Info about Lipo batteries | SwissFPVFreestyle

Info about LiPo batteries

What is a LiPo battery?

The LiPo battery, full name lithium polymer battery, is also called Li-po battery, or more correctly lithium-ion polymer battery (abbreviated as LiPo, LIP, Li-poly and others). LiPo is a lithium-ion based rechargeable battery that uses a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. Highly conductive semi-solid polymers make up this electrolyte. These LiPo batteries offer higher specific energy than other lithium battery types. They are a newer type of battery that is now used in many consumer electronic devices. In recent years they have gained popularity in the remote control industry and are now the most popular choice for those looking for long run times and high performance.

LiPo batteries offer a variety of benefits, but each user must decide if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. For more and more people, they do. In fact, there is nothing to fear with LiPo batteries as long as you follow the rules and treat the batteries with the respect they deserve.

This guide mainly introduces the basic knowledge about LiPo batteries, including LiPo battery parameters, selection, maintenance, safety as well as the service of Gens ace & Tattu LiPo batteries.

- Introduction to LiPo battery parameters

- How to choose a LiPo battery

- How to care for the LiPo battery

- LiPo battery charger

- After-sales service for Gens ace & Tattu batteries

- Safety of the LiPo battery

Introduction to LiPo Battery Parameters

We see that there are some parameters indicated on this LiPo battery. These are battery capacity, battery voltage, cell configuration and discharge rate. Our guide will explain what these parameters stand for.

- discharge rate

- cell configuration

- battery voltage

- battery capacity

discharge rate

The discharge rate (C-value) simply indicates how fast a battery can be safely discharged. In the RC LiPo battery world, this is called the "C-value". A battery with a discharge rate of 95C means it can be safely discharged at 95 times the capacity of the pack.

A 10C pack = 10x, a 20C pack = 20x. From the picture above, you can see that you can discharge 1300mAh at 95x.

Here is the calculation:

95C = 95 x capacity (in amps) = 95 x 1300mAh = 123500mAh = 123.5Ah

Theoretically, if you discharge your battery at 2600mAh, the 1300mAh battery pack can be exhausted in half an hour. From the above calculation, discharging at 123.5Ah, this battery pack will be discharged in 0.63 minutes.

Sometimes you need to get a battery with high discharge rate, usually in a race, like FPV racing, you need to race at high speed and win a race. The higher C value means your device will get a higher boost in a moment. That's why so many pilots attach great importance to the high discharge rate. However, the disadvantage of the high C value is that it can become heavier and affect the performance. And it can be more expensive than the lower one.

cell configuration

A battery is constructed from rectangular cells connected together to form the battery. A cell, which can be considered a battery itself, has a nominal voltage of 3.7V. By connecting several of these cells in series, the voltage can be increased to 7.4V for a 2-cell battery, 14.8V for a 4-cell battery, and so on. By connecting several batteries in parallel, the capacity can be increased. You will often see numbers like 3S2P, which means the battery is made up of 4 cells (4S) in series, and there are 2 sets of cells connected in parallel (2P), making a total of 6 individual cells in the battery. So the number of cells determines the voltage of the battery. A higher voltage means the battery can provide more power to drive larger motors. However, more power does not necessarily mean the battery will provide energy for longer, that is defined by the battery capacity.

battery voltage

A LiPo cell has a nominal voltage of 3.7V, and 1 LiPo cell = 1 cell = 1S = 3.7V. For the 14.8V battery mentioned above, that means four cells are connected in series (meaning the voltage adds up). That's why you sometimes hear people talk about a "4S" battery pack - that means four cells are connected in series. So a four-cell (4S) pack is 14.8V, a three-cell (3S) pack is 11.1V, and so on.

3.7V battery = 1 cell x 3.7V = 1S battery
7.4V battery = 2 cells x 3.7V = 2S battery
11.1V battery = 3 cells x 3.7V = 3S battery
14.8V battery = 4 cells x 3.7V = 4S battery
18.5V battery = 5 cells x 3.7V = 5S battery
22.2V battery = 6 cells x 3.7V = 6S battery
29.6V battery = 8 cells x 3.7V = 8S battery
37.0V battery = 10 cells x 3.7V = 10S battery
44.4V battery = 12 cells x 3.7V = 12S battery

The voltage of a LiPo battery pack essentially determines how fast your vehicle will go. Voltage directly affects the speed of the electric motor (brushless motors are rated in kV, which means 'RPM per volt'). So if you have a brushless motor rated at 3,500kV, that motor will spin 3,500 revolutions per minute (RPM) for every volt applied. With a 2S LiPo battery, the motor will spin at around 25,900 RPM. With a 3S battery, it will spin an astonishing 38,850 RPM. The more voltage you have, the faster you will go.

