7 Tips To Maximizing Your Battery Performance

Battery technology seems to have taken a leaping step recently, allowing electric RC models to go places where once only nitrous models could go. Leading this innovation are the Li-Po or Lithium Polymer batteries which has become the standard power source for electric-powered helicopters, planes, cars, boats, and almost every other type of model. However, these batteries are not exactly cheap, and improper operations will have detrimental effects. Here are seven tips to maximize your battery performance.

1. Break In New Batteries

Although not as big a deal with newer Li-Po packs as it was when NiMh and NiCad batteries were kings, it is still recommended that you fully charge the battery before first use. Fully discharging and charging batteries a few times before the first flight or will also give your battery a little bit extra lifetime and power.

2. Keep the pack clean

This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of battery operations. It is a good idea to keep the battery pack clean, and this is especially important for the dean connectors. If the dean connectors are dirty, the connection may be obstructed and could result in a mid-flight power failure. The easiest way to clean dirty contacts is simply with alcohol and cotton swabs.

3. Keep up the battery's health by constant exercise

Leaving the battery inactive for a long period of time shortens its life and decreases its total potential. You should use your battery pack at least once every one to two weeks. Fully discharging then charging the pack will also quell this problem.

4. Take breaks between flights

A fully charged lipo pack has enough power for a 10-minute flight. However, to fly for ten minutes straight on one pack is not recommended. If you have two packs, it's best to fly a 5-minute flight, switch to a fresh pack, fly for another 5 minutes, and then switch back to the old pack. Doing this will greatly increase the lifespan of the battery.

5. Do not charge when hot

Never charge the battery pack while it is still hot. The battery pack becomes very hot right after a flight; you must wait until it cools down before charging it again. Charging a still-hot pack is one of the most successful ways to shorten a battery's life.

6. Store them well

To store the battery for a prolonged period (a month or more), the best way to store them is in a clean, dry, cool place away from metal and heat. Remember also that battery packs lose charge over time even without usage.

7. Avoid hard impact

Individual cells within a battery pack can be damaged upon heavy impact which could cause circuit leaks and can be dangerously unstable. There is also no way to repair a damaged cell. Try your best not to crash, but of course, we all already do.

Oznake: Lithium-ion polymer

10 Tips to Longer Lasting Forklift Batteries

1. Check the automatic watering systems.
These systems tend to be clogged during use. They also tend to be located in the lift and not taken out very often, so they get clogged. This often goes unchecked, the clog is not discovered and the cell gets burned up and dried. This results in $400 - $600 costs for a cell change and this is a frequent issue commonly seen that could be avoided.
2. Clean the tops of the batteries of acid and corrosion.
A dirty battery causes a lot of problems. If you put a voltmeter on top there actually is a slow discharge of the battery. If you charge a battery it will slowly discharge over time. Corrosion builds up and will ruin your cables which causes poor battery performance. Cables can get expensive at $70 - $100 each if you have a lot of batteries, in addition to degrading your battery performance. This can be avoided just by taking a little time to clean the top of the batteries.
3. Keep on top of underperforming batteries.
A lot of companies don't take care of the problem batteries. Underperforming batteries can draw heavy loads on electrical components of the forklift which are very expensive to the thousands of dollars. The damage happens when the battery gets low and it is used anyway.
You can tell a battery is underperforming if it doesn't last a full shift. A lot of batteries only go for 1 or 2 hours and the drivers don't know which ones are good or bad. They just put them in and the batteries draw very quickly.
Facilities that have under performing batteries can spend thousands per month replacing electrical components in forklifts and the root cause is under performing batteries. These batteries can be identified, Brought Up To Full Performance and this expense can be saved.
When the lifts go down you have less productivity, less product moved, more battery changes, and unnecessary costs of replacing components and the labor to do so.
4. Use filtered water in batteries.
Being in so many facilities and seeing things first hand I can tell you without hesitation that using tap water in your batteries will cause you problems and unnecessary expense. I see this all the time. Batteries that use tap water are far worse than all the rest of them. They heat up more. The minerals in the water build-up on the plates and it causes heat. Heat causes premature battery failure. My estimate is you cut battery life by 50%. Even if your battery is covered by a warranty you have to ship it out and wait for it to come back, and incur the costs to do so. This can be avoided by using filtered water.
5. Use a water de-ionizer.
A cheap and effective solution to the problem of using filtered water. You can attach it to your water line, it is cheap and you get the benefits of filtered water. It's easy to use. You don't have to mess with bottles of filtered water. You can use an automatic water gun and a battery is filled up in seconds rather than the minute or so it takes to pour in filtered water from a bottle, which is probably the main deterrent to using filtered water. This makes filling up easy and painless and eliminates the minerals that pollute the batteries and cause you the expense and lost productivity.
6. Do not allow opportunity charging.
Do not allow charging during 15-minute breaks and lunch periods. Batteries are made to draw down 80% and then be full charged. If you opportunity charges you significantly reduce the life of your battery.
I think the reason this process starts is when you have underperforming batteries, the drivers know this and they try to get a little more charge during their breaks.
Opportunity charging accelerates the deterioration of battery performance. If you identify the lesser performing batteries you can avoid this issue.
This can reduce battery life by a year or two, plus you have the cost of electricity for unnecessary charging and the labor cost and lost productivity when a battery needs to be charged.
7. Do not equalize the batteries more than once a month.

