I’m definitely not an expert on LIPO batteries, but just like for all situations I have no idea how to handle correctly, I did a little research on the Internet for this one as well. I have a small radio that I wanted to put to work again recently but I needed to change its batteries. It turned out I can’t use regular batteries, but LIPO batteries, which I’ve never heard of before. So, I turned to the Internet, my dear friend in need.
LIPO batteries, or also known as Lithium Polymer batteries are a relatively new type of batteries mainly used in consumer electronic devices in radio controlled industries. These industries have a need for devices with a long life span, which is exactly what LIPO batteries offer – long run times and high power. Besides their long run times, this type of batteries offers a lot of other benefits which makes them quite the preferred option. However, in order for the devices running on this type of batteries to function properly, you need to have a suitable LIPO charger as well.
How do LIPO chargers work?
The LIPO charger uses a system called CC/CV charging, or: Constant Current/Constant Voltage charging. Explained in the simplest manner possible: until the battery is fully charged, the charger will keep the current or the charge rate constant. LIPO chargers also offer balance. Balance here refers to the equalization of voltage in each cell, making sure each battery discharges the same amount of voltage. Once discharging is done properly, the resulting benefit is an improved battery performance. Moreover, this is important for safety reasons as well, as LIPO batteries have long but kind of unstable life span; they can easily catch fire if not used properly. As the name suggests, LIPO chargers contain a considerable amount of lithium, which is an alkali metal that reacts with water and combusts, and when heated, it reacts with oxygen as well, becoming even more dangerous.
How to choose the right charger?
There are more that one feature that needs to be considered when defining the best type of charger. For example, good, built-in balancing capabilities is one thing. A charger for multiple batteries is another good option, especially if you need to charge more than one battery at a time. And finally, if you have large capacity batteries or higher charging rates, you’d want to look for chargers operating on higher wattages. It’s also important to make sure the charger doesn’t get overheated as it can easily lead to safety issues and cause problem in battery performance. Look for a charger that has an optimized charging process that will ensure the voltage is always within safe limits.