When choosing a LiPo battery, you need to know the motor of your RC model. The voltage has an effect on the motor and the motor affects the speed. The higher the voltage, the higher the power (P) of the motor.

Here is the formula:

P = U x I

P is power

U is voltage

I is current

As you know, voltage affects the performance of the motor battery, and power affects the RPM of the motor, that is, speed. Therefore, in some races, pilots need high voltage batteries to meet the needs of their RC model and achieve high thrust.

battery capacity

The 1300mAh in the picture means the capacity of the LiPo battery. Capacity is used to measure how much energy a battery can hold. The unit of capacity is milliampere-hours (mAh), which means that 1300mAh can be charged to the battery to discharge it in one hour. Milliamperes can also be converted to amps (A), here is the conversion: 1300mAh = 1.3 amp-hours (1Ah)

In general, capacity can determine how long you can run before you need to recharge. A larger capacity pack can provide longer flight times, but because it is heavier, performance will be negatively affected. But it is also affected by speed. The faster you fly, the shorter the flight time. Because high speed means you need more energy to power your aircraft or other models, so energy is lost faster.

Protect the battery from the effects of vibration, dust, moisture and stress

due to impact or pressure. Check the battery regularly for damage.

If the battery gets wet, do not reinsert it until it has dried for a long time and has been thoroughly checked.

Even after a model aircraft crashes, the battery must be checked very carefully.

If a LIPO pack is damaged, it must no longer be used.

No modifications may be made to the battery. This also applies to the

Battery connection cables, which must not be extended under any circumstances.

The wiring to the controller must be as short as possible and must not exceed 15 cm in length.

For this reason, current measurements may only be made with a clamp ammeter. Measurements with a

intermediate ammeter (shunt resistor) can lead to the destruction of the speed controller.

The balancer connection cables are connected directly to the individual cells of the battery.

A short circuit can lead to immediate destruction of the cables and possibly also the battery.

How to choose a LiPo battery?

Our LiPo batteries are mainly used for RC hobbies, such as RC cars, drones/UAV, RC airplanes/helicopters and FPV. To get the best flight or runtime and performance, it is important to know how to choose the best LiPo battery.

Like most components on a drone or car, batteries are connected to other components, and the battery is no exception. The right battery depends mainly on the size of your drone or car and the type and number of motors it uses. This guide will explain how to make sure your battery will work properly with your drone or car system before you buy it.

Knowing the right battery size

To get the longest flight or runtime, you should use the largest possible battery (in terms of capacity) that you can use (but still stay within the maximum takeoff weight of your drone). Another factor to consider is the physical size of the battery, as depending on the drone or car you are using, you will only be able to fit a certain size battery.

battery discharge rate and capacity

Probably the most important but often overlooked factor is checking that the battery's discharge rate (C-value) is optimal for your drone or car. Using a discharge rate (C-value) that is too low can damage your battery and prevent your drone or car from performing at full power because the battery cannot release current fast enough to run your motors properly. Since high C-value batteries are heavier, if the battery you're using has too high a C-value, you're just carrying around extra weight that you don't need, ultimately reducing runtime.

How to calculate the maximum continuous current output for your battery?

To know what the total power consumption of your drone system is, we can calculate it using this simple formula:

Maximum continuous current consumption (A) = Battery capacity (Ah) x discharge rate (C)

For example, we have a 5100mAh 3-cell LiPo battery with a 10C rating. To find the maximum continuous current draw, we first convert the 5100mAh to 5.1Ah and multiply that number by 10C to get a total continuous output of (5.1 x 10) = 51A.

How do you find the optimal C rating?

Since battery selection is often the last step in building your own drone, we already know what motors and ESCs we're using. Since the motors will draw the most power from your battery, we can base our calculation on that.

The C rating of the battery depends on the capacity

There is no fixed C rating that you must use, as the maximum current output of a battery depends on the capacity and the C rating. Typically, the smaller the capacity of a battery, the higher the C rating must be. This is why you will find very low C ratings in the 10-15C range on many high capacity multirotor batteries.

How much capacity do I need?

Now that you know the required power draw of your battery, you can determine the capacity and C rating. In general, it is best to choose the battery with the highest capacity possible, keeping the total weight of your quadcopter including the battery and other equipment at around 50-70% of the maximum motor thrust.

