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A lithium polymer battery, or more correctly lithium-ion polymer battery (abbreviated as LiPo, LIP, Li-poly, lithium-poly and others), is a rechargeable battery of lithium-ion technology using a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. High conductivity semisolid polymers form this electrolyte.
Introduced in 1996, lithium polymer or 'lipo' batteries are a variation of the familiar lithium ion battery. The polymer-based design eliminates the metal casing of traditional lithium batteries, making them lightweight and ideal for cell phones, PDAs and similar electronic devices. It is not difficult to charge a lipo battery, but it is vital that you follow steps. Improper charging can cause the batteries to overcharge. This will not only shorten a lipo battery's life, but it is also a serious fire hazard.
Step 1
Use only battery chargers designed for lithium batteries. When a lipo battery is fully charged, the battery procedures a small but distinctive drop in voltage that tells the charger to shut off. Other types of battery chargers do not have this feature and will overcharge a lithium polymer battery, creating a fire hazard. A good charger will also have a voltage readout and timer as added safety features.
Step 2
Test the voltage on each cell of a battery pack every 8 to 10 charges. Use a battery voltage tester to check each cell individually. If you charge a lipo battery pack with a cell whose voltage deviates from the others by 0.1 volt or more, the charger may not recognize a full charge and continue charging. This can cause the battery back to ignite or explode.
Step 3
Put the battery in the charger and turn it on (make sure it's plugged in). Check the readout to see that all cells of a battery pack are charging. You should set the charger to 4.20 volts to fully charge a lipo battery. However, if you set the voltage slightly lower at 4.10 volts this will give you an 80 percent charge and greatly extend the life of the battery.
Step 4
Allow sufficient time to charge a lipo battery. If it's fully discharged, you may need to charge a lipo battery overnight, but usually 4 to 6 hours is sufficient. Set the timer if the battery charger has one as an added safety precaution. Once the battery is charged, turn the charger off and reinstall the battery in the electronic device it powers.
Charge a lipo battery to 40 percent if you are going to store it. Fully charging lithium batteries without immediately using them shortens their life. They will lose a significant portion of the charge after a few days, so you may want to periodically bring the battery back to 40 percent if you are likely to need it on short notice.
![Lipo Lipo](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125844533/798498754.jpg)
Tip
- Unlike alkaline or nickel cadmium batteries, lithium batteries aren't harmed if they are completely discharged. Store lipo batteries out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place. Place them on a non-conducting surface or they will quickly lose their charge.
Warning
- Do not leave charging lithium polymer or ion batteries unattended. A malfunction can result in a fire.
Items you will need
- Lithium battery charger Battery manufacturer's specifications Battery voltage tester
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Posted byOKR-T10 + What ever the fuck I want.5 years ago
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As we all know we use Lithium based batteries. many use a hard shell to help protect them. The exception to this is the LiPo. They are high drain high amp batteries protected by nothing more than an aluminum foil case. The chemistry itself is no more dangerous than an IMR or hybrid batteries. However there is a catch.
Don't you even dare think about dropping them. Dropping them can dent, bend, or otherwise cause an internal short. This is a very bad thing, as once this happens the battery will start a runaway reaction. This can not be stopped.
Once you do drop a LiPo battery or a mod with a Lipo battery your best bet is to toss it into some sort of solid and sealed metal container and let sit for 48 hours. If nothing happens by then open the mod up to check your LiPo batteries. If they did not vent please remove and replace the batteries. They are no longer considered safe to use.
Modders that use LiPos in your mods please let your end users know the dangers of these batteries. We all get warnings about over charge, over discharge, or over drawing their amp limits. Lipos come with one more caveat. Don't drop them they can and will short internally if you do.
TL:DR; Don't drop LiPos. They will short internally. Toss them in am unused ammo case or other similar enclosure for 48 hours before opening it back up, and then recycle your now damaged LiPos. Your local scale hobby shop should be able to do this for you.
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