Battery winter storage?

Photo · Oct 20, 2017

Hi, if I don't going to use the batteries for serveral month or so in the winter, should I just keep them at storage voltage or charge/discharge them every month or so?

robcooper2001 · Oct 20, 2017

Great question. I would also like this information...
How do you get them to the right state? Run them until first warning from the aircraft? Run them until last warning? Run them until they hit the floor?
Then keep them cold? Warm? Hot?

Photo · Oct 20, 2017

robcooper2001 said:
Great question. I would also like this information...
How do you get them to the right state? Run them until first warning from the aircraft? Run them until last warning? Run them until they hit the floor?
Then keep them cold? Warm? Hot?

Hi, I use a EV PEAK DY3 for H480 batteries, auto storage 15.3v at room temp. The pro's told me.

FlushVision · Oct 21, 2017

Photo said:
Hi, if I don't going to use the batteries for serveral month or so in the winter, should I just keep them at storage voltage or charge/discharge them every month or so?

I would take them to storage level and leave them at room temperature.

During winter months, having two aircraft that use different design batteries for each, I can sometimes go a few months between flights of a particular aircraft if the weather is too bad. This happened in the winter 2015/2016 when I went about 4 months without flying any aircraft (both Phantoms at the time). In Spring 2016 I began using them again and the batteries were fine with no loss of performance at all.

Photo · Oct 21, 2017

FlushVision said:
I would take them to storage level and leave them at room temperature.

During winter months, having two aircraft that use different design batteries for each, I can sometimes go a few months between flights of a particular aircraft if the weather is too bad. This happened in the winter 2015/2016 when I went about 4 months without flying any aircraft (both Phantoms at the time). In Spring 2016 I began using them again and the batteries were fine with no loss of performance at all.

Great info FlushVision - thanx

BobW55 · Oct 21, 2017

Photo,
If you haven't already, invest in a lipo battery charger. There are plenty to choose from, and the required connections are readily available.
Best thing is just about all of them have a STORAGE function.
If you are stuck using just the Yuneec charger, you would have to do this:
1) Fly the batteries down to 15 volts or less (with out the props running).
2) Place them in the Yuneec charger, and check the voltage with a volt meter about every 10 minutes.
3) Stop charging them once the voltage reaches 15.2 to 15.6 volts. ( this will depend on who's recommended voltage chart you use)
4) Keep them in a cool dry place. (NOT your refrigerator).
They will hold this way from quite a long time and be ready to be recharged when you are ready to fly.
I have flown my H in the winter on several occasions. Just keep the batteries at room temp until ready to fly. ( I use an old Styrofoam cooler)

Photo · Oct 21, 2017

BobW55 said:
Photo,
If you haven't already, invest in a lipo battery charger. There are plenty to choose from, and the required connections are readily available.
Best thing is just about all of them have a STORAGE function.
If you are stuck using just the Yuneec charger, you would have to do this:
1) Fly the batteries down to 15 volts or less (with out the props running).
2) Place them in the Yuneec charger, and check the voltage with a volt meter about every 10 minutes.
3) Stop charging them once the voltage reaches 15.2 to 15.6 volts. ( this will depend on who's recommended voltage chart you use)
4) Keep them in a cool dry place. (NOT your refrigerator).
They will hold this way from quite a long time and be ready to be recharged when you are ready to fly.
I have flown my H in the winter on several occasions. Just keep the batteries at room temp until ready to fly. ( I use an old Styrofoam cooler)