battery charging and storage

[DanBow]

I've done a quick search of the forum but found nothing, so . . . .

I've got my RIF, 2 x 7.4v Li-Ion batteries and a SkyRC S65 balance charger. Both batteries have been balance charged but I wont be playing for a few weeks as I work shifts. I see on the charger that there is a storage function, do I need to keep them plugged in if I'm not going to use them for a while? Does the charge dissipate over time? 

What say you?

 

[JimFromHorsham]

I’d just put them away then charge them again a couple days before your next game tbh .

 

[Cannonfodder]

I only play once a month so my batteries sit doing nothing for a few weeks with no problems. Just make sure you don't run them completely flat as that's what tends to knacker them.

It's worth noting though that some mosfets do draw power constantly so if your gun has one you need to unplug the battery from the gun

 

[Haru]

I also just put them away and give them a little top up before game day, ideally you'd want to discharge them to storage levels but I dont have that luxury

 

[Lozart]

Storage charging is really only needed if you're planning to not use them for several months. 

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

If you're running Li-Ion batteries (Titan?) them you don't need to worry, it's Li-po that need storage charges, but as the guys say - it's not a big deal, unless you want to squeeze every last percent of life out of them.

 

[C-Diddy]

I tend to leave my batteries alone after game day, and charge them the day before I use them. 

Running a lipo into the ground will knacker it. Leaving it between 25-80% has no detrimental effects in my experience.

Worth grabbing a battery capacity tester. They're only about a tenner on Amazon

 

[Cannonfodder]

It's also a good idea to get into changing your battery at lunchtime on a skirmish day. Apart from helping to keep the batteries healthy it means you avoid the battery dieing right at the worst moment possible 

 

[DanBow]

I also just put them away and give them a little top up before game day, ideally you'd want to discharge them to storage levels but I dont have that luxury

Thats an interesting one, my charger has a discharge function. 

 

[Dan Robinson]

I have the storage function, so I use it.  Probably OTT, but it's no effort either.

The storage function can put power in as well as take it out depending on the SOC of the battery. 

Discharge mode does just that.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

I have a number of different Lipo batteries that fit different shooters, so always use the storage charge function on them after a game day- whilst I wouldn't tend to leave it over a month between games,there is no garuntee that any particular battery wouldn't end up being left for months on end. And it's not really any hassle.

 

[Impulse]

I storage charge mine after every game day I use them, however I don't reliably use my batteries since most of the time I run gas guns. If I run an AEG, it's entirely possible I won't run one for months or I may run one literally the next game day, so I just got into the habit of storage charging just in case.

 

[DanBow]

I storage charge mine after every game day I use them, however I don't reliably use my batteries since most of the time I run gas guns. If I run an AEG, it's entirely possible I won't run one for months or I may run one literally the next game day, so I just got into the habit of storage charging just in case.

Ok, I'm confused a little.

When you storage charge it does that mean the charger does something other than charge it as you would normally expect? Then you leave it unplugged? I presumed storage charge was leaving it plugged in the charger like an intelligent trickle charger?

 

[EDcase]

No, storage charge is 40% to 50% of full and then left unplugged.

You could unplug the charger before it gets to full charge but of course that's less accurate.

Selecting 'Storage Charge' with an intelligent charger will actually reduce the voltage if necessary.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

Note that this storage charge stuff only applies to Li-Po batteries - if you really are using Li-Ion then one of the great benefits (as stated by Titan) is that they can be left in any state (except completely empty) indefinitely without affecting it adversely.

 

[DanBow]

Note that this storage charge stuff only applies to Li-Po batteries - if you really are using Li-Ion then one of the great benefits (as stated by Titan) is that they can be left in any state (except completely empty) indefinitely without affecting it adversely.

Ah, I'd missed that. Yes, definitely Li-Ion. Do I still need to balance charge them then?

View attachment 115275

 

[Lozart]

Ah, I'd missed that. Yes, definitely Li-Ion. Do I still need to balance charge them then?

View attachment 115275

Yes.

 

[DanBow]

@Lozart and all others, Thanks. I won't be a newbie forever! ?

 

[Rogerborg]

Mmm, while I accept that storing lipos at somewhere less than completely full will probably eke out a bit more life from them, it's not something that I bother with, for several reasons.

1. The recommended storage voltage / energy seems to vary by manufacturer, so how is the charger going to get it right?
   
2. They'll self discharge from full anyway. Which may not be ideal, but...
   
3. When do you not fully charge your phone, tablet or laptop using the same battery technology?  Do you worry about those?
   
4. Airsoft batteries are consumables, and paying the cost of a bottle of BBs every couple of years is noise compared to any other airsoft cost.
   

 

[Dan Robinson]

When do you not fully charge your phone, tablet or laptop using the same battery technology?  Do you worry about those

Funny you say that.... both my tablets and phones have a battery preservation mode that locks the charge limit to 85%.  I need all of my phone's capacity for work; but I use the feature on my tablets as they spend most of their time plugged in. 

My car's V2G software recommends stopping at 90%, but car batteries have all sorts of overheads and hidden capacities.