To stay with the quadcopter example, we know that 50% thrust is about 500g per motor (or 2kg thrust total). Our frame, electronics and motors weigh 1.2kg together. That leaves 800-1000g that we can use for the battery, so you should try to find the highest capacity LiPo battery that is less than that weight.

Safety instructions:

Never put cells in your pockets!

Keys or similar can cause a short circuit

The cell voltage must not be below 3.0V at rest, otherwise the cells will be destroyed

Disconnect the packs from the controller/controller after the flight. Each controller draws a very small

current while it remains plugged in. This current can be enough to charge the LIPO pack

To discharge deeply and thus destroy.

Never store empty batteries, it is best to charge batteries to approx. 3.7V per cell and store at approx. 12 -18°C

store.

Never place cells on conductive surfaces

Keep away from children.

The cells look like “chewing gum” or “chocolate” in the packaging and are therefore

to be kept absolutely safe from children.

Never try to open the cells. Oxygen and lithium react very violently with each other!

Avoid short circuits

battery voltage

Battery voltage or cell count is another important decision you need to make. Higher voltage batteries will allow your motors to produce more power, however, the higher voltage batteries are heavier because they contain more cells.

There is no golden rule when it comes to battery voltage, but to find the best voltage for your drone, you should look through your motors' thrust charts and compare the efficiency. You will find that motors are generally more efficient and powerful when using higher cell count lipos (higher voltage), but some of the efficiency advantage is offset by the increased weight and cost of the battery. So depending on the number of motors you are using, you will need to decide what is best for your current configuration.

One thing to keep in mind is that your motors/ESC and other electronics need to be able to support the voltage of your battery. Some motors only support a certain cell count of LiPos or a specific voltage range, which may make the decision easier.

battery connector

Soldering battery connectors can be really tedious, so it's a good idea to find a battery connector you like and stick with that. This will allow you to easily swap batteries, and if you build another drone in the future, you can use the same batteries. Commonly used connectors are Deans/Tplug, XT60, and also EC3 connectors.

number of batteries

The number of batteries you use on your drone ultimately doesn't make much of a difference as there are pros and cons to using more batteries. Firstly, using multiple batteries provides an extra layer of safety as if one battery were to fail, you still have another one that you can use to land quickly. It also gives you the flexibility to replace a battery if one of them gets older than the other.

Charging time can be reduced if you have two chargers, as each can charge simultaneously. However, using two batteries can be more complex to assemble and wire, and buying two batteries can sometimes be more expensive than buying one. Ultimately, using one or more batteries depends on the drone you are using and your own preferences.

After reading this guide, you may know how to choose a LiPo battery. Our website will recommend some LiPo batteries to you. If you need to buy LiPo batteries, you can take a look.

How do you care for the LiPo battery?

In front of the store

Please read the charger instructions before charging.
Always check the voltage of the batteries before each charging session to ensure that it meets or exceeds the minimum starting voltage. If the starting voltage is below the recommended values, the batteries have been over-discharged or have a fault and should NOT be charged.
Always check the battery for any kind of damage before charging. Check the battery packaging, cables and connectors for defects that could cause a short circuit and ultimately battery failure.
Make sure you use charging cables that are compatible with the battery terminals.

The user should carefully check the polarity of the battery cable and charger cable before making the connection to avoid short circuits.
Always check that the charger is in good condition. A poor quality charger can be dangerous.

It is your sole responsibility to ensure that the charger you are using is working properly. Always supervise the charging process to ensure that the batteries are being charged properly. Failure to do so could result in a fire.

Load

Only use chargers designed for Lithium Polymer/Lion batteries. Do not use NIMH/NICD/LIFEPO4/LEAD ACID chargers. If the charger can support different battery types, make sure to select the Lithium Polymer (LiPo) mode on the charger. Otherwise, it may cause a fire, which may result in personal injury and property damage.
The user should always charge batteries in an open area away from flammable materials, liquids and surfaces.
Never charge batteries in the model.

Never charge batteries below freezing point (0°C, 32°F).
Never charge batteries when they are hot (over 100°F). DO NOT touch batteries until they have cooled down.
The user should always set the charger to the correct cell count and/or voltage indicated on the battery labels.
The user should always set the charger to the charge amperage indicated on the battery labels. The charger should never be set to charge at a rate higher than 1C (One (1) times the capacity of the batteries in amp-hours) unless a different C rate is specified in the manufacturer's product documentation or the rate is preset as part of a special battery and charger combination. DO NOT change the charge rate once charging has begun.

