We’re pleased to announce the release of 4 brand new Thunder Power Lipo batteries. We pride ourselves on carrying every Thunder Power battery manufactured. These recent additions represent some of

Thunder Power’s coolest new developments.

New Thunder Power 7.4V 2S 5400 Saddle Pack

This new battery from Thunder Power RC features a saddle shaped design, with two individual battery packs wired in series. This allows for greater flexibility and increased capacity. ROARR approved, this saddle pack lipo battery is perfect for all your RC cars and trucks.

Specifications for the Thunder Power TP-5400-2SPRSD Lipo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 2-Cell (2s)
• Capacity: 5400 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 25C
• Max Burst Discharge: 50C
• Max Continuous Current: 135A
• Max Burst Current: 270A
• Weight: 331g
• Dimensions: 28 x 46.5 x 69 mm Saddle Pack
• Series: Pro Race Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: Standard

New Thunder Power Sport Race 3s 8000 Lipo

Expanding the Sport Race Series is the new 8000 mAh 3 cell 11.1 V pack. Capable of providing 22C continuous and 45C burst current, this battery is perfect for larger RC model airplanes. As with all our thunder power batteries, the 3s 8000 is fully compatible with our Lipo battery chargers. New to electric RC? We’ve got a great selection of Thunder Power compatible balancers and chargers available. This battery pack also features standard Deans connectors, so you can use it easily with your other standard RC equipment and ground vehicles.

Specifications for the Thunder Power RC TP-8000-3SSRD LiPo:

• Voltage: 11.1V
• Cells: 3-Cell
• Capacity: 8000mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 22C
• Max Burst Discharge: 45C
• Max Continuous Current: 176A
• Max Burst Current: 360A
• Weight: 530g
• Dimensions: 139 x 41 x 39mm

New Thunder Power Sport Race 2s 8000 Lipo

Designed specifically for ground vehicles, this battery pack is ROAR approved and fully compatible with all our Thunder Power chargers. Standard Deans connectors allow you to use this pack with all your RC ground vehicles.

Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-8000-3SSRD LiPo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 2-Cell (2s)
• Capacity: 8000 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 22C
• Max Burst Discharge: 45C
• Max Continuous Current: 176A
• Max Burst Current: 360A
• Weight: 382g
• Dimensions: 30 x 46.5 x 138 mm
• Series: Sport Race Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: Medium

New Thunder Power Pro Race 4s 5000

This brand new Thunder Power battery adds to the large Pro Race Series. Pro Race series batteries are specifically engineered for optimal racing performance. Capable of providing a maximum burst discharge of 80C, this battery adds incredible performance to your RC cars, trucks, and other electric surface vehicles.
<h2>Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-5000-4SPR LiPo</h2>

• Voltage: 14.8 V
• Cells: 4-Cell (4s)
• Capacity: 5000 mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 40C
• Max Burst Discharge: 80C
• Max Continuous Current: 200A
• Max Burst Current: 400A
• Weight: 564g
• Dimensions: 46 x 46.5 x 138 mm
• Series: Pro Race 40C Series Surface Pack
• Balance Connector: Thunder Power RC 4 Pin
• Connector: Deans Ultra
• Case Type: XX-Large

New Thunder Power RC TP-5000-1SPRD Lipo

Featuring an extra large 5000 mAh capacity, this new Lipo battery is perfect for smaller RC cars, trucks, and other ground vehicles. This one cell battery provides 3.7 volts at a maximum burst current of 80C. Tested and approved at the ROAR lab this battery is officially approved for usage at ROAR sanctioned events. The TP-500-1SPRD Lipo battery also features standard Deans connectors, allowing you to use it with all your standard RC equipment and surface vehicles.

Specifications for Thunder Power RC TP-5000-1SPRD LiPo

• Voltage: 7.4 V
• Cells: 1-Cell
• Capacity: 5000mAh
• Max Continuous Discharge: 40C
• Max Burst Discharge: 80C
• Max Continuous Current: 200A
• Max Burst Current: 400A
• Weight: 145g
• Dimensions: 135 x 45 x 17mm
• ROAR Approved

Do you need chargers, balancers, connectors and other accessories for your lithium polymer rechargeable RC batteries? We carry a huge selection available for purchase online or over the phone.

