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Battery a bit swollen

Marijn

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Hello I have some questions regarding my lipo batteries. I've used my battery is the pictures for quite some time and it has swollen a bit. Do you think I could still use this battery or should I throw it away? Also, how high can the difference in voltage between the individual cells be to still be safe for use?
 

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Some battery brands seem to get a little squishy and that is ok, once one really begins to puff it will break the plastic wrapping as it expands, then you can think about retiring that battery. As far as cell balance goes, on a good charger, you should expect less than 20 millivolts difference after charging, but after discharge it can be quite large the lower you fly it. I have many batteries that could be as far out as 100-150 millivolts (sometimes even more if flown very low to like 3.2 or less) if flown down to 3.4 per cell or less, but as long as they balance off ok and the aluminum cell casing is not punctured on any cell I still fly them without issues. In short, I wouldn't hesitate to fly that battery if the cells have a reasonable balance and don't lose voltage over a short time like a week. I always check the batteries at 4 critical times, before I charge, after I charge, hot off the quad after a flight, and after 30 minutes to cool and recover. Those numbers will give you a good idea of when a cell starts to get too weak to keep up with the other cells.
 
Swelling is a sign that something isn’t right with the battery, especially when compared with batteries of the same make, size, and use history that haven’t swollen.

Worn out, damaged, or abused batteries often swell and pose an increased risk of fire and explosion. See dozens of YouTube videos on this subject.

You should be wary of swelling batteries, and if you continue to use them, treat them with extra caution when using, charging, and storing. Assume and treat them as though they are a danger rather the opposite.

Know and use the storage voltage for LiPo batteries. They should not be stored at full charge. Store them in a fire resistant container like a steel 50-cal ammo box ($14 from Harbor Freight or Walmart). I cut away a 2” length of the rubber gasket along the hinge line to vent the box so it doesn’t become a bomb form the rapidly expanding gases if one or all the batteries in the box go off (see photos).

Why risk injury and/or burning down your house or car for the price of replacing a used Battery?

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Thank you, however I live in The Netherlands so I can't just buy ammunition boxes at my local supermarket :). I think I'm going to buy a lipo safe bag to store them.
 

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