Never overcharge batteries beyond the capacity indicated on the battery label.
Never overcharge batteries beyond their maximum specified voltage (4.2V/cell for LiPo).
Series charging must be selected when two or more battery packs are connected in series.

Use appropriate and high quality chargers, please do not use cheap and inferior chargers, but use the professional lithium polymer charger to charge Gens ace & Tattu battery. When charging, the environment should be clean, without any objects lying around. Do not charge without supervision. It is recommended to use a LiPo bag when charging to ensure charging safety. Stop charging in time when the battery is fully charged. Do not leave the charger and battery connected for a long time after fully charged. We will not take responsibility for personal injury and property loss or accidents caused by improper charging.

unloading

Never discharge batteries at a higher current than that indicated on the battery label.
Never allow the temperature of the batteries to rise above 140°F during discharge. Adequate cooling of the batteries is necessary, especially when discharging at or near maximum rates.
Never discharge batteries to a voltage below the manufacturer's specified voltage when measured under load (connected to the vehicle or a charger capable of discharging). Batteries discharged to a voltage below the lowest approved voltage may be damaged, resulting in loss of performance and potential fire when the batteries are charged.

Never discharge batteries below 3V per cell under load. For Tattu series batteries used for unmanned aircraft systems, a cut-off voltage of 3.5V per cell is recommended.
Never leave the battery unattended during the discharge process. During the discharge process, the user should constantly monitor the process and respond to any potential problems that may arise.

In case of emergency, stop the procedure immediately, disconnect the battery, move it to a safe area and observe it for about an hour. This can cause the battery to leak and the reaction with the air can ignite the chemicals and cause a fire. A safe area should be outside of buildings or vehicles and away from flammable materials. A battery can still ignite even after an hour.
The user must check the condition of the battery before using or discharging it. Stop using it if the user notices that the cells are not balanced or the cells are swelling or leaking.

LiPo battery storage

Do not connect the terminals directly to metal objects. This will short-circuit the batteries, causing heat and electrical discharge.
Never store loose batteries together, as the battery terminals could touch and cause a short circuit.
Never store batteries in extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. The battery should be stored under ambient conditions of -10℃ to 45℃. If the battery needs to be stored for a long time (over 3 months), the ambient conditions should be:

Temperature: 23±5℃
Humidity: 65±20%RH
The voltage for long-term storage should be in the range of 3.6V~3.9V per cell.

Always disconnect batteries when not in use and store batteries in a non-conductive and fireproof container.
Never modify, puncture or damage batteries or related components.

LiPo battery charger

Chargers are becoming more and more intelligent and can detect the status of each cell in the battery pack, such as voltage. It is convenient for users to know the battery power and charging status.

Storing the LiPo battery is also a task. We all know that LiPo batteries cannot be stored fully charged, they need to be controlled in the range of 3.6~3.9V, and the intelligent charger can help you adjust the voltage of the battery to a certain storage value.

The intelligent charger has other functions such as data recording and storage, automatic detection, PFC power correction function, temperature compensation function and heat dissipation system.

Gens ace Tattu battery after-sales service

damage limits

Gens ace/Tattu shall not be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages, lost profits or loss of production or business in connection with the product, whether the claim is based on contract, warranty, negligence or strict liability. Furthermore, in no event shall Gens ace & Tattu's liability exceed the unit price of the product to which the liability relates. Since Gens ace & Tattu has no control over use, setup, final assembly, modification or misuse, no liability is assumed or accepted for any resulting damages or injuries.

By using, setting up or assembling, the user assumes all resulting liability. If you, as the purchaser or user, are not willing to accept the liability associated with the use of this product, you are advised to promptly return this product in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.

customer service

If there is anything not mentioned in this manual, please contact us in time for consultation. If you need support, please contact your local hobby shop or place of purchase. If they cannot provide support, please contact Gens ace headquarters at info@gensace.com

Limited Warranty

Gens ace & Tattu reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice and disclaims all other warranties, express or implied. This warranty is limited to the original purchaser and is not transferable. Replacement as provided in this warranty is the purchaser's exclusive remedy.

This warranty applies only to products purchased from an authorized dealer. Third party transactions are not covered by this warranty. Proof of purchase is required for warranty claims. Gens ace & Tattu make no warranty or representation, express or implied, about non-infringement, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the product.

