Lithium Polymer Batteries

The Venom LiPo Balance Charger 2-Cell/3-Cell VEN-0653 is a handy little charger for your 2 and 3 cell lithium polymer batteries and at under $30 this little Venom LiPo charger has great value. The Venom balance charger has integrated balance connectors to charge your LiPo battery packs directly through the balance tabs. This means for use with Thunder Power LiPoly batteries you need to have a balance adapter cable to be compatible with the Venom 2s3s balance charger ports. Other brands of LiPo batteries may plug directly into the Venom balance ports with no cable needed.

Thunder Power RC lithium polymer batteries use a different type of balance connector than the type on the Venom charger. But don’t worry, we have a special adapter cable to attach your Thunder Power 2 and 3 cell Li Polymers to the Venom 2s3s balance charger. This Thunder Power Charging Cable for Venom Balance Charger plugs directly into the 3 cell balance port. Thunder Power 3 and 2 cell batteries are compatible with this one adapter. Don’t worry about charging a 2 Cell TP pack using the adapter connected to the 3 cell balance tab on the Venom charger because the two tabs on the Venom charger go to the same internal connections within the charger.

How to connect your Thunder Power LiPo to the Venom VEN-0653 Balance Charger

1. Power up your Venom Balance Charger by connecting the included power adapter.
2. Plug the male end of the Thunder Power to Venom Balance Cable adapter into the 3 cell balance port on the Venom Charger.
3. Make sure nothing is connected to the power/charge leads on your Thunder Power battery.
4. Place the battery on a fire resistant surface like a pail of sand or in a LipoSack.
5. Plug the balance tab on your 2 or 3 cell Thunder Power RC lithium polymer battery to the female end of the balance charger adapter cable.
6. The Venom Balance Charger will automatically start charging and balancing each cell of your Thunder Power Lithium Battery though the balance tab - not the charge/power leads on the battery.
7. The charge light on the Venom charger will blink while charging and turn on steady when the battery is fully charged.
8. A complete charge will require between 1.5 to 2 hours for a 3s1320 LiPo.

Draganfly Innovations Inc. sells the Venom 2-Cell/3-Cell Balance Charger, the Thunder Power balance charging cable adapter for the Venom Charger, LipoSack charging safety bag, as well as the complete line of Thunder Power RC lithium polymer batteries. Remember, you get FREE shipping on all Thunder Power products!

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Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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If your lithium polymer (lipo) batteries will be unused this winter or you’re planning on leaving them alone for a month or two, please read this helpful article.

If you need to store your lipoly batteries, we would like to help you make sure they are fresh the next time you need to use them. Li-Poly batteries do not handle being left in a fully charged or discharged state over an extended period.

To insure your lipo batteries do not loose capacity while left unused, please follow these basic steps:

1. Place your lipoly battery in a LipoSack
2. Charge the lithium polymer battery pack for storage to between 3.8V and 3.9V per cell (if your charger does not allow you to set the termination voltage, you can also fully charge the battery, and then discharge the battery to between 40-60% of its capacity. An awesome programmable lipoly charger is the Thunder Power 1010C)
3. Check the voltage of your lithium polymer batteries with a Digital Multi Meter once a month while they are in storage
4. Re-charge and balance your lipos as necessary to keep them between 3.8V and 3.9V per cell
5. Keep lithium polymer batteries inside the LipoSack and stored in a cool, dry place with a stable temperature of between 40 and 70 degrees F (4 to 21 degrees C)

When you need to use your lithium polymer batteries again, fully charge the lipo pack and it will be ready to go. Following the 5 easy steps above will help extend the life of your valued lipo batteries.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Unlike NiCd batteries, lithium-polymer batteries are environmentally friendly. For safety reasons, it’s best that LiPo cells be fully discharged before disposal (however, if physically damaged it is NOT recommended to discharge LiPo cells before disposal - see below for details). The batteries must also be cool before proceeding with disposal instructions.

To dispose of LiPo cells and packs:

1. If any LiPo cell in the pack has been physically damaged, resulting in a swollen cell or a split or tear in a cell’s foil covering, do NOT discharge the battery. Jump to step 5.
2. Place the LiPo battery in a fireproof container or bucket of sand.
3. Connect the battery to a LiPo discharger. Set the discharge cutoff voltage to the lowest possible value. Set the discharge current to a C/10 value, with “C” being the capacity rating of the pack. For example, the “1C” rating for a 1200mAh battery is 1.2A, and that battery’s C/10 current value is (1.2A / 10) can be used, such as a power resistor or set of light bulbs as long as the discharge current doesn’t exceed the C/10 value and cause an overheating condition. For LiPo packs rated at 7.4V and 11.1V , connect a 150 ohm resistor with a power rating of 2 watts (commonly found at Radio Shack)to the pack’s positive and negative terminals to safely discharge connecting it to an ESC/ motor system and allowing the motor to run indefinitely until no power remains to further cause the system to function.
4. Discharge the battery until its voltage reaches 1.0V per cell or lower. For resistive load type discharges, discharge the battery for up to 24 hours.
5. Submerse the battery into bucket or tub of salt water. This container should have a lid, but it should not need to be air-tight. Prepare a plastic container (do not use metal) of cold water. And mix in 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. Drop the battery into the salt water. Allow the battery to remain in the tub of salt water for at least 2 weeks.
6. Remove the LiPo battery from the salt water, wrap it in newspaper or paper towels and place it in the normal trash. They are landfill safe.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Choosing what brand and type of connector to use with your lithium polymer battery is a decision that is often overlooked and not given much thought. Although it will mostly come down to personal preference there are few things to keep in mind when choosing what connector to use.