Equalizing creates tremendous heat, particularly when a battery is a little older. Heat kills batteries. It sheds the lead. Equalizing can give a temporary boost but the battery is used up more quickly. I go into facilities and literally see batteries steaming from the heat.
The temporary boost you get comes at a high cost of a shorter battery life and the costs of increased handling and maintenance.

8. The batteries should cool down after charging.

Remember, heat kills batteries. If they are charged and then immediately used they are hot a lot longer. Companies that get the most from their batteries let them cool a few hours after charging.

9. Do a quick check of cables and connections monthly.
This can easily be overlooked. At a glance, everything might look all right but a closer inspection can pick up corrosion which does not allow electricity to pass through. Jiggle the cables and make sure the connections are solid.
Bad cables impact battery performance. If electricity doesn't pass though efficiently, your battery is not discharging or charging completely. You might think your battery is bad, but it really it really can't be charged completely because the cables are bad. So check them for corrosion.
10. Program your chargers with a 30-minute delay.
One company I service couldn't stop their workers from opportunity charging during breaks and lunch when they were not being watched. So, they installed a 30-minute delay on the charger.
The workers plug in as normal but they are not being charged due to the delay.
The disadvantages and costs of opportunity charging are so significant that installing a delay was a very smart move for this facility. Most of the breaks are 15 or 30 minutes and it eliminated charging during this time.
Summary
Batteries will last a lot longer. A typical warranty is 5 years but you can get 7 or 8 years of productive lift from a battery. If you are not doing the above a battery may only be productive for a year or two and then it is under performing, with all the attendant unnecessary time, labor and expense, for the last few years it is in use. You incur the consequences of increased charging, lost productivity and unnecessary electricity and labor expense to keep them in service.
The labor cost of having underperforming batteries is significant. Bad batteries mean you have people changing them. There are safety concerns. When batteries are being changed you have a risk of injury. With more activity around the battery area there is more opportunity for injury.
Choose luda, Choose the top quality of China!
Choose luda battery, Choose the top quality of China!
Choose luda, Choose the top quality of China!
Choose luda battery, Choose the top quality of China!
Choose luda, Choose the top quality of China!
Choose luda, Choose the top quality of China!