Buyer acknowledges that it alone has determined that the product meets the requirements of Buyer's intended use. Gens ace & Tattu's sole obligation shall be to replace, at its sole discretion, any product found by Gens ace & Tattu to be defective. This shall be Buyer's exclusive remedy. Decisions regarding replacement shall be at Gens ace & Tattu's sole discretion.

This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or damage due to acts of God, accidents, misuse, abuse, negligence, commercial use, or modification of or to any part of the product. This warranty does not cover damage due to improper installation, operation, maintenance, or attempted repair by a third party.

Instructions for disposal by users

This product must not be disposed of with other waste. Instead, it is the user's responsibility to take his old equipment to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Separate collection and recycling of your old equipment at the time of disposal will help conserve natural resources and ensure that it is recycled in a way that protects human health and the environment. For more information about where you can drop off your old equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service or the place where you purchased the product.

The user must read the above instructions carefully before purchasing the Gens ace & Tattu lithium polymer battery. If the user violates the instructions and causes a problem, Gens ace & Tattu will not take any responsibility for it.

LiPo battery safety

Health and Safety Warning

Reverse charging is prohibited. The cell must be connected correctly. The polarity must be confirmed before wiring. In case of improper connection, the cell cannot be charged. At the same time, reverse charging may damage the cell, which may lead to deterioration of cell performance and cell safety, and may cause heat generation or leakage.

Never hit the battery with sharp edges.
Cut your nails or wear gloves before touching the battery.
Never open or deform the folding area of the cell.
Never drop, hit or bend the battery body.
Never disassemble the cells. Disassembly may cause an internal short circuit in the cell, which may result in gassing, fire or other problems.
A LiPo battery should not contain any liquid from the electrolyte. However, if the electrolyte comes into contact with the skin or eyes, the doctor should immediately rinse the electrolyte with fresh water and seek medical advice.

Never burn or dispose of the cells in fire. This may cause the cells to ignite, which is very dangerous and prohibited. The cells must never come into contact with liquids such as water, sea water or beverages such as soft drinks, juices, coffee or others.
Battery replacement should only be performed by the cell supplier or device manufacturer and never by the user.

The cells may be damaged by shock during shipping. If any abnormal characteristics are found in the cells, such as damage to the cell plastic shell, deformation of the cell pack, smell of electrolyte, electrolyte loss and others, the cells must no longer be used.

The cells with smell of electrolyte or leakage must be kept away from fire to avoid fire.

Here again the most important calculations for LiPo batteries in the FPV sector

1. Battery capacity (mAh)

The capacity of the battery indicates how much electrical charge the battery can store.

Formula:

There is no direct formula, but the capacity is given in milliampere hours (mAh).

Example:

A 1500 mAh battery means that the battery can deliver 1500 milliamps for one hour or 750 milliamps for two hours.

2. Discharge rate (C-value)

The discharge rate indicates how quickly the battery can be safely discharged.

Formula:

Maximum discharge current = C-value x capacity (Ah)

Example:

A 1500mAh battery with a C-value of 20C has a maximum discharge current of:

Maximum discharge current = 20C × 1.5Ah = 30A

3. Maximum continuous current (A)

The maximum continuous current is the maximum current that the battery can continuously deliver.

Formula:

Maximum continuous current = capacity (Ah) x discharge rate (C)

Example:

A 2200mAh battery with a 30C rating has a maximum continuous current of:

Maximum continuous current = 2.2Ah × 30C = 66A

4. Flight time (minutes)

The flight time indicates how long your drone can fly with a certain battery capacity and load.

Formula:

Flight time = (Capacity (mAh) / Power consumption (mA)) x 60

Example:

If your drone consumes 15A (15000mA) and you have a 1500mAh battery:

Flight time = (1500mAh : 15000mA) ×60 = 6 minutes

5. Energy content (Wh)

The energy content indicates the energy stored in the battery.

Formula:

Energy content = capacity (Ah) x voltage (V)

Example:

A 4S LiPo battery (14.8V) with 3000mAh capacity has an energy content of:

Energy content = 3.0Ah × 14.8V = 44.4Wh

A notice:

If at any time the battery becomes damaged, hot, bloated or swollen, stop charging or discharging immediately. Disconnect the battery from the charger or model quickly and safely. Then place the battery and/or charger in a safe, open area, away from flammable materials in a fireproof container (such as a LiPo safety bag). After one hour, remove the battery from service when the battery condition has stabilized. Do not continue to handle, use or ship the battery. Failure to follow these instructions could cause damage to the battery, property or serious injury.