Battery Maintenance

[horsepowerphoto]

With today's technology of smart batteries, there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice about whether or not you need to "condition" them anymore by running them down to minimum and charging back up again.

There are some chargers out there that will discharge to 8% and then charge back up again to balance the cells.

What is your opinion?

 

[3rdof5]

I have "forced" dead and long forgotten and abused LiPo's back to life. And I have been using them for flight in various aircraft for almost 6 years. Not to mention other non flight projects.
They definitely are in a class of their own compared to all other batteries.
My best advice is to use them at least once a month, never fully discharge them if it can be avoided, never charge them when warm immediately after use, and always store them at just above 50% charge level.
Do that and you should get the best life and performance from them.