Lipo storage advice

[Mash Potato]

Probably been covered before but I did do a search and could not see the answer I was looking for.

Basically I'm not racing at the moment for one reason or another and have not used my B44 for ages as I have no batteries for it. I'd like to get some Lipo's for it to occasionally mess around with it, but obviously they would not be used often.
I've got a Bantam BC6 charger that has a storage mode. But basically what I want to know is if I get a Lipo or two and have them sat after setting to storage mode will this do the batts any harm? How long can they be stored in like this?

[Welshy40]

Originally Posted by Digital

Probably been covered before but I did do a search and could not see the answer I was looking for.

Basically I'm not racing at the moment for one reason or another and have not used my B44 for ages as I have no batteries for it. I'd like to get some Lipo's for it to occasionally mess around with it, but obviously they would not be used often.
I've got a Bantam BC6 charger that has a storage mode. But basically what I want to know is if I get a Lipo or two and have them sat after setting to storage mode will this do the batts any harm? How long can they be stored in like this?

I keep mine fully charged, and use every two weeks or so all depending if I can be bothered. Still I understand a lot of guys charge it three quarters full and leave it like that until they next need it. Do not store in a hot place, always keep them in a cool area away from heat. Mine stay in the cupboard.

[Col]

Mine sometimes go 2-3 months without use with 70%ish charge and suffer no problems.

[pugboy]

I (geekishly) did some research on this when I first bought my lipos and I seem to remember that the ideal is about 70-80% charged for leaving them. It doesn't matter if they are lower as long as they aren't too low (ie below 6v for nominal 7.4v lipo, but to be on the safe side try and keep them above 7v), and if they are fully charged the suggestion was that the life (ie the number of cycles before they are spent) is reduced, but not massively. I tend to run my race and then leave them, so probably around 50-60% charged. Never had any problems.

[Piman]

It is recomended to charge them to 70-80% for storage. This is because temperature variations will impact the chemistry and internal voltage of the pack. Fully charged at one temperature is undercharged at another and overcharger at yet another.

The 20-30% margin means that this won't be an issue. Lipos also lose very, very little charge over time so with 70-80% they will unlikely ever discharge to too low a level.

With the fact they have little or no 'memory' effect leaving them at 70-80% is fine.

James