Storage Charging RC LiPo Batteries | Quick Tip | Motion RC 

When I storage charge my lipo can I just leave it on the charger or do I need to take it off

Take it off

Our pleasure!

You're welcome!

Happy to help!

Nice! Glad this helped. Use that feature on all your packs after your done flying. Will help extend their lifespan

Most intelligent chargers, when using the storage charge function, will stop when the battery reaches a storage charge. I check all my batteries that I haven't used once a quarter. If any fall below 3.8, I will pop them back on storage charge quick and then re store them.

Yes. Most newer chargers will do the following if you select storage mode: your battery is UNDER 50% the charger will charge until it’s at 50% and stop. Or around 3.8v each cell ideally. If your battery has OVER 50% left after driving your rc the charger will discharge down to 50%. So it takes it to 50 whether that’s adding or discharging to 50. I wouldn’t do discharge mode unless you’re keeping a very close eye cause if you fully discharge you will ruin the battery. Most people never use discharge mode with most new charges being able to discharge or charge when you select Storage. It takes a while though but yes get on Amazon and for like $9 you can get a little Cell checker that you can keep in pocket or close by that plugs into the balance wire on battery and will show what percentage or “capacity” is your battery is at. They also have a Cell Checker usually which will show each cell and what Voltage it’s at. Store around 3.8v ideally. Hope this helps. I use the C150 HTRC 150w charger off amazing and love it. Fits all batteries practically and it’s about $50 and does it all. It also can check battery capacity or (how full it is) if you don’t have a little cell checker handy. Good luck and always charge in a fireproof bag no matter what and on a glass, concrete, brick, or some other fire proof material away from walls. Those bags are great but I’ve seen them burn enough to burn down a garage. (Or a trailer full of rc cars in my buddies case 🤭)

If you charge up, but then can't fly that day, but can fly the next day? then leave them. But I never leave my batteries fully charged for more than 48 hours. You always want to store them in a storage charge or they will puff

Yes. Consider a storage charge like a 40% charged battery. You will want to balance charge it back to 100% before using it. But you never want to store a battery at 100% charge or less and 40%

A storage charge is basically a battery at 25% charge. Yes, you need to charge your battery back up to use it. But storage charge it before you store it

I would personally first charge them fully and use them. See that they still work and hold a decent charge under load. I have batteries much older but with much more usage still work great. They should be fine, but test them out. If they work, then storage charge them until their next use

@@MotionRC Thanks for your advice! 🙂

Charge it up and use it, then storage charge when your done

a .1 difference isnt unusual between cells. I'd be concerned with a .3-.4 or more difference.

It works both ways actually. If your batteries are 100% charged and you put it onto a storage mode, your battery will be discharged down to about 35%. Conversely, if you've used your lipo and and come to the end of the run - like a low voltage cut off - storage mode will actually be putting charge back in - back up to about 35% which usually equates to 3.7-3.8v.

Yes. A storage charge has the battery at about 30% charged for sitting/doing nothing. You will charge it full to use it then storage charge it again afterwards to store it

As I said in the video. Proper care for a LiPo is that it is always storage charged before storing it for any extended period. If you leave a fully charged LiPo to sit for more than 3 days the chemical reactions inside start the puffiness and overall degradation. Many times I have charged up 10-20 batteries set to go fly and life happened and I couldn't go, so I take the time to storage charge them before putting them away. And I have many batteries I don't use until summer (for boats and such) but every quarter I will check them as even storage charged batteries will start to fall below 3.8 and I will take them out of storage just to storage charge them and store them right back again. Basically, take care of them cause they can be pricey and you want them to last for years and years. And they can....with proper storage ;)

i would say yes..

Like 18650s? I store all of mine fully charged, then discharge and charge with a capacity test once a year, and they never vary more than a couple % +/- over several years.

I assume you do not have a battery cell checker? I would order one ( www.motionrc.com/collections/battery-testers ). With a tester you can check the voltage of any LiPo battery. Most reputable companies (like traxxas) will sell their batteries in storage mode, so if you haven't charged it up yet then it is fine to store. But when you get a battery tester, you will know for sure where the voltage is. A fully charged LiPo will be about 4.2 Volts per cell, while a Storage charge is about 3.8 Volts per cell and a dead/almost dead battery is 3.2 Volts per cell.