ROAR (Remotely Operated Auto Racers) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting rc cars and trucks. ROAR also provides liability and bodily injury insurance for it’s members who race at ROAR sanctioned events and keeps a database of approved lithium polymer batteries. Tested at ROAR’s laboratory, approved lithium polymer batteries need to meet criteria including safety and performance. If you’re racing your electric car or truck at a ROAR sanctioned event, you should use approved batteries. We carry all of ROAR’s approved Thunder Power RC batteries, listed below:

You can browse through our huge selection of Thunder Power RC lipo batteries on our site. We pride ourselves on carrying every battery that Thunder Power RC manufactures, so if you see one that we’ve missed, feel free to contact us.

Prevent this from happening to your batteries by following these tips:

1. Store lithium polymer batteries in a flame proof LipoSack while charging. - Charging your lithium polymer batteries in a flame proof LipoSack can contain a fire should it occur. It could mean the difference between a minor clean up and the loss of your house or car. Also make sure that the storage area is well ventilated.
2. Read the manual – The importance of reading your battery and chargers manual cannot be emphasized enough. The battery manual will state the proper charging rates and times.
3. Use common sense – Don’t charge batteries unsupervised. Even when you do everything right, incidents can occur. Also, do not charge lithium polymer batteries in your car. A flame out can be disasterous if it occurs inside a vehicle.
4. Use the right battery charger – Charging a lipo battery with a charger designed for other batteries will cause problems, and will probably result in a fire.
5. Charge lithium polymer batteries on a fire proof surface – It’s really important to charge lithium polymer batteries on a flame proof surface such as concrete. In the event of a fire, a fire proof charging surface will stop it from spreading, or at least slow it down significantly.
6. Keep a fire extinguisher, or bucket of sand near the charging area – If a fire does occur, you don’t want to be running around looking for something to put it out with. Water will not help put out a lipo fire. Being a conductor, it will cause a short circuit and could even make the fire worse.
7. Don’t charge lithium polymer batteries near flammable substances – Lithium polymer batteries are flammable enough as it is. Don’t make the problem worse by storing flammable substances near charging batteries.
8. Check lithium polymer batteries for swelling prior to charging and each use – A puffed battery is unstable, and can be in danger of exploding. If you see a puffed battery, immediately disconnect it from the charger or aircraft and put it in a bucket of water. Dissolve a few tablespoons of salt in the water to aid conductivity, and leave the battery in the bucked for about 4 days. The salt water depletes any power remaining in the battery by creating a short, and it can’t catch fire while underwater. After the four days are up, take the battery out and cut off the connectors (which may come in handy for other projects). You can then dispose of the battery in the trash. The battery no longer contains toxic metals, won’t harm the environment, and by using the salt water you’ve guaranteed that it won’t catch fire. This should be done as soon as you see a puffed battery. You can’t salvage a puffed battery, the best you can do is to dispose of it safely.
9. Never charge a lithium polymer battery in a model – If you charge a lipo battery in your RC airplane or helicopter, you are risking the total loss of your model. Only charge lithium polymer batteries on a flame proof surface, in a LipoSack.
10. Make sure the charging leads are connected properly – Connecting positive to negative and negative to positive can cause a major fire.
11. Don’t overcharge batteries – By their very chemistry, lithium polymer batteries cannot be discharged to a potential of less than 3 volts without damage. For the same reason, don’t charge them to over 4.2 volts. This means that you have to land your rc aircraft before the motors stop turning. Some aircraft come equipped with a voltage cut-off, others do not. If you don’t have a voltage cut-off, then land as soon as you sense the propeller or rotors slowing down.
12. Double check that the charger settings are correct – Lithium polymer battery chargers require you to set the battery configuration. Ensure that this configuration matches the battery you’re charging, or else your lipo could get overcharged and explode. Some chargers automatically sense the battery configuration, but make sure that the setting is correct regardless. They have been known to be wrong on occasion.
13. Balance lipo batteries – Lithium polymer batteries have balance connectors, designed to make sure that each cell in the pack has the same charge. If this isn’t the case, some cells can become overcharged and explode.
14. Never let the battery leads touch – If the battery terminals touch each other, the battery will short circuit and, in most cases, be destroyed. If this happens and you get a puffed battery, dispose of it by following tip 9 above.
15. Don’t ever store / charge lithium polymer batteries in your car – Unless you hate your car. Batteries can and do explode, and if this happens inside a vehicle the result is usually catastrophic. On a hot day, temperatures can rise inside the car and cause stored packs to rupture.
16. In the event of a crash, remove the battery and supervise it for at least 4 hours – A crashed plane’s battery can appear fine, but can have an internal short circuit. This short circuit can cause an explosion, even hours after the crash occurred. A LipoSack is a great place to keep a battery that’s been in a crash. If enough time elapses and nothing happens, then your battery is probably fine. If you see puffing, dispose of it immediately following the instructions in tip 9 above.

