Battery break-in

[pvolcko]

So, I'm trying out something new. After listenin to RC Heli Nation for a year or more now one of their frequent refrains is the importance of proper battery break-in. Like many I have never really done a rigorous, proper battery break-in regimen. I usually do a couple/few low impact flights with 1C charge cycles and then start hammering them.

This time around, I'm giving bench break-in a try, though. Soldered up connectors on a bunch of new Turnigy and Glacier packs last night. This morning I created a new pre-set in my charger that will do 5 cycles of charge/discharge and 1C charge and discharge rates, and only discharge down to 3.85V/cell. 10min cooldown between cycles. Set a new stick pack going and it's in process now.

Anyone else ever do bench break-in? Care to share your charge/discharge parameters?

[DOG]

Hey Pvolcko. Honestly i never knew you had to bench break-in a battery before. That's why i like this site, i learn something new all the time. When i get a new battery i bal. charge and then fly. Between flights i do let the battery cool down before charging again. I have 12 batteries. 6 for my Tarot 450 and 6 for my Gaui X3. I rotate helis between flights then charge batteries at night for the next day. I guess I haven't been properly treating my batteries right. Thanks for the info. Pvolcko

[cml001]

I'll do a 1c charge the first couple of cycles...ALWAYS balance charge... After that I charge at 2c... Usually parallel up to 6 3s or 3 6s packs at a time... And after few trips to the field I'll do a 1c on each pack individually & have a look at IR readings... I'm doing this now w the Glacier packs I recently got so we'll see how it goes... As for the Pulse packs... Fantastic! Most of my 3s Pulse packs are several years old... Just over the last month have I lost about 20-30sec of flight time.. So I feel my method works well with quality packs... I know guys who can't get 6mths of good usage outta other packs... Now while at the field.. I do allow for cool down.. But the charger doesn't stop kook'n the duration of the day out there..

[Lee]

I just charge at 1C for about 10 cycles, and fly gentle flights.
Then hammer them

[Derek]

I don't have an actual "routine" for when I get new batteries but this is what I try to do.

When I get a new battery, I always check the cell balance and overall voltage. Then I charge the pack up at 1C and then go fly. I don't fly very hard at all. Whether it's a plane or heli, it's just a casual flight with nothing but circuits and stall turns. Pack things up and go home to put the packs on storage charge until I'm ready to use them again. Then it's the same process for about 5 flights. Then I'll charge at 2C and the flights are more aggressive.

[Graham Lawrie]

I have until recently charged mine at 1c. Now always at 2c. I have an app to follow their history.

[pvolcko]

DOG, bench break-in certainly isn't necessary. I'm just giving it a try with these new packs to see if it makes any difference. I happen to have a third 5000mah 45C glacier pack to use a comparison. On that one I won't do bench break-in, just a normal set of easy flights to around 3.8V/cell and 1C balance charge after a cool down period. See which end up with better IR after 20 and 40 cycles.

[DOG]

Seems like a few of members have some sort of routine. I just bal charge 2c to all the battery fro the get go. I didn't know better. So far the batteries are about 3 months old and still holding good charge and draining good also. Next batch of batteries i will follow some sort of routine and see what happens. Thanks pvolcko, you had me scared there for awhile. Lol

[Derek]

Some of my 6S packs, I've had to for two years and they are still going strong.

[Marius]

I cycle brand new packs on the charger about three times, then I storage charge. When used for the first time, I only fly easy sport flying. The second time around I start "hammering", as Lee so elequently put it

[danhampson]

i charge them at 1c and try to be gentle with them for the first 5-6 cycles then batter them as usual.

It will be interesting to see if your bench conditioning is of any benefit.