Lipo batteries

Storing at 3.7 to 3.9v per cell is for long term storage, i.e months or years, you are absolutely fine storing them at full charge when using them every week or two weeks. Also they only explode during charge or discharge or if pierced, so storing them in a fireproof bag is a little overkill imho. You don't need to balance charge them every time either, periodically is fine, and non balance charging is usually a lot quicker.

 
oh dear, the middle one wouldn't change when last on charge i think.


11.1V, with 4 wires to the charging connector?

If so, that's not great.  However, I wouldn't panic just yet, as the cells are wired in series and the two edge cells should shove some current into the middle cell via the power circuit even if the charging circuit doesn't do it.  If the battery still produces power then that means all cells are still in continuous series, even if one of the the charging wires has gone kaput.

In general though, I would recommend getting two smaller capacity batteries rather than one big one, for several reasons: having a spare; swapping over at lunch to spread the discharge; checking if a problem is in the charger, or one of the batteries.

But again: don't fret.  If the battery is usable, use it.  Don't replace anything until you know that it's failed.

 
11.1V, with 4 wires to the charging connector?

If so, that's not great.  However, I wouldn't panic just yet, as the cells are wired in series and the two edge cells should shove some current into the middle cell via the power circuit even if the charging circuit doesn't do it.  If the battery still produces power then that means all cells are still in continuous series, even if one of the the charging wires has gone kaput.

In general though, I would recommend getting two smaller capacity batteries rather than one big one, for several reasons: having a spare; swapping over at lunch to spread the discharge; checking if a problem is in the charger, or one of the batteries.

But again: don't fret.  If the battery is usable, use it.  Don't replace anything until you know that it's failed.
its a 7.4 Im sure  one set of wires comes out and connects to the charger and one comes out i think it might be a deans connector or something im not sure (2 prongs one vertical and one horizontal) that goes to the gun it self. 

 
Sounds like a DEANs connector, the other is the balance cable. You would be better with a charger that accepts both connectors, the deans plugs in the charge cable and the other goes into the balance board. The charger can then read and display the individual cells and charge them evenly. It'll also tell you if you have a bad cell etc.

Have a look on youtube as it'll tell you a lot more visually and quicker than words can. It's worth the time of a vid.

There's plenty of threads on what are good chargers etc. WIth a basic understanding of how they work the rest is easy.

 
I make a point of swapping my batteries half way through the day. 

Doing it like that you end up storing them slightly discharged anyway.

I have all my batteries numbered. And keep track of unused ones for a shoot. The unused ones will get put on a discharge cycle, but the used ones don't.

The best way to keep track is an elastic band. Fully charged the leads are inside the band. I pull the leads out to use and thus can spot a used battery and a fresh one at a glance.

 
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