An Introduction to Lithium Batteries

Between electric cars, cell phones and laptops it seems as if batteries are everywhere. This is not going to change any time soon. Global electricity use is skyrocketing and smart phones, tablets and e-readers are all becoming more common. In addition, batteries are finding applications in energy storage as the renewable energy sector continues to grow. Engineers and scientist have developed many novel technologies to supply our storage needs, but none seems to have established itself as the ultimate technology. Flywheel, compressed air and thermal storage are all strong contenders for grid-scale storage while lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal-hydride batteries compete for portable electricity storage. What is all comes down to is that we still have not found an optimal way to store our electricity. This article will discuss the technology and potential of lithium batteries.
Until the 1990s nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries were practically the only choice in rechargeable batteries. The major problem with these devices was that they had a high temperature coefficient. This meant that the cells' performance would plummet when they heated up. In addition, cadmium, one of the cell's main elements, is costly and environmentally unfriendly (it is also used in thin film panels). Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) and lithium-ion emerged as competitors to NiCad in the 90s. Since then a mind numbing number of technologies have appeared on the market. Amongst these lithium-ion batteries stand out as a promising candidate for a wide range of uses.
Lithium-ion cells have been used in hundreds of applications including electric cars, pacemakers, laptops and military microgrids. They are extremely low maintenance and energy dense. Unfortunately commercial lithium ion cells have some serious drawbacks. They are very expensive, fragile and have short lifespans in deep-cycle applications. The future of many budding technologies, including electric vehicles, depends on improvements in cell performance.
Technology
A battery is an electrochemical device. This means that it converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Rechargeable batteries can convert in the opposite direction because they use reversible reactions. Every cell is composed of a positive electrode called a cathode and a negative electrode called an anode. The electrodes are placed in an electrolyte and connected via an external circuit that allows electron flow.
Early lithium batteries were high temperature cells with molten lithium cathodes and molten sulfur anodes. Operating at around 400 degrees celcius, these thermal rechargeable batteries were first sold commercially in the 1980s. However, electrode containment proved a serious problem due to lithium's instability. In the end temperature issues, corrosion and improving ambient temperature batteries slowed the adoption of molten lithium-sulfur cells. Though this is still theoretically a very powerful battery, scientists found that trading some energy density for stability was necessary. This lead to lithium-ion technology.
A lithium-ion battery generally has a graphitic carbon anode, which hosts Li+ ions, and a metal oxide cathode. The electrolyte consists of a lithium salt (LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4) dissolved in an organic solvent such as ether. Since lithium would react very violently with water vapor the cell is always sealed. Also, to prevent a short circuit, the electrodes are separated by a porous materials that prevents physical contact. When the cell is charging, lithium ions intercalate between carbon molecules in the anode. Meanwhile at the cathode lithium ions and electrons are released. During discharge the opposite happens: Li ions leave the anode and travel to the cathode. Since the cell involves the flow of ions and electrons, the system must be both a good electrical and ionic conductor. Sony developed the first Li+ battery in 1990 which had a lithium cobalt oxide cathode and a carbon anode.
Overall lithium ion cells have important benefits that have made them the leading choice in many applications. Lithium is the metal with both the lowest molar mass and the greatest electrochemical potential. This means that Li-ion batteries can have very high energy density. A typical lithium cell potential is 3.6V (lithium cobalt oxide-carbon). Also, they have a much lower self discharge rate at 5% than that of NiCad batteries which usually self discharge at 20%. In addition, these cells don't contain dangerous heavy metals such as cadmium and lead. Finally, Li+ batteries do not have any memory effects and do not need to refilled. This makes them low maintenance compared to other batteries.
Unfortunately lithium ion technology has several restricting issues. First and foremost it is expensive. The average cost of a Li-ion cell is 40% higher than that of a NiCad cell. Also, these devices require a protection circuit to maintain discharge rates between 1C and 2C. This is the source of most static charge loss. In addition, though lithium ion batteries are powerful and stable, they have a lower theoretical charge density than other kinds of batteries. Therefore improvements of other technologies may make them obsolete. Finally, they have a much shorter cycle life and a longer charging time than NiCad batteries and are also very sensitive to high temperatures.
