Batteries and chargers - Revision history

AndreaBonarini: /* Lead-acid Batteries */

2016-12-07T21:56:51Z

‎Lead-acid Batteries

AndreaBonarini: /* Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries */

2016-02-29T23:31:59Z

‎Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries

AndreaBonarini: /* Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries */

2016-02-29T23:24:00Z

‎Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries

GiulioFontana: /* How to select a battery */

2014-10-15T08:40:42Z

‎How to select a battery

GiulioFontana: /* General issues */

2014-10-15T08:32:36Z

‎General issues

GiulioFontana: /* General issues */

2014-10-15T08:31:24Z

‎General issues

GiulioFontana: /* General issues */

2014-10-15T08:30:24Z

‎General issues

GiulioFontana: /* Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries */

2014-10-15T08:28:32Z

‎Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries

GiulioFontana: /* Lead-acid Batteries */

2014-10-15T08:22:42Z

‎Lead-acid Batteries

AndreaBonarini at 18:35, 28 September 2014

2014-09-28T18:35:44Z

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 For robots, the most frequently used type of Lead-acid battery generally used is the ''sealed'' one, where the battery is a closed box. This is safer for handling, because Lead-acid batteries are filled with very corrosive sulfuric acid: with sealed batteries, this cannot escape the battery. The other common type of Lead-acid battery is the one with the refill caps for distilled water on top. We do not use this in AIRLab.
-Lead-acid batteries should be kept charged. They are on a table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab, together with the charger. Once you take charged batteries, put the exhausted ones on charge. Take into account the power supplied by the charger (usually 24 V, i.e. two batteries in series with the appropriate cables). At the moment (October 2014), for lead-acid batteries, the charging table is equipped with 4 chargers for 24 V batteries (for instance, battery packs composed of two 12V batteries) and 3 chargers with a 12 V output (for instance, single 12 V batteries). One of the 12 V chargers is also capable of charging 6 V batteries, if needed.
+Lead-acid batteries should be kept charged. They are on a table below the window in front of of the entrance of the lab, together with the chargers. Once you take charged batteries, put the exhausted ones on charge. Take into account the power supplied by the charger (usually 24 V, i.e. two batteries in series with the appropriate cables). At the moment (October 2014), for lead-acid batteries, the charging table is equipped with 4 chargers for 24 V batteries (for instance, battery packs composed of two 12V batteries) and 3 chargers with a 12 V output (for instance, single 12 V batteries). One of the 12 V chargers is also capable of charging 6 V batteries, if needed.
 == NiMH Batteries ==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 In AIRLab are located in the cabinet between the two doors of mechanical and electronics workshops. Chergers are on the table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab. Use the appropriate ones.
-== Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries ==
+== Lithium Polymer (LiPo) and Lithium Iron Polymer (LiFePo)Batteries ==
 '''WARNING!''' Unlike Lead-acid batteries, LiPo batteries are '''FLAMMABLE'''. If they are not used and (especially) recharged properly, they can cause '''FIRES'''. Please be careful when using these batteries. A good safety primer in Italian can be found [http://www.jonathan.it/files/FullPower_istruzioni.pdf here].
 (''What follows is taken from http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/lipo_basics.asp'')

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 Never allow the battery's voltage to fall below 3.2v per cell. (example: 3S, never below 9.6v)
-In AIRLab, if they are not on the robots, they are in a box on the table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab, together with the appropriate chargers. When charging, LiPo batteries require that 'both' the power cable (thick, 2 conductors) and a sensing cable (thin, multiple conductors) are connected. The sensing cable is necessary to monitor the status of the battery cells to prevent damaging the battery during the charge process, or even fires. Unfortunately, there is not a universal standard for plugs and sockets on LiPo batteries, especially for sensing cables. So you will need to find the "right" charger (among the ones available on the table) and, sometimes, to use an adapter cable (with the right number of pins!) and/or adapter PCB to connect the sensing cable of the charger to the one of the battery. Please carefully put all this back on the table when you finish charging!
+In AIRLab, if they are not on the robots, they are in a box on the table under the window in front of the entrance of the lab, together with the appropriate chargers. When charging, LiPo batteries require that 'both' the power cable (thick, 2 conductors) and a sensing cable (thin, multiple conductors) are connected. The sensing cable is necessary to monitor the status of the battery cells to prevent damaging the battery during the charge process, or even fires. Unfortunately, there is not a universal standard for plugs and sockets on LiPo batteries, especially for sensing cables. So you will need to find the "right" charger (among the ones available on the table) and, sometimes, to use an adapter cable (with the right number of pins!) and/or adapter PCB to connect the sensing cable of the charger to the one of the battery. Please carefully put all this back on the table when you finish charging!
 == How to choose the right type of battery for your robot ==

