Li-Fe, Li-Po, Li-Mn Batteries

[Ociffer Action]

So my Li-Po isn't working to specs. One of the cells isn't working properly and I can only get a few rounds off on a good charge. I'm looking at buying a new battery at some point in the future. There is a lot of talk going around about more efficient and safer alternatives to Li-Pos. Those being the:

Lithium Iron Polymer Batteries: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_236&products_id=5806
Lithium Manganese Batteries: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=31_171&products_id=31127

Does anyone have any useful information on the batteries here? Also any thoughts?

Also, does the Li-ion charger charge the Li-Po the same? I don't know, but that could be the reason why my Li-Po is acting up.

Thanks,
Chris Acton

[D.Smitty]

LiPo and LiIon chargers are usually the same thing.  The two main differences between lipos and nimhs is that lipo should be stored FULLY CHARGED and they should be "balanced" every few charges.

Do these two things (and switch to deans or xt60 connectors) and even chiclone lipos are very reliable.

[SteevoLS]

Chris, your lipo is toast... a good warning sign is the puffed-up appearance. This is hit and miss with cheaper lipos, but as Smitty said it is fairly avoidable.

[Ociffer Action]

Yeah, the fact that it used to be a rectangular prism and is now a cylinder is kind of a good sign that it's SOL.

[Ociffer Action]

Interesting article on AS-R...apparently the LiMn batteries can be charged on liPo chargers

http://www.airsoftretreat.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=317

How would I know if my charger can balance the charge?

[D.Smitty]

Most inexpensive chargers do not balance, but you can buy a lipo balancer to take care of that after the fact.  Lots of places sell 'em.

[Dominum]

What kind of charger do you have?

[Ociffer Action]

It's a universal charger made by Tenergy...It's back in Lex so I cant tell you the specs right now

[Dominum]

There's your problem right there Chris, you need a LiPo charger for LiPo batteries. Do not use a regular smart charger that attaches to the tamiyas, but a charger that attaches to the white connector on LiPos. Here is a good inexpensive one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360303056102&hlp=false&rvr_id=153352187068&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=L*S%3F&GUID=97a3589112b0a02652a241a2ff7dbbef&itemid=360303056102&ff4=263602_304652#ht_3057wt_1082

[SteevoLS]

Dom is correct... if you used a normal charger (that is, a charger that uses the discharge plug in the battery) then your lipo died of natural causes.

[Ociffer Action]

The charger says it was designed for LiPos, but as you said it uses the tamiyas to charge it.

[SteevoLS]

It is technically possible to charge a lipo via the discharge plug, but you must also balance it.

[Ociffer Action]

I'll check my charger when I get home tomorrow and see what's up. I'm going to get the Li-Mn battery.

http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=31_171&products_id=31127

[D.Smitty]

There's your problem right there Chris, you need a LiPo charger for LiPo batteries. Do not use a regular smart charger that attaches to the tamiyas, but a charger that attaches to the white connector on LiPos. Here is a good inexpensive one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360303056102&hlp=false&rvr_id=153352187068&crlp=1_263602_304652&UA=L*S%3F&GUID=97a3589112b0a02652a241a2ff7dbbef&itemid=360303056102&ff4=263602_304652#ht_3057wt_1082

Tenergy makes Lipo chargers that use tamiya connectors, and I have 2.  They are advertised from the company as "for lipo batteries, DO NOT USE WITH NiMh batteries" etc. etc.

  It's very possible that he did not do anything wrong. Lipos CAN be charged with the tamiya plugs, they just need to be balanced every so often (every charge would be safe, but I would say you could go every 3-4 charges).

[Ociffer Action]

Tenergy makes Lipo chargers that use tamiya connectors, and I have 2.  They are advertised from the company as "for lipo batteries, DO NOT USE WITH NiMh batteries" etc. etc.

 It's very possible that he did not do anything wrong. Lipos CAN be charged with the tamiya plugs, they just need to be balanced every so often (every charge would be safe, but I would say you could go every 3-4 charges).

I never balanced mine for the many months and countless games I've had it.