Always use common sense, read the manual, and know the risks associated with lithium polymer batteries. Handled properly, the risk of a fire is relatively small. Store lithium polymer batteries in a LipoSack for additional saftey.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
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Does Temperature Affect Lithium Polymer Batteries?

Yes, lithium polymer batteries are affected by temperature. All batteries use a chemical reaction to provide electricity, and a low temperature slows this reaction down significantly. You cannot harm a lithium battery by running it at a low temperature, but you will notice a significant decrease in performance. Allowing lithium polymer batteries to freeze is generally not recommended, so be sure to store the lithium battery in a cool, dry location over the winter months.

What does “3S4P” mean?

Every lithium polymer battery consists of a set of individual cells, which can be wired in either series or parallel. Cells wired in series (positive to negative) increase the overall voltage of the pack, while cells wired in parallel increase the capacity. As an e 3S4P pack consists of 3 cells wired in series, and each array of three cells is wired in parallel four times. This means that the pack consists of twelve cells in total. Because all 3S batteries consist of the same number of cells wired in series, they all have the same voltage.

How can I calculate theoretical flight time?

In order to calculate the maximum theoretical flight time of your models, you will need to know some information about your battery and motor equipment:

• Motor Amperage
• Pack capacity in Mah (milliamp hours)

After you have that information, you can use the following formula to compute the maximum theoretical flight time of your model:

Time (hours) = (battery capacity (amps) / (motor current (amps)

Notice how the battery capacity must be given in amps. To find your battery capacity in amps, divide the capacity in milliamps by 1000. You will probably want the result expressed in minutes. so multiply the time you just calculated by 60.

By this formula, a 33.5 amp motor powered by a 5000 Mah battery would have a run time of a run time of 8.96 minutes. This is a theoretical maximum, if you actually ran the above set up for the calculated maximum time you would destroy the battery. Most lipo batteries shouldn’t be discharged below 80%, so multiply the calculated time by .8 to account for this.

What does the C rating mean?

The C rating is a measure of how long it takes a battery pack to discharge under a given load, expressed in fractions of an hour. As an example, a battery discharging at 1C would be empty in 1 hour, a 2C discharge would empty it in 1/2 an hour, and so on. For example: a 4000 Mah battery being discharged at 4000 ma, then it would be empty after an hour, and discharging at a rate of 1C.

I’m converting my RC vehicles from Nicd or Nimh to Lipo – what equipment do I need?

That depends on the type if speed controller that you’re using. If it’s marked as lipo friendly, then you don’t need to replace anything but the battery. Otherwise, it’s best that you get a speed controller that has been specifically designed for lipo batteries.

How many cycles will a lipo battery last for?

There is really no clear and concise answer for this question. The lifetime of the lipo battery really depends on how it was used. If you over discharge, over charge, or drain the battery at a higher C rating than it was intended for it will not last long. If you take care of your batteries, and are careful to follow the manufacturers instructions, you can expect to get at least 300 cycles during the lifespan of the batteries.

Is it true that the storage of the battery can effect the performance?

Yes, it is. How you store the battery severely affects it’s capacity, and thus it’s useful lifetime. You should not store lipos at 100 percent charge, and you should not store them at near minimum voltage. Either of these situations will result in the battery internally “rusting away”, and will decrease it’s capacity over time. The best way to store a lipo is at about a 50% charge, in a cool, dry location.

Is there really a way to “recover” over discharged batteries?

No. Despite claims that some chargers and settings can miraculously “restore” over discharged lipos, no charger will undo the permanent chemical reactions which take place within an over discharged cell.

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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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New Thunder Power Extreme V2 Series Lipo Batteries

Rounding out 2007 was the release of eXtreme V2 series LiPo batteries, the next evolution in the ever-popular 25/50C discharge capable eXtreme series of premium performance batteries. Offering higher voltage under load for added power, cooler operating temps and significantly improved cycle life, eXtreme V2 series batteries continue to be the battery of choice for the world’s top 3D airplane and helicopter pilots who demand nothing but the utmost in power and reliability, including TPRC team pilots Quique Somenzini, Alan Szabo, Jason Krause and many more. And now in 2008, hot on the heels of Align’s latest release, Alan and Jason are using the all-new eXtreme V2 series 2600mAh batteries to power their T-REX 500 helicopters, offering 6S performance that has to be seen to be believed. Available in configurations from 2S to 6S, the eXtreme V2 2600mAh series batteries round out the eXV2 line nicely while offering the perfect power solution for many larger park flyer to mid-size airplane and helicopter models.

