| Of all the innovation that paved the way to the rise of | | | | the individual cells within the battery needs to be |
| electric RC flying, battery technology plays one of the | | | | balanced before storage. This easily can be done |
| biggest roles. Today, modern batteries have a much | | | | through new versions of charger which has a "balance |
| better power to weight ratio than before. This allows | | | | cell" function. Another method is to measure the |
| RC airplanes and helicopters to stay in the air for a | | | | voltage of each cell and set each cell to have an equal |
| lengthy period of time - even as long as their nitro | | | | voltage to the least-voltage cell. The cells can be |
| counter parts, or even longer. Amongst the types of | | | | discharged using a simple-circuit light bulb making |
| batteries, Li-Po or Lithium Polymer rates as the best | | | | contact with individual cells, whereby slowly draining out |
| your money can buy. While they cost much less than | | | | each one. Once the cells are balanced, fully charge the |
| they used to, it is always wise to make sure that your | | | | battery, which will give each cell about 4.2 V. By doing |
| Li-Po battery will last for as long as it could. This article | | | | this, the battery will be ready for a 2 to 4 month-long |
| will provide some pointers as to how to store your | | | | storage, upon which time the procedure must be |
| Li-Po battery for long periods without sacrificing its | | | | repeated. Please note that ultimately, batteries of this |
| overall lifetime. | | | | condition stored using this procedure should not be |
| If the Li-Po battery is brand new and you decide to | | | | kept for more than 1 year. |
| keep it for a while before putting it to first use, contrary | | | | For batteries that are in a sorry state, such as having |
| to common sense, it is best not to store the battery in | | | | been used more than 70 times and have reached |
| its uncharged state. The best practice is to fully charge | | | | temperature higher than 60 degrees and has been |
| it and maintain it at 4.2 V per cell before storing the | | | | short-circuited plenty of times, the first thing to keep in |
| battery away for a long time. For example, if you | | | | mind is to not hope for much. The procedure for |
| bought a 3-Cell Li-Po battery rated at 11.1 V, when fully | | | | storing these batteries still remains the same as the |
| charged, the battery will hold 12.6 V. This will make it | | | | procedure above. Balance the cells first then charge |
| suitable to keep stored away for 3 to 6 months. | | | | the battery fully before storage. However, the result |
| However, after 6 months, the voltage will start to | | | | won't be great. |
| weaken. When this happens, fully charge it again, | | | | As for the storage, keep the battery in a zip-locked |
| whereby giving another 6 months of storage time. | | | | bag and place it in a padded aluminum or stainless |
| While this procedure can be performed over and over, | | | | container (such as a cookie box). Keep the box away |
| the battery shouldn't be kept without being used for | | | | from sunlight and humidity. The reason for the stainless |
| more than 2 years. | | | | box is to protect your house from fire which may be |
| If the Li-Po battery is fairly new and has been used no | | | | ignited by batteries short-circuiting. Better safe than |
| more than 70 times, has never reached temperature | | | | sorry right? |
| of more than 45 degrees, and never short circuited, | | | | |