What Voltage Should Li-po Batteries be Stored at- Storage and Charging Voltage

LiPo batteries have claimed much popularity in the RC industry and this has brought about all sorts of rules and regulations for the appropriate handling of these cells. This guide aims at focussing on the storage of Li-Po batteries in general, including the proper way to charge or discharge them to the required storage voltage per cell.

There have been several claims from different sources saying that Li-Po batteries shouldn’t be stored at full charge, others suggest that these cells cannot be stored for long-term periods past certain limits while the rest of the users are confused on how and where to store the batteries properly. Follow this guide keenly, to the end, for all the answers you seek on such matters.

What voltage should you store Li-Po batteries?

The capacity of a Li-Po is usually measured in milliamp-hours (mAh) and is determined by the cell arrangement, which is generally in a parallel connection. The milliamp hours tell you how long the battery would last after being charged or after discharged for a specified period.

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The cell arrangement in series similarly determines the voltage of a Li-Po battery. The voltage of a fully-charged Li-Po cell is typically 4.20Vand thus, charging above this might potentially damage the cells. A nominal battery is termed as halfway charged voltage and is about 3.7V. This is the state between charged and discharged batteries. On the other hand, the voltage of a discharged Li-Po cell is 3.0V and this serves as the point at which charging below it may damage the cells.

If you plan on storing your Li-Po battery for an extended period, it would be advisable to do it correctly following the right procedures. Depending on the battery’s current charge capacity, your first step would be to charge or discharge it to the appropriate storage voltage since they behave just like any other battery by going through a self-discharge process. However, the rate at which Li-Po batteries tend t self-discharge is usually meager as compared to other battery technologies thus, making them suitable for long-term storage.

If a Li-Po battery is left discharged for extended periods, it can discharge further below the safe voltage range and can, therefore, be rendered useless or a hazard for the next time you’d require to charge it. On the other hand, if it is left fully charged, the cells in the battery would unbalance very fast and, thus, risk getting damaged. The safest voltage for a Li-Po battery intended for storage should always be around 3.8V. To get to this figure, you can use a Li-Po charger that has a storage function that allows you to either charge or discharge the cells until they reach the recommended storage voltage.

The following are some guidelines as to how you can bring your Li-Po battery to the right charge:

• The required voltage for the storage of a Li-Po battery is usually 3.8V. Using the volt reader on the Li-Po charger, check the battery voltage to find out whether you will need to charge or discharge the cells before storage.

• Most Li-Po battery chargers come with built-in storage functions. Set your battery charger to its storage setting. Since Li-Po batteries charge and discharge at meager rates, the process may take a while.

• If the voltage reading is below 3.8V, then you should plug the battery into the charger and start charging.

• If the voltage reading is above 3.8V, then you would be required to plug the battery into the charger and discharge it properly.
  

• If your battery charger didn’t come with any built-in storage setting, then you would need to manually set the charge or discharge setting to 3.8 and plug the battery into the charger. Once the battery reaches 3.8V, the charger will automatically stop charging or discharging depending on your previous configuration.
  

• Be sure to always stay near the battery as it charges or discharges. Never leave it unattended as faulty batteries or chargers could be dangerous to you and their surroundings.
  

What do you store Li-Po batteries in?

There are many ways in which you can store your Li-Po battery for safekeeping and avoid and unexpected and dangerous incidences from occurring without your presence. The first rule you should be aware of when it comes to storing Li-Po batteries is never to store them in the designated electronic device.

Li-Po batteries contain very reactive chemicals, which is the reason they provide large amounts of power. One should, therefore, handle them with the utmost care during storage by following the following tips:

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1.Insulate the leads of the battery by only using electrical tape on all the leads including the balance and main power ones.

2.Wrap the cells in a Li-Po storage bag. These are unique storage bags designed explicitly for Li-Po batteries and are static-proof aa well as fire-retardant to protect the cells during storage. You can purchase such bags from the internet or a hobby store.

3.Store the wrapped Li-Po battery in a fireproof container such as an ammunition case, fireproof safes, and even flower pots.

4.Store the batteries in a room0temperature location and on a dry surface away from any flammable material.

5.Place a sandbag on top of the battery for extra precaution so that in case the battery catches fire and burns through the plastic bag, the sand will fall on it and smother the flames.

Can you store Li-Po batteries for long-term periods?

Yes, you can store Li-Po batteries for long-term or extended periods of months or up to years if you so desire. However, storing requires a few procedures to be followed for you to get the most out of your Li-Po battery even after a long period of being unused. If you intend to store any Li-Po battery, make sure you charge or discharge is to its required storage voltage of about 3.8V. Li-Po cells are known to have extremely low discharge rates and can, therefore, be stored for longer periods than expected without losing much of its capacity.

Conclusion

You can never be too careful when storing batteries and especially with the processes involved with preparing them for storage. By the end of this context, you should have known the appropriate way to store Li-Po batteries for extended periods without any risk of damages or high rates of degradation.