In only a few short months, 2008 brought even more exciting product announcements and releases, including the overwhelmingly popular TP-610C ‘all-in-one’ charger, discharger and balancer. This innovative and unique charger not only offers the versatility of 1-6 cell LiIon, LiPo and LiFePo4/A123 charging and discharging capabilities, but also the convenience, added safety and increased battery performance offered by a built-in balancer that constantly communicates with the charger throughout the charging process. Best of all, the TP-610C also offers 1-14 cell Ni-Cd/Ni-MH and 6-24V Pb/lead acid battery charging (and discharging/cycling) capabilities, at rates from 0.25 to 10-amps, all at an incredibly affordable price that makes it the number one choice of demanding airplane, helicopter and surface modelers alike. Never before have so many features, so much versatility and so much convenience been available at such a great price.

The first weekend in April brought the 54th annual Toledo Weak Signals RC Expo, where the new Thunder Power RC 325mm carbon fiber main rotor blades for 400-450 class helicopters were released. These ‘true’ 325mm long (measured from center of mounting hole to tip) rotor blades offer increased disk area for reduced disk loading, while offering extra power and ‘pop’ for aggressive 3D maneuvers when compared to other similar class blades. Their unique carbon fiber and foam core construction results in incredible stiffness for unbelievable stopping power and response, while the high-quality resin and ‘painted in the mold’ finish offers great looks on the ground and in the air. A perfect fit for Align T-REX 450 and other 450-class helicopters, plus including shims for use and easy installation on E-flite® Blade® 400 helicopters, TPRC 325mm CF blades offer all the performance of top-brand blades, at a fraction of the price, making them the perfect blades of choice for almost everyone, including aggressive 3D helicopter pilots Danny Szabo, Marcus Kim and more.

We are also introducing the new 250mAh and 350mAh Pro Lite series batteries. Andrew Jesky flew the new 2S 250mAh battery to a first place finish at the 5th annual Electric Tournament of Champions, while fellow TPRC team members Jason Noll, Mark Leseberg, Ryan Archer and more took advantage of the low weight and 20C/30C discharge capabilities to finish in many of the other top spots. These 250mAh batteries, along with the new, smaller footprint 350mAh batteries, will continue to be the choice of top precision 3D aerobatic pilots worldwide for many of this year’s most demanding indoor contests. They’ll also be the perfect choice for micro flyer and slow flyer pilots looking for minimum weight, maximum performance and maximum reliability at a

Thunder Power Race Series Lipo Batteries

The Toledo show also brought a sneak peek at the all-new TPRC Race series LiPo batteries for RC cars and trucks. Factory-matched cells housed in application-specific designed, impact-resistant cases will offer a level of power, performance and reliability never before seen from Ni-MH and even other LiPo battery offerings in the surface market today. The first release of 2S 7.4V batteries, in capacities from 3300 to 5400mAh, will deliver maximum continuous discharge rates up to 30C, offering sport and serious racers alike the perfect, drop-in fit battery for almost any 1/10 scale application – from on-road oval and touring cars, to off-road buggies and trucks. Be sure to look for Race series LiPo batteries and accessories in stores this summer.

With these and many more new announcements and releases to come, we look forward to another year more exciting than the last!

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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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Race series LiPo batteries feature premium, factory-matched cells housed in impact-resistant cases designed to protect the cells in a variety of conditions. They also offer a level of power, performance and reliability never before seen from NiMH and even other LiPo battery offerings in the market today. The first release of 2S 7.4V and 3S 11.1V batteries, in capacities from 3300mAh to 5400mAh, will deliver maximum continuous discharge rates up to 30C, offering sport and professional racers alike the perfect, drop-in fit battery for almost any 1/10 scale application–from on-road oval and touring cars, to off-road buggies, trucks and monster trucks.