1) How much current (Amps) with the connector handle?

The current rating is probably the most important feature to look at for the connector. Before choosing your connector you should ensure that the current rating on the connector is higher than the estimated current that your system will be drawing, so if you know you will be drawing 20 amps from the battery, it would be safe to use a connector rated at 30 amps. Using a connector that is rated at a lower current than you are drawing may cause the connector fuse together and possibly short out causing damage to the battery, speed control and other equipments. You should be able to find the current rating on the connector from the manufacturer or supplier.

2) Are there any special tools I will need to install it?

Most connectors can be easily soldered to the wire leads on the battery and speed controller. However some connectors such as Anderson Power Pole connectors require special crimping tools for installation.

3) Can it be accidentally plugged in backwards?

For batteries it is a good idea to choose a connector that is polarized, so there is an evident positive and negative on the connector and it can not be plugged in backwards. A good example of a polarized connector is a Deans Ultra Plug. Non-polarized connectors such as bullet connectors are good for connecting motors due to their small size however are not a good choice for connecting batteries as they can easily be connected backwards causing damage to the battery and electronics.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Lithium polymer batteries are expensive. How you handle yours will have a big effect on how long they last. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to learn about proper charging procedures.

Lets say you just finished using your lithium polymer battery. It can be charged again without delay, as long as it isn’t hot. If it is hot, you will need to wait until it has cooled down; preferably to below 35° Celsius (95° Fahrenheit).

Your battery isn’t hot, so let the charging begin. The first steps are to power up your charger and connect your battery charge cable to the charger. You should plug in the charge cable before connecting it to the battery, because charge cables usually terminate in exposed bullet / banana connectors, which are easy to short to each other directly or via anything metal (i.e. the charger). Now you can connect the battery to the charger via the charge cable.

It’s time to set the charger’s settings. Whatever the input method, there are two important settings: charge voltage and current. The correct voltage setting is determined by the lithium polymer battery you are charging. Most batteries say their nominal voltage, with the common ones being 7.4V and 11.1V. This number is calculated as

Correct Voltage Setting = 3.7V * Number of Cells in Series

On small to medium sized lithium polymer batteries, the number of cells in series is simply the number of cells in the battery. However, on large batteries, some of the cells are wired in parallel and as such do not contribute to the correct voltage setting. The standard for writing the number of cells in series is Xs. For a small battery, like the Thunder Power Pro Lite 3s 1320mAh, we see that X=3. For this battery, correct voltage setting = 3.7V * 3 = 11.1 V.

Correct voltage setting now determined, all that remains is current setting. Current setting is largely up to the user. The most common and always correct setting is:

Standard Current Setting = Battery Capacity / 1h

Continuing with the above example, the battery capacity is 1320mAh. Therefore, standard current setting = 1320mAh / 1h = 1320mA = 1.32A. This is known as a 1C charge, because C is defined as 1 / 1h.

Some like to charge slower than 1C to be gentle with their batteries. However, there is no scientific evidence of slower charging leading to longer battery life. There are also a few chargers that charge faster than 1C to save time, such as the Thunder Power 1010C. These chargers are usually very specific about when this fast charging is safe; please follow the instructions and warnings they come with.

With those two settings set, you are ready to start the charge. Once the charging process has started, the charger takes care of everything. It will end the charge when the battery is full, at which time you can use it again. There is no need to wait between the end of a charge and the start of a discharge.

There are two ways of increasing the safety of your charges. One is to use a balancer, such as the Thunder Power 205V or 210V. The balancer will fight cell imbalance, and provide some a warning if the cells are dangerously imbalanced. The other is to place your battery somewhere nonflammable. Ask yourself, if this battery ignites, will anything nearby ignite as well? Leaving the battery on a wood counter or in a wood airplane is more risky than isolating it on a bare cement floor.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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As of December 6th 2006, Thunder Power produces 16 different cells, both in their Pro Lite and eXtreme series batteries, to meet the widely varying needs of R/C modellers. Whether you fly radio control airplanes, drive rc cars, or boats, there’s a Thunder Power cell for you. This article will help you choose between them.

Thunder Power’s 350mAh Pro Lite 18C cell is their smallest. Offered only in 2s (22g) and 3s (33g) packs, this cell is meant for the smallest indoor airplanes. Common all-up-weights for a 350mAh-powered airplane are 3-6oz. These packs are available with a JST connector or with bare leads. A balance connector is not available, so max charge rate is 1C.

