LiPo batteries are generally safer and more environmentally friendly than other R/C batteries like NiCd and NiMH. LiPo batteries have become the most common high performance R/C battery and are used in R/C cars, boats, planes, helis, multirotors, and more. However, if charged, discharged, stored, maintained, or handled improperly, they can become extremely dangerous. This is a simple guide for safe LiPo battery ownership and use.
This guide applies to all R/C LiPo batteries including all the “smart” batteries made by DJI, like the Smart Batteries designed for Phantom drones, the Intelligent Flight Battery for the teeny Mavic Mini drones and the Intelligent Flight Batteries made for DJI’s racing drone, DJI FPV.
1. Never charge, discharge, use, or store a damaged or puffy LiPo battery.
Immediately follow proper disposal protocols.
2. Avoid purchasing used LiPo batteries.
While some items are smarter to buy used to save money and help the environment, LiPo batteries are not one of those things. You never know what the previous owner did with them and they could already be badly damaged. “LiPo Battery Like New, Used Once” is usually a scam and should be avoided.
3. Don’t leave your batteries fully charged — or fully dead for long periods.
Depending on how they are used, most LiPo batteries typically do not last longer than 300 charge cycles. But the way you treat your batteries can have an impact on whether they last longer or shorter than the average.
Leaving them around on a full or depleted charge all the time, running them completely dead, or exposing them to high temperatures will shorten this lifespan dramatically.
4. Always use a proper LiPo battery balance charger/discharger when charging and discharging your LiPos.
It is crucial that all cells in a LiPo battery maintain the same voltage across all cells at all times. If the voltages across the cells deviate too much from each other (5mV ~ 10Mv), the battery can become unstable and dangerous. (Unless it’s a single cell LiPo, in which case you do not need to worry about cell balance).
To make it easy to charge or discharge your battery to the perfect level, use a balance charger/discharger, which you can find for less than $50 (ensure the one you buy is compatible with your own set of batteries).
If you have a DJI drone, use DJI’s two-way charging hub (again, check to make sure the specific hub you buy is compatible with your DJI drone).
5. Never overcharge a LiPo battery.
Typically a full charge is 4.2v per cell. Never “trickle” charge a LiPo battery. Luckily, the aforementioned LiPo battery balance charger/discharger can help ensure you charge it to the perfect level.
6. Never discharge a LiPo battery below 3.0v per cell.
And in that same vein, letting the charge get too low can be bad, too, so keep that LiPo battery charger on hand even if your drone flights are on pause for an extended period of time.
Ideally you never want to go below 3.2v per cell to maintain a healthy battery. 2.9v per cell and lower is causing permanent damage.
7. Never leave your LiPo batteries sitting around on a full charge for more than 2-3 days.
If by the 3rd day you realize you are not going to use your battery today, you need to discharge your battery down to 3.6v-3.8v per cell for safe storage until you are ready to use the battery again.
While LiPo fires are rare, they can happen incredibly quickly and can do a lot of damage. All it takes is an internal short circuit to set the battery off. There is no way to predict when it will happen. It does tend to happen more often when batteries are fully charged, being overcharged, or while being discharged, but it can happen to any LiPo at any time. Never fill the container to capacity with your batteries, always follow manufacturer recommendations on LiPo bags for how many mAh’s it can safely contain.It’s ALWAYS worth investing in an (under $10) explosion-proof LiPo bagor ammo can.
9. Do not use your flight case/travel case for long term LiPo storage.
To really hammer the point home of ammo cans and other more serious storage protocols, realize that the foam and plastic in these cases can help spread a LiPo fire. Always use a fire proof container such as a metal ammo box or fire proof safe for storage.
10. Never leave your LiPo batteries charging while unattended.
If a battery starts to become puffy, smoke, or catches fire you need to be able to immediately handle the situation. Walking away for even just 5 minutes can spell disaster.
11.A LiPo fire is a chemical fire.
Always keep a Class D fire extinguisher nearby your battery charging/discharging and storage area. The battery charging/discharging and storage area should be free from any materials which can catch fire such as wood tables, carpet, or gasoline containers. The ideal surface for charging and storing LiPo batteries is concrete or ceramic.
12. Care for your LiPo batteries properly.
Always store your LiPo batteries at room temperature. Do not store them in a hot garage, or in a cold refrigerator. Even though a cold battery has less chemical reaction taking place which can prolong its lifespan, taking a battery out from a cold fridge can cause condensation to occur on the inside of the battery, which can be very dangerous. The next two points go into greater detail on temperature:
13. Avoid letting LiPos get too hot.
Always remember that heat is the number one enemy of LiPo batteries. The hotter your batteries get, the shorter their lifespan will be. Never charge a battery that is still warm from usage, and never use a battery that is still warm from charging.
14. Avoid letting LiPos get too cold.
Sure, heat is the enemy, but the cold isn’t exactly friendly. LiPo batteries do not work well in cold weather.
The colder it is, the shorter your run times will be due to the slowing down of the chemical activity within the battery. If it is below 14F (-10C), LiPo usage is not recommended at all. Your battery could cause your R/C vehicle to suddenly fail without warning in these temperatures.
15. Always pack your LiPo batteries in your carry-on bag and never in your checked baggage when traveling on an airplane.
Not only is it the law, but it’s common sense. The Transportation Security Administration specifically states that drones are allowed through TSA checkpoints, meaning you can bring a drone in your carry-on bag. However, the TSA does have some rules around packing lithium ion drone batteries — which can restrict how you can travel with a drone.
All spare, or otherwise uninstalled lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, such as drone batteries are only allowed in carry-on baggage, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Lithium ion drone batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. There are also limits on watt hours.
When flying with a drone, it’s recommend to pack your batteries (in your carry-on luggage, of course) in a fireproof battery pouch. For multiple drone batteries, there are full fireproof Lipo battery storage bags, and they typically won’t cost more than $20.
-Written by Jessika Farrar
Jessika Farrar is the founder of ASG Aerial and specializes in aerial photography for personal and business use. Visit www.ASGaerial.com to learn more, or to book an appointment.
Jessika Farrar is also the Network Administrator for the S.W.A.R.M. Network where thousands of pilots from around the world volunteer their skills to help connect life saving drone technology with missing people. Go to www.SARdrones.org to learn more about how you can help.
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