Other Race Series battery features include:

• Choice of rounded, standard or large housings to fit almost any 1/10 scale vehicle
• Factory-installed main power leads (10- or 12-gauge) and connectors (Deans® Ultra Plug® or Traxxas® High-Current)
• Thunder Power balance connector and leads
• ROAR approval (except THP50002SPRD and THP54003SSRT)
• More margin (when sold at MAP) than most other brand LiPo batteries for surface applications

Sport Race Series Batteries

Sport Race Series batteries offer incredible value and performance beyond all other batteries in their class. 20C continuous discharge rate capable cells, 12-gauge wire leads and factory-installed Traxxas High-Current connectors make them the perfect drop-in upgrade for all Traxxas electric vehicles–brushed or brushless motor powered. THP54003SSRT can even propel the popular Rustler VXL to speeds of 70mph and beyond!

eXtreme Race Series Batteries

eXtreme Race Series batteries offer the same power and performance of their 25C eXtreme V2 aircraft battery counterparts, yet are optimized for use in surface applications. With the ability to maintain higher voltage under load and to offer more cycle life than other batteries in their class, they’re an excellent choice for 1/10 scale racing applications. Plus, all eXtreme Race series batteries are equipped with 10-gauge wire leads and a Deans Ultra Plug connector.

Pro Race Series Batteries

When you’re looking for LiPo batteries that feature the lowest resistance and deliver the most power available in the surface battery market today, look no further than Pro Race Series batteries. Their incredibly low resistance, 30C continuous discharge rate capable cells, direct-soldered 10-gauge wire leads and Deans Ultra Plug connectors offer the minimum resistance possible for maximum power and performance in even the most demanding race applications.

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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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Thunder Power Pro Lite series LiPo batteries have been the standard by which all ‘lite’ weight, high-performance LiPo batteries have been measured since 2005. Often imitated but never duplicated, Pro Lite series batteries still offer the highest energy density (capacity and power per weight) in the RC LiPo battery market today. They’re also the industry’s best-selling and most reliable series of LiPo batteries ever.

The all-new 2600mAh Pro Lite V2 series batteries offer the same great benefits of current Pro Lite series batteries–including the most capacity, at the lowest weight and in the smallest size possible–but are the first to feature the new V2 chemistry. This chemistry offers increased discharge rate capability, as well as higher voltage under typical and heavy loads. The extremely low resistance of the V2 chemistry allows the 2600mAh batteries to deliver more power than most 2000-2200mAh 25C+ discharge capable batteries, but with 20-30% more useable capacity at nearly the same weight.

For example, the weight and dimensions of the new 2600mAh 3S 11.1V Pro Lite V2 battery (THP26003SPL2) are almost exactly the same as the ever-popular 2200mAh 3S 11.1V eXtreme V2 battery, yet the 2600mAh battery typically offers similar or more power and more flight duration in the same application. Flight tests by extreme 3D heli pilots have also proven that THP26003SPL2 is now one of the best batteries of choice for maximum power, performance and duration in E-flite® Blade 400, Align T-REX 450 and other mini-class helicopter models! The performance surpasses that of the most popular batteries used for these models today, and it’s available at a price that offers incredible value.

You can see the amazing performance of the 2600mAh Pro Lite V2 battery in the discharge curve below. The ability to deliver more than 95% of the rated capacity at discharge rates up to 18C is no ordinary feat, and makes it unlike any other battery ever available in its class before.
Available in configurations from 2S 7.4V to 6S 22.2V, 2600mAh Pro Lite V2 batteries are perfectly suited for small to mid-size, 450- to 15-size airplane models, and mini to mid-size helicopter models. They’re a great replacement for 1800-2200mAh batteries when added flight duration, with little to no expense of added weight, is desired. And with prices similar to or less than other products in their class, the new 2600mAh Pro Lite V2 batteries will further establish the Pro Lite series as not only the technology and performance leader, but also as the leader in value too!

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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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The current world speed record for an RC car is 134.4 miles per hour (216.3 kilometers per hour). A test run of the X3 has been clocked at a speed of 83 miles per hour, but design changes are underway to improve upon this. The motor has a theoretical maximum speed of 274 miles per hour, but friction limits the actual speed that the RC car can achieve. An aerodynamic body is designed to minimize air friction and increase the speed of the RC car to its design goal of 200 miles per hour.

At such incredible speeds, a human driver cannot possibly control the RC car sufficiently. This is why a pair of aerodynamic fins and a gyroscope have been added to the RC car’s body. Without control input, the RC car can speed down a large length of pavement in a perfectly straight line.

The designers also replaced the rubber tires usually used by RC cars with lightweight foam. Unlike the rubber wheels which generate large amounts of heat, the foam wheels can be used at high speeds without danger of disintegrating.

You can read more about the X3 electric RC car at its creators blog.

Learn more about Thunder Power RC by visiting the Thunder Power RC Web site.

RCToys.com is the best place to buy Thunder Power RC Lithium Polymer batteries, chargers and accessories, Eagle Tree E-Loggers & accessories and Castle Creations ESC Speed Controls.

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

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