| Battery technology seems to have taken a leaping | | | | to two weeks. Fully discharging then charging the pack |
| step recently, allowing electric RC models to go places | | | | will also quell this problem. |
| where once only nitrous model could go. Leading this | | | | 4. Take breaks between flights |
| innovation are the Li-Po or Lithium Polymer batteries | | | | A fully charged li-po pack has enough power for a |
| which has become the standard power source for | | | | 10-minute flight. However, to fly for ten minutes straight |
| electric powered helicopters, planes, cars, boats, and | | | | on one pack is not recommended. If you have two |
| almost every other type of model. However, these | | | | packs, it's best to fly a 5 minute flight, switch to a fresh |
| batteries are not exactly cheap, and improper | | | | pack, fly for another 5 minute, and then switch back to |
| operations will have detrimental effects. Here are | | | | the old pack. Doing this will greatly increase the |
| seven tips to maximize your battery performance. | | | | life-span on the battery. |
| 1. Break In New Batteries | | | | 5. Do not charge when hot |
| Although not as big a deal with newer Li-Po packs as | | | | Never charge the battery pack while it is still hot. |
| it was when NiMh and NiCad batteries were kings, it is | | | | Battery pack becomes very hot right after a flight; you |
| still recommended that you fully charge the battery | | | | must wait until it cools down before charging it again. |
| before first use. Fully discharging and charging batteries | | | | Charging a still-hot pack is one of the most successful |
| a few times before first flight or will also give your | | | | ways to shorten a battery's life. |
| battery a little bit extra lifetime and power. | | | | 6. Store them well |
| 2. Keep the pack clean | | | | To store the battery for a prolonged period (a month |
| This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects | | | | or more), the best way to store them is in a clean, dry, |
| of battery operations. It is a good idea to keep the | | | | cool place away from metal and heat. Remember |
| battery pack clean, and this is especially important for | | | | also that battery packs loose charge over time even |
| the dean connectors. If the dean connectors are dirty, | | | | without usage. |
| the connection may be obstructed and could result in a | | | | 7. Avoid hard impact |
| mid-flight power failure. The easiest way to clean dirty | | | | Individual cells within a battery pack can be damaged |
| contacts is simply with alcohol and cotton swaps. | | | | upon heavy impact which could cause circuit leaks and |
| 3. Keep up the battery's health by constant exercise | | | | can be dangerously unstable. There is also no way to |
| Leaving the battery inactive for a long period of time | | | | repair a damaged cell. Try your best not to crash, but |
| shorten its life and decrease its total potential. You | | | | of course, we all already do. |
| should use your battery pack at least once every one | | | | |