LiPo puffing from lack of use???

[PilotSmith]

Things got too busy for me to play with my toys for 3-4 months. I know I should have partially drained my LiPos but I kept thinking next weekend I'll fly... One of my newer packs is now puffy. The cells are balanced and have about 14.1v each. I'm wondering why the pack is now puffy? I though if you left the packs charged they simply lost capacity over time at a higher rate than when stored partially drained.

[Raydee]

Are they the cheap chinese packs?

[ChasHeliCop]

. The cells are balanced and have about 14.1v each. I'm wondering why the pack is now puffy? .

14.1 volts each ????? do you mean 4.1 ?

And I think the answer you are looking for is yes they can puff if sitting around fully charged. You should discharge them to 50%.

[PilotSmith]

Yeah, you should see my Trex fly at 14.1v per cell. My 42V packs really makes that bird sing. Sorry, was a typo. And yes it was a cheaper Hextronix (sp?) pack. It was doing fine while I was using it regularly. I guess I will make it a practice now to discharge my packs and charge them the day/night prior to when I plan to fly. I'll probably replace it with one of those Air Thunder packs that you can beat the snot out of them without effecting their capacity.

[ChasHeliCop]

I'll probably replace it with one of those Air Thunder packs that you can beat the snot out of them without effecting their capacity.

I have two of the Air Thunders and have been running them side by side with the Flight Powers. After about 4 minutes, you can feel a decline in the AT's but the FP's continue through over 6 minutes. Maybe it's me, I am not using anything to measure it, but I can feel the difference.

[ChasHeliCop]

Just checked my box, my Align 22c's are puffing haven't flown in 2 days.

[Pinecone]

Some packs have been known to puff even before being charged at all.

[WillJames]

I have had charged FP packs sitting around in a climate controlled Office and House for over 5 months with no puffing. I think the name brands (FP TP) are not nearly as prone to puffing as the cheaper brands when sitting. I do not recommend leaving them like this because the cells degrade over time when stored fully charged... but like PilotSmith.... I was planning on flying the charged packs sooner....

[devious17]

I swear by FP lipo cells, I have used many brands of lipos cheap and expensive ones and not all cheap lipos puff and not all expensive ones dont.

Kong Power from Taiwan claimed their lipos are puff proof.......yeah right! Even my first lipo from Esky are still in good shape as compared to Kong Power which konked out on me even before reaching 10 cycles.

FP is the way to go.