It will go either way to get to 3.8

Batteries will slowly discharge over time. I would check them every 1-3 months when in storage. If they drop from 3.8 to say 3.7 I will put them back on the storage charge to get them back to 3.8 (wouldn't take long)

Many chargers will only storage charge using 1 amp, but the charger will only discharge at the same rate whether it is one or ten batteries. Discharging 4x1300 mAh batteries is the same as discharging 1 5200mAh battery. But of course, don't leave it alone while you do it. Always be ready for anything with LiPo's

@@MotionRC ok thanks so if I storage charge 4 1550mah lipos I set it to 1amp and 4s

@@sheapyfpv8224 1550 x 4 is 6200, so I would set the amps to 6.2 on the charger, that should discharge those at 1 amp

I´ll follow up on this one. If i have multiple batteries with more than 0,4V between them, is it ok to storage charge them together? @sheapyfpc8224

3.8 is right. 3.08 would be a dead battery

@@MotionRC oh so 3.80?

@@christiansrcs7789 yes

yes. before use you recharge again, but then its best practice to storage charge after your session

I would check them periodically throughout the year. Over time batteries will lose charge just sitting there, so a storage charged battery will still lose voltage and you should put it back on the balancer to bring it back to storage charge every once in while. So if you store a battery at storage of 3.8v per cell, after a year it may be 3.7 so just storage charge it back to 3.8

@@MotionRC Thank you! That is actually exactlywhat appears to have happened; all of the cells are currently in the 3.7 range.

yes. 3.8 is "average" so 3.7-3.9 is fine. But also look into the settings on your charger, you may be able to change it from 3.9 to 3.8 from there.

@@MotionRC Thanks, its the Ev-Peak CQ3 and don't think it has a setting. But the fan stays on and never turns off after the battery is charged, which I dislike. Does the skyRc D400 fan turn off after the batteries are done? Thanks for your reply.

@@genes6703 I just went through the manual of your charger and looks like it is fixed at 3.85 for LiPo storage, which is fine for sure. This chargers (SkyRC) fan only turns on/off when needed

No. You always want to storage charge at a 1/1 ratio. This pack was a 4000 mAh pack so storage charge at 4.0a. A 2200 mah pack you storage charge at 2.2a, a 6500mAh pack you storage charge at 6.5a etc, etc, etc

@Motion RC thank you mate 👍

Cheers 😊

for a 1C charge on a 5200, I would charge at 5.2amps

Storage is just the cell reading at @3.8. it's not a mode you need to get out of. Just charge it and go fly. But if you don't fly it for a 2 days then just storage charge back. Never let it sit with a full charge or any charge over 3.9

@@MotionRC perfect thanks

You would want to fully charge them before use.

@@MotionRC ok, thanks 👍 on fast charge or balance charge? (Traxxas)

Depends. But check on it every other month and if it falls below say 3.7 cell, put it back on a storage charge to get it to 3.8 again

@@MotionRC is there a tool I can buy to check this please?

it okay, but then put it on the storage charge to finish it off.

Please keep these videos coming, for us "newcommers" it jas been great!

@@markgurney8725 Will do Mark, and don't hesitate to comment with some idea for more. These are for the people

If you plan on not flying that battery for 2 or 3 days, then you of course would need to storage charge a fully charged LiPo. The storage charge will run the pack down to an acceptable storage level because leaving a fully charged LiPo sitting around will degrade it super fast.

@@MotionRC tnx bro im doing storage now weather is not great we have typho so no playing for now

@@rcboy4652 No problem my man. Same rainy weather here in Georgia as well

Yes, I do that regularly. But If I end up not flying that day, I will storage charge them. I never leave them charged longer than 24-48 hours

@@MotionRC Allright thank you Very much! Then i was doing the right thing haha

@@rodneybjiop6053 Better safe than sorry, especially with LiPos. Don't ever take them for granted. Treat them with respect

Get a new charger

@@MotionRC how do you check manufacture date of li-po?

Yes. Whenever you are done with a battery, pop it in storage charge then put it away at 3.8. but when needed, charge it up. It can remain fully charged for like 48 hours, but if not going to be used, storage charge it again. Leaving a lipo fully charged for more than a few days will degrade the pack and cause puffyness and less usefulness over time

@@MotionRC so I have a 25C SeriesZippy compact 5000. I don’t even know what those numbers mean. Couple you please explain the proper procedure for using and storing the battery

Lipo batteries are more efficient, meaning longer run times and cooler batteries. They deliver more power over a longer period of time and don’t suffer from charge memory. Some other types of batteries must be fully discharged before being charged or they won’t charge back fully after so many cycles doing that.

All you need to do is give a very brief outline and 2 examples the first a 1S, and the second a 3S so that we understand we are looking for 3.8 vdc per S...I'll even click on "Join" if you do it that way ;0)

@@SirRat1959 I'll do my best to slow down more Mike. Appreciate any constructive criticism. I will be the first to admit I am not an expert at RC or being a video personality. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Stick around for sure!

no. refer to the mAh of the battery. a 4000mAH 2s or 4s or 6s would all charge at 4.0 amps for a 1C charge rate.