How to Lengthen RC Battery Life
Wait at least 15-20 minutes after you drain a battery to charge it., Know what is considered hot for a battery., Wait at least 15 minutes after charging a battery to use it., Understand battery terms when buying an RC battery., Discard (properly)...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Wait at least 15-20 minutes after you drain a battery to charge it.
This allows the battery to cool down before each charge cycle.
Make sure the battery is cool to the touch before charging it again, but 15 minutes should be alright. -
Step 2: Know what is considered hot for a battery.
If the battery is hot after use, then it is a good sign that your battery is getting old.
Anything warmer than about 140 degrees is dangerous; if your battery is this warm after flying, it's time to replace it.
You should probably not use it anymore so it doesn't explode.
This is a good indication that in the near future you should look to getting a new one.
Try for a higher quality / mAh battery (keep the same voltage, though) if the battery running out is a stock battery. , Once again, this is to let the battery's chemical processes have a break. , mAh:
Milli Ampere Hour.
This is basically the electric charge transferred by a current of one milliampere for one hour.
The higher the mAh, the longer a battery will last per charge.
This is the one part of a battery that you can change without damaging the heli.
Volt:
The electrical pressure.
Basically this determines how much power can flow to the motor.
For lipo batteries the voltage comes in multiples of
3.7 volts, or
3.7 volts per cell.
Cell:
An independent
3.7 volt battery.
Litium-Ion (Li-Ion): a type of battery that has a rigid cell structure and shape.
It is safer than a lipo battery, but not as efficient.
Lithium-Polymer (Lipo): a type of battery with a flexible cell structure and shape.
Lipos can catch fire and explode if mistreated or dropped on a hard surface.
Be careful! Although more dangerous, they are more efficient than li-ion batteries and can come in practically any shape with the same cell count. , This is a good indication that the battery is too old to use anymore; flying with a battery that has ballooned puts you at serious risk of an explosion which could destroy your copter.
Overusing an old battery in this way costs more in the long run than buying a new one. , Discharging (or in other words, using in flight) the battery past a certain point can damage the battery and significantly reduce its lifespan.Usually, flying with more than 85% discharged doesn't allow you to fly more than a foot off the ground.
You can tell if your battery is getting low because the ESC (electronic speed controller) will be limiting the voltage to the motors.
In other words, you will be flying lower with the same throttle setting.
When this happens, land, wait fifteen minutes, and charge your battery again.
If you feel tempted to continue flying until the ESC automatically shuts off the heli, don't
- tell yourself that you are giving up 30 seconds now for dozens or hundreds of flights in the future. , Overcharging a Lipo battery is damaging and potentially explosive to it.
You don't need to worry about this with the battery and charger that come with a helicopter, but when buying a new charger or battery it is important to know. , To determine what rate would be safe to charge at:
Take the mAh rating (for example, on the mCP x, this would be 200mAh).
Divide this number by 1000 to get the basic amp charge; for example 200/1000 =
0.2 amps.
With a pack rated at less than 20C, charge only at the basic amp charge or less.
If your battery has a "C" rating over 25, it is alright to charge it at twice the basic number, aka
0.4 amps.
If your battery has a "C" rating over 35 (a continuous rating, not a burst rating), then it is okay to charge it at 3 times the basic number, or
0.6 amps. , Please note that if your charger does not have a variable rate, then you should be very careful to not charge any battery with a smaller mAh capacity than your stock battery.
Usually with these type of chargers, it is okay to charge a higher mAh pack. -
Step 3: Wait at least 15 minutes after charging a battery to use it.
-
Step 4: Understand battery terms when buying an RC battery.
-
Step 5: Discard (properly) batteries that have ballooned up after flight.
-
Step 6: Never discharge your battery past 85%.
-
Step 7: Don't overcharge a battery.
-
Step 8: Determine charge rate.
-
Step 9: Be careful.
Detailed Guide
This allows the battery to cool down before each charge cycle.
Make sure the battery is cool to the touch before charging it again, but 15 minutes should be alright.
If the battery is hot after use, then it is a good sign that your battery is getting old.
Anything warmer than about 140 degrees is dangerous; if your battery is this warm after flying, it's time to replace it.
You should probably not use it anymore so it doesn't explode.
This is a good indication that in the near future you should look to getting a new one.
Try for a higher quality / mAh battery (keep the same voltage, though) if the battery running out is a stock battery. , Once again, this is to let the battery's chemical processes have a break. , mAh:
Milli Ampere Hour.
This is basically the electric charge transferred by a current of one milliampere for one hour.
The higher the mAh, the longer a battery will last per charge.
This is the one part of a battery that you can change without damaging the heli.
Volt:
The electrical pressure.
Basically this determines how much power can flow to the motor.
For lipo batteries the voltage comes in multiples of
3.7 volts, or
3.7 volts per cell.
Cell:
An independent
3.7 volt battery.
Litium-Ion (Li-Ion): a type of battery that has a rigid cell structure and shape.
It is safer than a lipo battery, but not as efficient.
Lithium-Polymer (Lipo): a type of battery with a flexible cell structure and shape.
Lipos can catch fire and explode if mistreated or dropped on a hard surface.
Be careful! Although more dangerous, they are more efficient than li-ion batteries and can come in practically any shape with the same cell count. , This is a good indication that the battery is too old to use anymore; flying with a battery that has ballooned puts you at serious risk of an explosion which could destroy your copter.
Overusing an old battery in this way costs more in the long run than buying a new one. , Discharging (or in other words, using in flight) the battery past a certain point can damage the battery and significantly reduce its lifespan.Usually, flying with more than 85% discharged doesn't allow you to fly more than a foot off the ground.
You can tell if your battery is getting low because the ESC (electronic speed controller) will be limiting the voltage to the motors.
In other words, you will be flying lower with the same throttle setting.
When this happens, land, wait fifteen minutes, and charge your battery again.
If you feel tempted to continue flying until the ESC automatically shuts off the heli, don't
- tell yourself that you are giving up 30 seconds now for dozens or hundreds of flights in the future. , Overcharging a Lipo battery is damaging and potentially explosive to it.
You don't need to worry about this with the battery and charger that come with a helicopter, but when buying a new charger or battery it is important to know. , To determine what rate would be safe to charge at:
Take the mAh rating (for example, on the mCP x, this would be 200mAh).
Divide this number by 1000 to get the basic amp charge; for example 200/1000 =
0.2 amps.
With a pack rated at less than 20C, charge only at the basic amp charge or less.
If your battery has a "C" rating over 25, it is alright to charge it at twice the basic number, aka
0.4 amps.
If your battery has a "C" rating over 35 (a continuous rating, not a burst rating), then it is okay to charge it at 3 times the basic number, or
0.6 amps. , Please note that if your charger does not have a variable rate, then you should be very careful to not charge any battery with a smaller mAh capacity than your stock battery.
Usually with these type of chargers, it is okay to charge a higher mAh pack.
About the Author
Deborah Nelson
Specializes in breaking down complex lifestyle topics into simple steps.
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