The Thunder Power 480mAh Pro Lite 15C cell is just a little larger. Offered only in 2s (23g) and 3s (34g) packs, this cell is meant for small indoor airplanes. Common all-up-weights for a 480mAh-powered airplane are 5-8oz. These packs are available with a JST connector or with bare leads. A balance connector is not available, so max charge rate is 1C.

Thunder Power’s 730mAh Pro Lite 13C cell bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor airplanes. It’s small enough for an indoor plane, but large enough for an outdoor plane. Common all-up-weights for a 730mAh-powered airplane are 7-13oz. It comes in 2s (34g) and 3s (49g) packs, and is available with a JST or with bare leads. A balance connector is not available, so max charge rate is 1C.

Thunder Power’s 910mAh Pro Lite 16C cell is for small outdoor airplanes weighing 9-15oz. It is available in 2s (46g) and 3s (65g) packs, and with a JST or bare leads. A balance connector is standard, so max charge rate is 3C.

The Thunder Power 1320mAh Pro Lite 13C cell can fuel a lot of very fun 10-20oz airplanes. The two 1320mAh packs are 2s (58g) and 3s (85g). A balance connector is standard, so max charge rate is 3C.

Thunder Power’s 2000mAh Pro Lite was released in early 2005. When it came out its performance eclipsed the competition. It had lithium polymer’s incredible energy density and revolutionary power density. It also premiered a second revolution: the balance connector. To this day, no one – not even Thunder Power – has been able to better it. More recent batteries do offer considerably better power density (higher voltages under higher loads), but that is at the expense of energy density (they weigh more for the same capacity). The 2000mAh Pro Lite cell remains the best choice for any model that has to run longer than 15 minutes, and a very competitive cell for 12-15 minute run times. Because of its performance, Thunder Power uses it in a huge range of packs, from 2s1p 2000mAh to 5s4p 8000mAh and 10s2p 4000mAh.

Some of us have seen electric aircraft with stunning performance. Key to this performance is a high C rating and high power density. Thunder Power’s take on this is the Pro Lite 2100mAh cell. Rated at 24C burst, this battery attracts attention from the glow crowd. It is available in 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s; and in 1p (2100mAh) and 2p (4200mAh). A balance connector is standard, so 3C charging is available.

Thunder Power has developed a cell specifically for the T-Rex 450. It is the eXtreme Series 2070mAh, in 3s form. This cell unlocks the extreme performance possible with a T-Rex, and will do it over a long cycle life (the T-Rex is known for killing other cells faster than usual). The 2070mAh eXtreme Series cell is available in 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s, all with a balance connector and 3C charge rates.

Thunder Power’s eXtreme Series cells – 2200mAh, 3300mAh, 3400mAh, 3800mAh, 3850mAh, 4500mAh, 4600mAh, and 5000mAh - are all about power. With 22-25C continuous and 50C burst ratings, these cells seriously perform in the most demanding applications, like electric ducted fans and 3D helicopters. eXtreme Series cells are available in 3s, 4s, and 5s packs, all with a balance connector and 3C charge rates. A few special 2s or 2p packs are available, too.

Packs with higher capacities than the above cells are made by combining 2 or more cells in parallel.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
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Lithium polymer batteries have made R/C flying more fun. The performance they offer is revolutionary and remarkable. But, they are susceptible to damage and need to be treated carefully. One important device that protects and maintains your lithium polymer battery is the balancer. Let’s examine how that is.

Lithium polymer batteries are damaged by:

• Mechanical deformation
• High temperature (above 60degC / 140degF)
• High voltage (above 4.2V/cell)
• Deep discharge (below 3.0V/cell in use, 3.3V/cell recovered, or 3.7V/cell storage)
• Rapid discharge (shorting cells or using above recommend discharge rates)

Of these, high voltage is the most difficult to control. Batteries made of lithium polymer cells wired in series will naturally, with time and cycles, become imbalanced. That is, each cell will be at a slightly different voltage.

This leads to high voltage while charging, as the charger can only read the average cell voltage. The charger will bring the pack to an average of 4.2V / cell, but one or more cells are above 4.2V / cell. Slight imbalance is always present -even in a battery that is new and balanced by the factory - and does no harm, but large imbalance does harm and is prevented by a balancer.

A balancer connects to a battery via cell taps. Cell taps are small wires soldered onto each cell’s tabs. The balancer thus has direct access to every cell, allowing it to adjust individual cell voltages by dissipating the energy as heat, or re-routing it to cells of lower voltage.

The tangible benefits of this include:

• Stronger performance throughout the battery’s life
• Longer battery life (more cycles)
• Ability to eliminate one cause of cell combustion, namely cell over voltage while charging due to imbalance

Though every brand and model of cell balancer works a little different, the general procedure for their use is: Connect the balancer to the battery before charging, charge, and remove balancer when charge is complete. Regarding frequency of use, a balancer can be used with every charge, though this isn’t necessary if the battery is in good condition. Most users feel the extra effort of using a balancer with every charge is worth the added safety features.

Examples of good commercially available balancers are the 205V and 210V from Thunder Power.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com
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