Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery Instructions
WARNING!!!
You must read these safety instructions and warnings before using or charging your batteries.
Lithium Polymer batteries can be volatile when not handled properly. Failure to read and follow these instructions may result in fire, personal injury and damage to property if charged or used improperly.
ArmSoar, its distributors and retailers assume no liability for failures to comply with these warnings and safety guidelines.
By purchasing this battery, the buyer assumes all risks associated with this product. If you do not agree with these conditions, please return the battery immediately before use.
Charging:
LiPo batteries are safe if the instructions and handling precautions are followed carefully. There is a risk of explosion, fire, smoke emission and poisoning, if the warnings are not respected and the instructions are not followed.
Please note that certain LiPo chargers on the market do not charge properly. If you are uncertain of the charger's capabilities, please contact ArmSoar or its representative and we will recommend chargers that you may use.
The recommended method to charge a LiPo is CC/CV. (CC) means the batteries begin charging with a continuous current. When a certain cut-off voltage is reached, the charger will keep the voltage constant (CV) and the charging current will decrease until the battery is fully charged.
When using a higher rate than 1C, the battery will reach the cut-off point much faster, but will not be fully charged. After switching to CV, it will take longer to reach full power.
Charge your packs in a LiPo safety bag or similar safety device. For safety reasons, never leave your pack unattended while it is charging. Your charger must be set to LiPo mode and you must specify the number of cells that are in the pack. LiPo cells have 3.7V therefore 7.4V means 2 cells (for High Voltage cell have 3.8V therefore 7.6V means 2 cells). A charger in LiPo mode will charge the cells up to 4.2V per cell (High Voltage 4.35V per cell). If you do not set the amount of cells/voltage properly this will overcharge the pack causing damage to the pack and is also a fire hazard.
The recommended charge rate is 1C to 2C. What this means is you use mAh divided by 1000 of the pack to charge at 1C. For example a 5000mAh pack would be charged at 5 Amps (5000mAh = 5 amps). For 2C you double the mAh of the pack (2 x 5000mAh = 10 amps). For a 2200mAh pack 1C would be 2.2 Amps and 2C would be 4.4 Amps. ArmSoar packs are known to be capable of accepting up to 3C however this may reduce the pack's life cycle. For this reason, we do not recommend using a charge rate higher than 2C. unless the battery's life cycle is not an issue for the user. Cell balancing is not an absolute requirement.
We recommend to never attempt Reverse charging. Charging the pack in this manner can cause a reversal in battery polarity, which will cause the gas pressure inside of the battery to rise, which leads to leakage of the batteries in the pack.
Do not disassemble the packs. Do not use the pack if you notice an irregularity such as foul odor, deformation, discoloration, etc. If there is leakage, do not touch the liquid.
If a pack somehow gets wet it can possibly malfunction. Do not use those packs. Do not apply solder directly to the cells.
Discharging:
LiPo batteries are sensitive to being over-discharged. We recommend a cut-off of 3.0V per cell, while the absolute minimum is 2.7V per cell. If the battery is discharged below 2.7V this may cause permanent damage. If possible, set the cut-off to 3.0V per cell.
A pack may be discharged at the stated C rate but with high C rate packs this is not possible due to the limitations of the wire and connectors. A 40C/5200 pack can be discharged at 208 Amps continuous with bursts of 416 Amps. This can only be done when using the proper sized wire directly soldered to the cells' tabs. There is not enough current draw to get the wires or connectors to fail in RC applications.
LiPo packs are designed for operating optimally at temperature of up to 40C. The temperature of the pack itself must never become hotter than 60C (140F).
LiPo batteries do not have a hard steel case like NiMH batteries. Instead, they are enclosed by a special aluminum foil which does not allow the packs to vent. If the integrity is compromised the battery will begin to swell up. If the battery is damaged and you notice that the case begins to expand, stop using the battery and immediately dispose of it properly.
Storage:
The discharge rate for LiPo packs is very slow allowing them to be stored for long periods of time. To prevent damage, we recommend keeping the cells above 3.3V and the standard is a 50% storage charge.
Please note that in our testing we have noticed that keeping the packs stored at more than a 50% charge will permanently reduce some of the pack's capacity. RC pilots all want the capacity of the packs to remain as high as possible. Our testing also revealed that storing the packs at 3.8V for a 1 cell pack is optimal for maintaining the capacity as high as possible. We strongly recommend that the pack be maintained in a dry and low temperature atmosphere if it is going to be stored for 3 months or more. If a pack is stored at 3.8 we recommend that the pack's voltage be checked every 2 months. Charge it back up if the voltage has dropped.
The life cycle of a battery depends heavily on how it is used and handled. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to specify exactly how long the battery will last. However, by following these instructions and adhering to the warnings you will most definitely get the most out of your battery.
Warranty
ArmSoar battery packs come with limited warranty. Please contact us or our distributor to get more details or information.
