[Greywolf74]

Or you could buy one of THESE to go along with your lipo charger and then you could charge that lipo and just about every other lipo under the sun.

 

[ChasCS]

It's all there, and then some

Or you could buy one of THESE to go along with your lipo charger and then you could charge that lipo and just about every other lipo under the sun.

Hi greywolf,
Yes, I believe I see several connectors on there, that would suit many of my charging needs.
I might have to look further into that option.

Thanks again.

Chas

 

[JoeMAXX]

I have a Fast Charger with a Balancer for my LiPo Battery packs which is a Dynamite passport Ultra Sport and can charge a pack that has been drained down to 3.45 Volts in about 2 hrs. The packs I use are Venom 5000 2s 40C which are about $80.00 bucks each. I use a Charge rate of half of what the 5000 pack is 2.5 rate on the Charger so I do not over heat the battery pack. The charger will balance the voltage of each cell to the same voltage before it starts to charge the battery pack

 

[olds97_lss]

Or you could buy one of THESE to go along with your lipo charger and then you could charge that lipo and just about every other lipo under the sun.

You couldn't even buy half of those plugs ends for $10! That's nutty!