Not using a li-po battery reduces its life cycle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the care and storage of lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries, particularly regarding their lifespan when not in use. Participants explore best practices for charging and storing these batteries to prevent degradation over time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the potential damage to LiPo batteries from extended periods of inactivity and seeks advice on charging frequency to prevent degradation.
  • Another participant suggests that storing LiPo batteries at about 70% capacity is recommended for long-term storage, noting that full charge is acceptable for short periods.
  • A participant mentions the ideal storage temperature range for LiPo batteries and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a specific voltage (3.8-3.85V per cell) for long-term storage.
  • There is a suggestion to check the battery voltage every few weeks to ensure it does not drop below safe levels (3.0V).
  • Another participant references Battery University as a resource for battery technology and mentions that storing lithium-based batteries above a certain threshold (40% State of Charge) is generally safe.
  • It is noted that lower storage temperatures can improve the recovery of charge after long periods of storage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints on the best practices for storing LiPo batteries, with no consensus reached on specific charging intervals or storage conditions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal strategies for maintaining battery health during inactivity.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying recommendations on voltage levels and storage practices, highlighting the dependence on specific conditions and individual experiences. There are unresolved aspects regarding the frequency of recharging and the impact of temperature on battery longevity.

kolleamm
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If I don't use my lithium polymer batteries for an extended period of time will that damage them?

In that case how often should I charge them to prevent a such degradation?

Thanks in advance
 
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This is a common problem in the RC aircraft community, LiPo batteries are generally recommended to be stored at about 70% of their capacity if they're going to sit unused for an extended period of time. In my experience it's probably ok to store them at full charge for around a week, after that, should store them at the reduced storage voltage.

http://www.dronethusiast.com/ultimate-drone-battery-care/

DroneEnthusiast.com said:
Manufacturers state that when storing lithium polymer batteries for any length of time, we should store them ideally at a temperature of between 5ºC & 27ºC. The lower the temperature the better. The optimum voltage for long-term storage, as already mentioned is 3.8-3.85V per cell. Best practice after a days flying, is to charge them back to storage voltage using the storage function on your charger.
 
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Okay so charge my batteries to 70%, how often would I have to recharge them so their voltage doesn't drop too much assuming they discharge over time? For long term storage.
 
Maybe check their voltage every few weeks and make sure they haven't dropped below safe levels (3.0 V)?
 
You could check Battery University website. It's basically a comprehensive encyclopaedia about battery technology, as the creator is a battery engineer itself working for a company called Cadex.

From what I know, there should not be a
problem as long as store lithium-based batteries above a certain threshold of State of Charge, in this case, 40%. And also according to the article, the lower the temperature you store them at, the higher the % of charge they will recover after a long time of storage.

This is the link, it's a pretty good reading with lots of technical info:

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_store_batteries
 
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