You must read these safety instructions and warnings before using or charging your batteries.
Lithium Polymer batteries can be volatile when not handled properly. Failure to read and follow these instructions may result in fire, personal injury and damage to property if charged or used improperly.
ArmSoar, its distributors and retailers assume no liability for failures to comply with these warnings and safety guidelines.
By purchasing this battery, the buyer assumes all risks associated with this product. If you do not agree with these conditions, please return the battery immediately before use.
Charging:
LiPo batteries are safe if the instructions and handling precautions are followed carefully. There is a risk of explosion, fire, smoke emission and poisoning, if the warnings are not respected and the instructions are not followed.
Please note that certain LiPo chargers on the market do not charge properly. If you are uncertain of the charger's capabilities, please contact ArmSoar or its representative and we will recommend chargers that you may use.
The recommended method to charge a LiPo is CC/CV. (CC) means the batteries begin charging with a continuous current. When a certain cut-off voltage is reached, the charger will keep the voltage constant (CV) and the charging current will decrease until the battery is fully charged.
When using a higher rate than 1C, the battery will reach the cut-off point much faster, but will not be fully charged. After switching to CV, it will take longer to reach full power.
Charge your packs in a LiPo safety bag or similar safety device. For safety reasons, never leave your pack unattended while it is charging. Your charger must be set to LiPo mode and you must specify the number of cells that are in the pack. LiPo cells have 3.7V therefore 7.4V means 2 cells (for High Voltage cell have 3.8V therefore 7.6V means 2 cells). A charger in LiPo mode will charge the cells up to 4.2V per cell (High Voltage 4.35V per cell). If you do not set the amount of cells/voltage properly this will overcharge the pack causing damage to the pack and is also a fire hazard.
The recommended charge rate is 1C to 2C. What this means is you use mAh divided by 1000 of the pack to charge at 1C. For example a 5000mAh pack would be charged at 5 Amps (5000mAh = 5 amps). For 2C you double the mAh of the pack (2 x 5000mAh = 10 amps). For a 2200mAh pack 1C would be 2.2 Amps and 2C would be 4.4 Amps. ArmSoar packs are known to be capable of accepting up to 3C however this may reduce the pack's life cycle. For this reason, we do not recommend using a charge rate higher than 2C. unless the battery's life cycle is not an issue for the user. Cell balancing is not an absolute requirement.
We recommend to never attempt Reverse charging. Charging the pack in this manner can cause a reversal in battery polarity, which will cause the gas pressure inside of the battery to rise, which leads to leakage of the batteries in the pack.
Do not disassemble the packs. Do not use the pack if you notice an irregularity such as foul odor, deformation, discoloration, etc. If there is leakage, do not touch the liquid.
If a pack somehow gets wet it can possibly malfunction. Do not use those packs. Do not apply solder directly to the cells.
Discharging:
LiPo batteries are sensitive to being over-discharged. We recommend a cut-off of 3.0V per cell, while the absolute minimum is 2.7V per cell. If the battery is discharged below 2.7V this may cause permanent damage. If possible, set the cut-off to 3.0V per cell.
A pack may be discharged at the stated C rate but with high C rate packs this is not possible due to the limitations of the wire and connectors. A 40C/5200 pack can be discharged at 208 Amps continuous with bursts of 416 Amps. This can only be done when using the proper sized wire directly soldered to the cells' tabs. There is not enough current draw to get the wires or connectors to fail in RC applications.
LiPo packs are designed for operating optimally at temperature of up to 40C. The temperature of the pack itself must never become hotter than 60C (140F).
LiPo batteries do not have a hard steel case like NiMH batteries. Instead, they are enclosed by a special aluminum foil which does not allow the packs to vent. If the integrity is compromised the battery will begin to swell up. If the battery is damaged and you notice that the case begins to expand, stop using the battery and immediately dispose of it properly.
Storage:
The discharge rate for LiPo packs is very slow allowing them to be stored for long periods of time. To prevent damage, we recommend keeping the cells above 3.3V and the standard is a 50% storage charge.
Please note that in our testing we have noticed that keeping the packs stored at more than a 50% charge will permanently reduce some of the pack's capacity. RC pilots all want the capacity of the packs to remain as high as possible. Our testing also revealed that storing the packs at 3.8V for a 1 cell pack is optimal for maintaining the capacity as high as possible. We strongly recommend that the pack be maintained in a dry and low temperature atmosphere if it is going to be stored for 3 months or more. If a pack is stored at 3.8 we recommend that the pack's voltage be checked every 2 months. Charge it back up if the voltage has dropped.
The life cycle of a battery depends heavily on how it is used and handled. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to specify exactly how long the battery will last. However, by following these instructions and adhering to the warnings you will most definitely get the most out of your battery.
Warranty
ArmSoar battery packs come with limited warranty. Please contact us or our distributor to get more details or information.