A beginner's guide to lithium batteries (Lithium Polymer/LiPo etc)
#1
A beginner's guide to lithium batteries (Lithium Polymer/LiPo etc)
Hello friends,
As LiPo is now getting race legal in more classes across the world (particularly where I am, in the UK) more and more racers seem to be asking some basic questions. I don't claim to be an electric expert, but with my experience of LiPo in both flight and car I decided to write a quick guide to explain the basics. This is likely going to be most help to people who are currently using Nickel based cells and are looking at taking their first steps into the wonderful world of LiPo.
http://www.glypo.com/guides/lipo/
I do understand there is at least one other guide on here, but this is slightly different. I hope linking to my website is not an issue, as it's non-commercial etc.
Let me know what you think, and if it is of any use to you.
Take care,
glypo
As LiPo is now getting race legal in more classes across the world (particularly where I am, in the UK) more and more racers seem to be asking some basic questions. I don't claim to be an electric expert, but with my experience of LiPo in both flight and car I decided to write a quick guide to explain the basics. This is likely going to be most help to people who are currently using Nickel based cells and are looking at taking their first steps into the wonderful world of LiPo.
http://www.glypo.com/guides/lipo/
I do understand there is at least one other guide on here, but this is slightly different. I hope linking to my website is not an issue, as it's non-commercial etc.
Let me know what you think, and if it is of any use to you.
Take care,
glypo
#3
As you mentioned a regulator, I assume you are using LiPo for a receiver pack in a nitro powered model?
If so, there are some parts of the article that you don't need to concern yourself with. Firstly cell configuration you can ignore, as receiver packs will be 2S/7.4V. This is why you need a regulator, to take the voltage down to 6V which a receiver can happily handle.
You also do not need to worry about C-Rating either, as receivers and radio gear draw relatively small current. As a consequence of this low current draw, balancing is not really an issue on receiver packs either. Therefore all you really need to understand is the charging and care sections.
If there is anything in particular you are stuck with, please let me know. I will try my best to answer it, and of course I am sure there are plenty of other members who could help too. So please don't hesitate to ask
If so, there are some parts of the article that you don't need to concern yourself with. Firstly cell configuration you can ignore, as receiver packs will be 2S/7.4V. This is why you need a regulator, to take the voltage down to 6V which a receiver can happily handle.
You also do not need to worry about C-Rating either, as receivers and radio gear draw relatively small current. As a consequence of this low current draw, balancing is not really an issue on receiver packs either. Therefore all you really need to understand is the charging and care sections.
If there is anything in particular you are stuck with, please let me know. I will try my best to answer it, and of course I am sure there are plenty of other members who could help too. So please don't hesitate to ask
#4
Your good/bad column has the comment that split configurations are "bad" because they don't exist. This is no longer true. SMC and at least one other manufacturer (I think Thunderpower) are making split packs.
#5
Thanks for the comment.
I am aware however of saddle pack splits, and mentioned them in the "Cell configuration" part of the article. What I meant about split cells and awkward layout was not referring to saddle packs. Rather I meant to imply the akward cell splits like 4+2 splits in some 6 cells cars, 2+2 spilts in some 4 cell cars and 5 cell designed cars etc.
I think you might be mistaking Thunderpower for TrakPower. TrakPower arguably the best race legal cells around and do saddle packs for anyone that is interested: http://www.trakpower.com
Thanks for the feedback though, I will have a think about updating the article to make it clearer in this respect.
I am aware however of saddle pack splits, and mentioned them in the "Cell configuration" part of the article. What I meant about split cells and awkward layout was not referring to saddle packs. Rather I meant to imply the akward cell splits like 4+2 splits in some 6 cells cars, 2+2 spilts in some 4 cell cars and 5 cell designed cars etc.
I think you might be mistaking Thunderpower for TrakPower. TrakPower arguably the best race legal cells around and do saddle packs for anyone that is interested: http://www.trakpower.com
Thanks for the feedback though, I will have a think about updating the article to make it clearer in this respect.