These issues have sparked interest in other chemistries, such as lithium-air, lithium-polymer and lithium-iron. Since I do not have time to go through all these devices, we'll briefly look at lithium-air batteries. In these systems, Li is oxidized at the anode, releasing electrons that travel through an external circuit. Li+ ions then flow to the cathode where they reduce oxygen, forming the intermediary compound lithium peroxide. In theory, this allows for a truly reversible reaction to take place, improving the performance of lithium-air batteries in deep-cycle applications. However, much like Li+ cells, these batteries suffer from short lives. This is due to the formation of oxygen radicals that decompose the cell's organic electrolyte. Fortunately two lithium-air batteries developed independently in 2012 by Jung et al., a team of researchers from Rome and Seoul, and Peter Bruce, who led a group at St. Andrews, seem to have solved this problem. Both the groups' batteries underwent approximately 100 charging and discharging cycles without losing much of their capacity. Bruce's device lost only 5% capacity during tests. The batteries also have higher energy density than their lithium ion counterparts. This is a sign that the future of energy storage may reside with powerful, resilient lithium-air chemistry. However we will first have to overcome durability, cost and weight problems.
Implementation
Though novel lithium battery chemistries are being developed and marketed, Li+ batteries remain near the top of the food chain for now. As we mentioned previously, this technology is often considered the first choice for electric vehicles and electronic devices due to its energy density. Tesla's Roadster contains no less than 6831 lithium ion batteries. Arranged into packs of 69, the cells are capable of taking the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. Just in case you were wondering, 69 goes into 6831 exactly 99 times. Also, if you are reading this article on your laptop, it is likely that it is powered by a lithium cell.
The major drawback to current Li batteries is their susceptibility to aging effects, especially when heated. You may have noticed that laptop and cell phone life deteriorates dramatically after a few years. This is largely due to aging. This issue has made the technology ill suited for backup and grid-scale power. Despite this, Li-ion batteries have competed for energy storage projects with alternative technologies such as thermal, flywheels and compressed air storage. Most of these installations have been in California. Silent Power's Li+ cells are being used to dampen power fluctuations in Sacramento and Greensmith has installed 1.5 megawatts of grid-balancing lithium-ion batteries throughout the state. In addition, AES Energy Storage has installed, or is in the process of installing, 76MW of Li+ battery capacity worldwide with 500MW in development. The main benefit of this technology is the fact that we understand it well and have the immediate resources for it to work. In large scale projects lithium-ion batteries have been most successful in sites where there are severe space restrictions or minimal maintenance capabilities.
In the near future it seems as if lithium ion technology is set to continue to dominate many applications. Li+ batteries are a proven concept, unlike some other technologies that have remained cloistered in the lab. The possible emergence of electric vehicles and the booming demand for electronics will undoubtedly have positive effects on the industry. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Analysts forecast that the technology will lose some of its competitive edge once infant technologies such as aluminium-ion, zinc-bromine and lead-carbon come on the market. For example on the topic of lithium ion batteries in storage applications, Lux Research said the following:
"Li-ion batteries developed for transportation applications are energy dense storage devices. Stationary storage projects rarely value this metric, resulting in wasted value for grid-tied Li- ion battery systems. Rapidly evolving technologies with equivalent or superior performance metrics and substantially lower costs and higher resource availability will take over the majority of the grid storage market in the coming years."
Though they are unlikely to be used in many grid scale storage projects, Li-ion batteries will certainly play a large role in our future. Their high cost will probably drop as the concept continues to mature and the devices become more widespread. A study by Mckinsey research found that 1/3 price reductions could be achieved through economies of scale alone. In any case lithium ion batteries are going to have to fight to keep the advantage they currently have.
Lithium is just a small part of the global picture. There are currently many competing concepts in the world of energy storage, each with their own pros, cons and background.

