Maker Hangar: Episode 4 - Li-Po Batteries

by InComing RC | July 28, 2013 | (11) Posted in How To

In Episode 4 of the Maker Hangar series, Lucas Weakley teaches us about lithium polymer, or li-po, batteries, used in R/C aircraft. Lucas covers the numbers and letters that classify these batteries, how to determine where to place the battery for balancing the plane, charging the batteries, and safety concerns. 

MAKE and Lucas Weakley have teamed up to bring you Maker Hangar, a 15-episode tutorial series that will teach you everything you need to know to build and fly this custom RC plane, the Maker Trainer.

New installments will air every Tuesday and Thursday through August. Also, be sure to join us on the Maker Hangar Google+ Community page to share your ideas, comments, photos and video and details for your own RC plane project builds:https://plus.google.com/communities/1...

For more information about the series, as well as archived videos, head to the Maker Hangar page: http://makezine.com/makerhangar

COMMENTS

mike272 on July 29, 2013
What kind of power supply would you recommended for the Turnigy Accucell 6 charger? Thank for the great video and info.
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27ace27 on August 27, 2013
I applaud the effort to teach newbies what's what in a confusing hobby, but the info on C ratings is dangerously over-simplified.

The amount of power (current) a battery can safely provide is not determined by the C rating alone! In addition, the amount of power required (amp draw) is not determined by KV alone.

Maximum discharge current is determined by C rating x capacity (in amp-hours, so 2200mAh would be 2.2Ah), and the amp draw can only be accurately determined by use of a watt meter as it varies depending on your complete setup. A big, low KV motor will draw far more current than a tiny, high KV motor, so KV is completely irrelevant to amp draw.

So, using KV & C rating alone to choose either a 20C 5000mAh battery or a 50C 1000mAh battery for a big, low KV motor would result in an explosive setup where the motor easily draws 80 amps, but the battery can only safely provide 50 due to its smaller capacity whereas the larger capacity yet lower C battery can safely provide 100.
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Maker Hangar: Episode 4 - Li-Po Batteries