This new battery from Onyx offers a 30C discharge rate. Value is what these batteries are all about, good performance at the right price. All batteries can be charged up to 3C.
DO: Use a charger that is specifically designed to charge Li-Po batteries. Using chargers that are not Li-Po-specific can be an extreme fire hazard.
DO: Li-Pos don't develop memory or voltage depression characteristics like Ni-Cds. Charge them without the worry of cycling or discharging them first.
DO: Store Li-Pos at least partially charged. Li-Pos will maintain their performance levels over time, even during non-use, much better than Ni-Cds, and there's no need to cycle them.
DON'T: Never fully discharge your Li-Po battery pack. Most electronic speed controls have a voltage cutoff that will prevent over-discharging the battery, but were designed for Ni-Cd & Ni-MH batteries. Be sure that your ESC features the proper Li-Po cut off voltage of 3V per cell (6V for 2-cell packs, 9V for 3-cell packs and so on). Discharging a Li-Po cell beyond its critical minimum voltage will cause damage to the battery.
DON'T: Shorting a Li-Po pack for even an instant can cause damage to the battery. Whether the pack has been shorted when new, while adding or changing the connector, when fully charged or fully discharged, the pack should not be charged without extreme caution. Be sure to take care when soldering connectors and during handling or charging to prevent shorts.
DON'T: If you have a crash and the battery is damaged, don't put the battery in your car or house immediately after a crash. It's possible that a chemical reaction can take place in the damaged battery that could cause a fire. Put the battery in a safe place for at least one hour.
Li-Po packs are available in 2- and 3-cell varieties (Thunder Power packs are also available in 4-cell and 5-cell models). Each cell in the pack has a nominal voltage of 3.7V and multi-cell packs are wired in series.
A "C" or "current" rating indicates the maximum recommended average discharge current for that pack and is used to help you determine the maximum discharge rate. To determine the maximum discharge rate, multiply the "C" rating by the pack capacity (i.e. 1900mAh cell x 6C rating = maximum discharge rate of 11,400mA or 11.4A).
Larger packs use the "P" number to indicate the number of cells in parallel. For instance 3S2P indicates the pack is built with 2 cells in parallel, then 3 sets of the 2 parallel cells are joined in series.
Li-Po batteries require a very different charge method than Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells and can catch fire if charged with a standard, non-Li-Po charger. Li-Po batteries do not "peak" when fully charged and require a "constant current/constant voltage" capable charger.
JST connectors have become the standard on many electronic speed controls and chargers for slow flyer and park flyer applications. While it's true that the JST connector does have a discharge output limitation, it is still the first choice of beginning modelers or those who do not discharge at very high rates.
Product Support Tips
Product Support
Technical questions about this ONYX product should be directed to Horizon Hobby's Product Support Department:
Horizon Hobby, LLC. ATTN: Product Support 2904 Research Road Champaign, IL 61822
To place a Horizon Hobby Support Inquiry please visit our Inquiry FormSupport Phone:(877) 504-0233 Fax:(217) 355-1552
Sales Support
If you would like to purchase this product, please go to the Store Locator or contact the Horizon Hobby Consumer Sales Department:
Horizon Hobby, LLC. ATTN: Consumer Sales 2904 Research Road Champaign, IL 61822 Email: websales@horizonhobby.comSales Phone:(800) 338-4639 Fax:(217) 355-1552