Li-Po Batteries Proper Safety Use Necessary to Avoid Fire and Damage

The Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po) batteries are a popular battery choice because of its unbeatable appealing attributes. These include high energy density, low weight, and greater discharge rates. LiPo batteries have transformed all the facets of radio controlled (RC) batteries. While it has many great benefits, extreme caution is necessary when recharging this battery.
LiPo Batteries Offer a Host of Electric Advantages
LiPo batteries come in different sizes and shapes and are now commonly found in RC cars, boats, and aircraft. Compared to other types of batteries, LiPo holds a more significant charge and is lighter too. Since its emergence and continued improvement, it has provided a substantial boost to the performance of RC cars, boats, aircraft, helicopters, and more. Additionally, new types of vehicles like multi-rotors now use LiPo batteries.
Lithium-polymer batteries offer many electric advantages. However, this does not come without cost. This particular battery has a higher risk of damage if not handled correctly. For this reason, users must be aware of some precautions to make the most of LiPo batteries.
Capacity and Voltage
When properly handled, LiPo batteries can provide high battery performance compared to other battery types. In terms of proper handling and use, there are two main aspects of the battery that one must understand. These are the capacity and voltage of the battery. An example of this is a battery with a shorthand "4S-2200", which denotes the capacity and voltage of the LiPo battery.
In this, the "4S" means it has four cells in a series. Since each cell has 3.7 volts (or 4.2 volts when fully-charged), the battery has a total pack voltage of 14.8 volts or 16.8 volts. The second number, on the other hand, refers to the battery's capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh). A 2200mAh battery at full charge can provide a current of 2200 milliamps for one hour before it becomes fully discharged.
A LiPo battery's capacity value is not affected by the number of cells in a series. The capacity value provides you valuable information so you can estimate the duration which the battery can provide you with useful power. In practical settings, though, this information only provides a rough comparison between different batteries.
Discharge Rate
Another important aspect of a LiPo battery is the discharge rate. This serves as an important factor so that a user can better determine the applications that the battery can be used for. The discharge rate is the value that allows users to determine how much amps that the battery can continuously output without sustaining damage.
Many RC applications require high amperage, which makes it a crucial factor to know a battery's discharge rate to ensure a vehicle's overall performance. LiPo batteries run a risk of catching fire when not properly charged. On that note, fire departments are always keen to give warnings and precautions for safe charging.
Charger and Operator
There has not been any a case of a LiPo battery bursting into flames while in storage. The fire accidents involving LiPo batteries often happen during the battery's charge or discharge. The majority of battery problems occur during charging, and the fault usually lies on the charger or the person operating it. This does not always happen, but these are the common factors in most LiPo battery fire cases.
There are lessons to learn from these incidents. First, users must invest in a good quality charger to avoid it being the cause of a fire. Second, the operator of the charger must learn how to operate it properly. An excellent choice of a charger LiPo battery is those with built-in checks. This type of battery charger allows the user to configure it properly.
Usually, these chargers can be used to charge not just LiPo batteries but also other battery chemistries. While they come with useful safeguards, the user of the battery is ultimately the one responsible for making sure that everything is above-board and proper. The user has to ensure that the charger set is suitable for the number of the battery's cells, that the charge rate is within the battery's limit, and etc.
Charging and Discharging Guidelines
Manufacturers often provide guidelines and warnings when it comes to the charging and discharging of LiPo batteries. The guidelines for charging and discharging of the battery must always be followed along with common sense. To avoid fires and other accidents, one must always be on the side of safety. One of the most critical reminders is to do a visual inspection of the battery before charging.
The user or operator must look for any sign of damage, like damaged connectors, frayed wires, swelling, and other irregularities. If the battery sustains damage that cannot be repaired, then it should be discarded. Charging it could result in the battery to explode and catch fire. Charging the battery using chargers not designed specifically for this type of battery is also not a good idea.
Users should always only use a Lithium balance charger. They must also follow the instructions in the use of the battery and charger carefully. Common sense and safety precautions must always be used when charging LiPo batteries. Leaving the batteries unattended while charging or discharging is not ideal as there might be problems that might arise during the process.
The user has to be there to unplug the battery if a problem ever occurs quickly. The charging and discharging process must be done on a fire-resistant surface within an open area. Charging the batteries near a flammable material is a big no. If there is no proper space for charging, one can use a LiPo battery safety charging bag instead. The batteries must be at ambient temperature before charging/discharging.
These are only a few of the guidelines, and warnings that any user of LiPo batteries must keep in mind. With common sense and self-awareness of safety precautions, then keeping the batteries from catching fire or sustaining damage will be easier. Lithium-polymer batteries have many great advantages in various applications. These are great batteries but to make the most of it, proper safety use is critical.

