Why Do Lipo Batteries Get Puffy?

To sum up: As lipo’s age and if they are misused, gases start to form in the battery and cause it to swell. Once you have a puffy lipo, the safe thing to do is to discharge it completely and then recycle it.

How do you fix a swollen LiPo battery?

The only way to fix a puffing or swelling LiPo battery is to properly dispose it and replace it with another new battery as soon as possible as it is quite dangerous to use puffed LiPo battery because sometimes it can cause fire or can be explode.

What causes a LiPo battery to puff?

A LiPo battery also has polymer separator that keeps the positive and negative terminals from coming into contact with each other. Batteries swell because of the phenomenon of electrolyte decomposition.The production of these gases is what causes a LiPo battery to expand and swell.

Is bloated battery safe to use?

Is a swollen battery dangerous? Yes. A swollen lithium-ion battery can be extremely dangerous if left in your device. It could become punctured, causing hazardous gases to escape.

What causes lithium polymer batteries to swell?

Common causes of battery swelling include: Overcharge conditions which accelerate parasitic reactions between the electrodes and electrolyte, with release of heat and gases. Poor cell quality and design with low anode to cathode stoichiometric ratios, particulate contamination.

Is it OK to use a puffed LiPo?

As long as it is very minor LiPo puffing & goes away after the pack cools down, it has been my experience that you can usually still safely use the pack and keep the swelling in check; likely not to its full discharge potential however.

How do I stop my LiPo from puffing?

Tips to Avoid a Swollen Battery

1. Proper charging – Make sure you charge your battery properly using a quality battery charger.
2. Don’t over-discharge – Make sure you stop using your battery before the voltage gets to the minimum cut-off voltage.

Can you Depuff a LiPo battery?

You can depuff a LiPo battery using 2 methods. Either vent out all the gases that have been generated inside the battery. Or place it in a refrigerator to shift the temperature. Because cool conditions decrease the swelling.

Is it OK to leave a LiPo battery charge overnight?

Never leave your LiPo batteries sitting around on a full charge for more than 2-3 days. If by the 3rd day you realize you are not going to use your battery today, you need to discharge your battery down to 3.6v-3.8v per cell for safe storage until you are ready to use the battery again.

Will a swollen battery go down?

There is no point waiting for the battery to “shrink”. The ever growing pressure can cause damage to the entire device. Leave the battery in the device only if it is stuck. Never try to “solve” the swelling yourself by pricking a hole in it or with any other creative stunt.

What is overcharging a battery?

Overcharging occurs when a battery is charged to a higher than specified voltage. It can be very damaging to forklift batteries and, if not controlled, dangerous for the users.

How do I know if my LiPo battery is damaged?

They include;

1. Damaged plastic cell envelope or visible deformities on the package of the cell.
2. The smell of leaking electrolyte.
3. Unusually high internal resistance (IR).
4. Dented corners.
5. Puffing or swelling shows that the battery is damaged, and therefore you should discontinue discharging or charging immediately.

How long does swelling last after LiPo?

Swelling usually starts to go down by the end of the first week but wearing the compression garments should continue until week four or as otherwise directed. Some degree of swelling may last for as long as six weeks, but within a few days, you should be comfortable enough to return to work.

Do I need to discharge my LiPo batteries?

LiPo batteries also don’t develop memory or voltage depression characteristics like NiCd/NiHm batteries, and do not need to be discharged before being charged. But they’re not without their downside. Mishandling of these batteries can lead to fire, explosions and toxic smoke inhalation.

What is the lifespan of a LiPo battery?

LiPo batteries is one area of the RC hobby that can be fairly expensive. Especially if all the RC vehicles that you prefer to run, uses a different pack. The typical lifespan that we can expect from a LiPo battery pack can on average about 2 to 3 years.