How to Extend Life of Lithium Batteries in UAV

For UAV battery most common used is lithium battery(LifePO4 batteries pack), so how to maintain and how to prolong its life are critical questions to keep long cycle life.

1, Please don’t overcharge

The requirements for the charger, the charger is full of some future power-off function is imperfect, resulting in a monolithic battery is fully charged to 4.2V has not stopped. In addition, some chargers use after a period of time, because aging of components, easy appear full of charge but do not stop, so the lithium polymer battery charging when someone must take care, when found the charging time is too long, need manually check whether the charger failure, if there is failure we should unplug the battery as soon as possible, otherwise the lithium polymer battery overcharge it, ranging from the impact of battery life, while a direct burst into flames.

Besides remind everyone, you must be in accordance with the provisions of the battery charging C or lower C charging , do not exceed the prescribed charging current.

2, Please don’t discharge

Battery discharge curve shows the beginning of discharge, the voltage drop is fast, while the discharge between 3.9-3.7V, voltage drop slow. But once down to 3.7V the voltage decline will accelerate, poor control will result in over-discharge, ranging from damage to the battery, the voltage is too low cause heavy drone bombing. Some UAV lover because of few cells, so over discharge every time when fly, this caused battery short-lived. Strategy is try to fly less a minute, the life more a cycle life. Would rather buy two batteries, do not fly over the battery capacity limit every time. Take full advantage of the battery alarm, once alarm should be landed as soon as possible.

3, Please preserve with not full-charge

A fully charged battery, can not save more than three days with full power, if more than one week does not let go, some batteries directly drum kits, some batteries may temporarily not drum, but saved a few times of full power, the battery may be directly scrapped. Therefore the correct way is, receive the fly mission after charging the battery, after used in 3 days and there is no mission, set the single-chip voltage charge to 3.80 ~ 3.90V save. Further charged after due to various reasons did not fly, but also in the full discharge after 3 days of the battery to save under 3.80 ~ 3.90V. If not used within three months of the battery, take the battery charge and discharge one time and continue to save, and this can extend battery life. Battery storage should be placed in a cool environment, if long-term storage battery, preferably in a resealable bag or sealed tank explosion - recommended ambient temperature of 10 ~ 25 °C, and dry, non-corrosive gases.

4, Please don’t damage battery package

Battery package is an important structure to prevent leakage of battery explosion and fire , aluminum lithium polymer battery package’s damage will directly cause fire or explosion. Battery need to gently place on the plane, when fixed battery, strap to tighten. Because there may be bigger and dynamic flight or crashes, if the battery is not tight, they are easy to throw out, this is also easy to cause battery package damage.