Oznake: lithium polymer battery

Lipo Battery Pack Tutorial

So you want to go lipo?

Well you have made the big choice and now you need to know where to start. Well the first thing to look at is the condition on your gearbox. This is going to be one of those times where you have to be very truthful with yourself. Is this gearbox in the best shape it can be? When was the last time you shimmed the gearbox? When did you last grease the gearbox? If you have not taken the time to make sure you have no noise or play in your gears take that time now. You will pay later when a subtle oscillation turns into a spinning gear of death and takes out your AEG in the middle of sustained fire if you don't.

While you are in the gearbox there are some other things you should look at. What gauge and quality is your wiring? If you are not at 16 or 18 gauge wire then take the time now and change it so that you have a big enough and strong enough pipe to push the new sustained voltage.

The C rating of a lithium polymer battery denotes how much current you can draw out of a pack at a continuous rate. Example:

1600mah 10c battery 1600mah/10000mah = 1.6ah 1.6ah x 10c = 16 amps

1000mah 20C Pack 1000mah/1000mah = 1ah, 1ah x 20c = 20 Amps

1500mah 25C Battery 1500mah/1000mah = 1.5ah, 1.5ah x 25c = 37.5 Amps

So the higher your discharge rate (C Rating) the more amperes you can push out continuously. Resulting in your motor being able to pull as much as it wants/can for a longer time. Most NIMH batteries are 10c.

You may also want to do an AOE (angle of engagement) correction. This involves totally readjusting the timing on your piston head and should not be performed if you do not fully feel confident.

First remove the second to last tooth on the piston. Then shim the piston head so that the piston lines up exactly with the first tooth on the sector gear. We have a guide HERE. You may also want to upgrade all the other fun parts that require you to have the gearbox and gun body open.

New stronger spring

New piston

New Piston Head

New air seal nozzle

New bucking

New inner barrel

Now this is no small amount of work.

Taking apart a gearbox and replacing a spring can be a daunting challenge depending on your level of skill but with time and the wonderful world wide web you can find step by step guides to disassemble and reassemble your gearbox. See our guide HERE.

Then we can talk about MOSFET. MOSFET is a electrical switch that (in simple terms) regulates voltage to your gearbox. You can wire one in, but if you go for a 7.4v it is only necessary for ROF regulation, but if you are going for the 11.1 then you really should put one in. Installation and operation are part specific and come with detailed instructions.

Now that you have a new freshly shimmed tricked out gearbox now what? You need to look at your connectors. Deans are one of the most popular connectors because they have a lower resistance that the standard mini tamiya, and they are a soldered connection not a crimped, that is why many people switch to them. They do require solder but with a little time and patience that should be not problem for the average person. You can see a great guide HERE.

So now it comes down to the real deal 7.4 or 11.1. If you are confident in your work switching to a 11.1 is not a big deal but this is a higher voltage and a longer sustained amperage so this is for those who want the highest rate of fire. If you are just looking for a longer play time then 7.4v should get you a rate of fire in between a 8.4 and 9.6 and with the upgraded internals any AEG will handle a 7.4v lipo.

Plus we all know about air discharge. Nickel metal hydride batteries are great if you charge them the night before but you will have to charge them every time. There will always be a little "air discharge" but with Lithium you get nearly none.

Oznake: Lithium-ion polymer