winter and lipos...

[DwightSchrute]

with winter approaching, i really like running my e-revo and rc8 truggy. last year i remember a couple of my lipo packs puffing when it was really cold.

it seems like they get more susceptable to damage in the winter. is there anything i can do to keep this from happening?

[sikeston34m]

I haven't ever ran in bitter cold temps, but..........in fairly cold temps.........

As soon as I take the truck outside, I run it. I don't let it sit idle for long, and usually they will generate a little heat for themselves.

Keep them warm until you are ready to use them. That's for sure.

[brainanator]

yeah, don't let the lipos get cold. Take them out, run them, bring them in.
I've even had lipos covered in snow and it didn't phase them, but if you let them sit out or in a car and get cold, then it has less performance, and I think I read you shouldn't even run lithium chemistry batteries when they are cold, might damage. Storage in the cold is fine though.

edit: there is a lipo in the slash somewhere....lol

[redshift]

Keep the packs warm at any cost, that is key. Some thin foam packing (sheet type) or even a pair of kids wool socks are a place to start. And as sikes said, they'll generate their own heat, but I do recommend preheating them (I have done it many times) to just over 100F. A heating pad or similar is fine. They will have serious punch, and as long as you keep moderate load on them the temp shouldn't drop much over 10-15 minutes. I would not let them get below about 80F, so check temps often.

[redshift]

I should add, a higher C rated lipo will be more susceptible to low temp puffing, you may consider running a lower C pack (if you have that option). That will effectively make the pack work harder, thus producing more of it's own heat.

[SunnyHouTX]

Originally Posted by redshift

I should add, a higher C rated lipo will be more susceptible to low temp puffing, you may consider running a lower C pack (if you have that option). That will effectively make the pack work harder, thus producing more of it's own heat.

Excellent suggestion.

Or you could move to Houston where it was a high of 86 today

[redshift]

Originally Posted by SunnyHouTX

Or you could move to Houston where it was a high of 86 today

Would be nice, but some may never know the joy of running in slop...

I have to marvel that RC is to the point where we talk about keeping batteries warm in winter. Nice to not have Nimh packs removing their own shrinkwrap (yes even in winter)

[SunnyHouTX]

But "slop" doesn't come just in white Plenty of other shades available in the south

You're not lying man. I take a battery heater to any race where ambient temps are below 80 - 85 degrees because the packs just can't keep internal temps up between rounds (drag racing, long lapses between rounds) in that kind of weather. So I take a heating pad and/or a clamp light with a 60W bulb to heat the packs up to about 95 degrees and all is well again.

[DwightSchrute]

thanks guys, those were some great ideas.

[E-Revonut]

I have been running lipos in the cold for at least the last three winters here in upstate NY. I keep them warm inside right up to the time I'm using them. If driving somewhere I keep them on the heater in the car. Personally I gear down in the winter cause the "slop" adds a lot of load to the truck and honestly, in slush and snow 40+MPH wheel spin doesn't do you any good. Last winter I had a blast with my E-maxx geared for 30. Never had any problems with my lipos in the winter, even when completely covered in snow to the point that when I take the body off it looks like there is a solid white body