Lipo storage, cold weather..

[TheChad]

Hey all,

So I'm relatively new to LIPO's, I know with NiMh and Nica, if you left them in the garage in the winter, where temps would get below freezing, they were basically toast.. If you could get them to hold a charge, their capacity was very small..

Do LIPO's have the same issue? Or if they are put at storage voltage, are they safe in the garage at winter freezing temps?

Also what's the reason/advantage/disadvantage of keeping a lipo at "storage" voltage instead of fully charged? Obviously I know you would not want to leave them drained as they would drop below their safe/chargeable voltage..

Thanks,

-TheChad

[jhamel]

These two tables from Battery University may clarify some or your concerns.

[d.porte]

And what about negative temperatures ??

Sent from phone.

[jhamel]

It is my understanding that you do not want the LiPo's to cool down to freezing temperature.

[RedJoE]

There was a special on the RC Heli_Nation podcast a few weeks ago, the guy from Progressive RC explained a lot of this. Basically, it's fine to store your packs in your fridge or freezer in freezer bags. He explained some guys actually buy their own fridges to just store battery's. If you store the battery in the freezer, it will last a long time with hardly any degradation. Check out the podcast, it was # 127

[TheChad]

Originally Posted by RedJoE

There was a special on the RC Heli_Nation podcast a few weeks ago, the guy from Progressive RC explained a lot of this. Basically, it's fine to store your packs in your fridge or freezer in freezer bags. He explained some guys actually buy their own fridges to just store battery's. If you store the battery in the freezer, it will last a long time with hardly any degradation. Check out the podcast, it was # 127

So are we saying that freezing temperatures are actually GOOD for the batteries and recommended?


So all my batteries I have to bring in the house for the winter, except my LiPo's which I have to bring in the house for the summer!

Wow, this is all getting too confusing!

-TheChad

[gwright]

Spare fridge has been in garage for a few years now,.. specifically for storing lipo's (that are at or below 3.85/cell before storing). Of course a few adult beverages have snuck in there too <G>. I have packs that are several years old with cycles into the hundreds. Always stored in the fridge and BELOW 3.85v/cell. I still get full capacity from them.

[RedJoE]

Originally Posted by TheChad

So are we saying that freezing temperatures are actually GOOD for the batteries and recommended?


So all my batteries I have to bring in the house for the winter, except my LiPo's which I have to bring in the house for the summer!

Wow, this is all getting too confusing!

-TheChad

The colder the longer they will last. Totally opposite of lead-acid battery, yes.

[Ken Here]

Thanks for that podcast Red.