Heliguy Forum - RC heli forum

Hi,
Can someone advise on the care of LIPO batteries? Read somewhere that LIPOs need special care to maintain it's capacity and service state... (or so the Nitros suggests)

Could you help to clear the mud on:

1) Is there a need to rebalance the charge on LIPOs?
- Isn't the stock charger charger good enough?
- Is it necessary to buy a balancer (rebalancer or whatever the name is called)?
- How often should this be done (if rebalancing is indeed necessary)?

2) Store LIPOs at 50% charge?
- Are the consequential deterioration of prolonged storage at 100%? (i.e. charged the LIPOs and keep to fly 2 weeks later)

3) Excessive discharge will kill the LIPOs? (seems like this belief is everywhere...)
- What are the signs of excessive discharge?
- Is the edge really short? (1 thread suggest not flying the RC back 200ft cos it killed the LIPO)
- Is there an battery indicator on the stock tx?
- Is there a channel 7 (or use the blank) to transmit this information?

4) What is the life span of a std LIPO? (read somewhere that is abt 300 or 1 year)
- 300 cycles ? Is this realistic?
- 1 year? If seldom used would the LIPO still deterioate?

5) I've got 2 LIPOs 1800, 20C. Should I alternate or should I just use 1 (assuming I can control myself on the usage)?

Thanks matey!

Ronny Remauled