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 In AIRLab, if they are not on the robots, they are in a box on the table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab, together with the appropriate chargers. When charging, LiPo batteries require that 'both' the power cable (thick, 2 conductors) and a sensing cable (thin, multiple conductors) are connected. The sensing cable is necessary to monitor the status of the battery cells to prevent damaging the battery during the charge process, or even fires. Unfortunately, there is not a universal standard for plugs and sockets on LiPo batteries, especially for sensing cables. So you will need to find the "right" charger (among the ones available on the table) and, sometimes, to use an adapter cable (with the right number of pins!) and/or adapter PCB to connect the sensing cable of the charger to the one of the battery. Please carefully put all this back on the table when you finish charging!
-== How to select a battery ==
+== How to choose the right type of battery for your robot ==
 Some general issues are mentioned [http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/IntWithHW-PwrSup here]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 '''ALSO IMPORTANT! Do not directly connect the two terminals of any battery (e.g. by pushing the battery against a metal object). This can cause fires, release of dangerous chemicals, or both.'''
-'''AND FINALLY! Never touch any chemical coming from a battery with your naked hands. Some of those chemicals are highly corrosive and can eat away your fingers.'''
+'''AND FINALLY! Never touch any chemical coming from a battery with your naked hands. Some of those chemicals are highly corrosive and can eat away your fingers.''' If you see a leaking battery, don't touch it and report ''immediately'' to your supervisor.
 == Lead-acid Batteries ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:30, 15 October 2014
Line 7:		Line 7:

	'''ALSO IMPORTANT! Do not directly connect the two terminals of any battery (e.g. by pushing the battery against a metal object). This can cause fires, release of dangerous chemicals, or both.'''		'''ALSO IMPORTANT! Do not directly connect the two terminals of any battery (e.g. by pushing the battery against a metal object). This can cause fires, release of dangerous chemicals, or both.'''
		+
		+	'''AND FINALLY! Do not touch any chemical from a battery with your hands! Some of those chemicals are highly corrosive and can eat away your fingers!'''

	== Lead-acid Batteries ==		== Lead-acid Batteries ==

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 Check with your ESC and Motor specification to ensure you have the right voltage pack then check the system CG (Center of Gravity) to decide on the right battery weight.
-LiPoly Charging
+LiPo Charging
 Always use a lithium Polymer battery charger and never charge the battery above 4.2v per cell. (example: 2S, never above 8.4v)
 Never leave a charging battery unattended.
 Never allow the battery's voltage to fall below 3.2v per cell. (example: 3S, never below 9.6v)
-In AIRLab, if they are not on the robots, they are in a box on the table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab, together with the appropriate chargers.
+In AIRLab, if they are not on the robots, they are in a box on the table close to the glass door on the right of the entrance of the lab, together with the appropriate chargers. When charging, LiPo batteries require that 'both' the power cable (thick, 2 conductors) and a sensing cable (thin, multiple conductors) are connected. The sensing cable is necessary to monitor the status of the battery cells to prevent damaging the battery during the charge process, or even fires. Unfortunately, there is not a universal standard for plugs and sockets on LiPo batteries, especially for sensing cables. So you will need to find the "right" charger (among the ones available on the table) and, sometimes, to use an adapter cable (with the right number of pins!) and/or adapter PCB to connect the sensing cable of the charger to the one of the battery. Please carefully put all this back on the table when you finish charging!
 == How to select a battery ==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead%E2%80%93acid_battery Lead-acid technology] is the same used for car batteries. It is stable from decades, dependable, cheap, and effective. The main disadvantage of Lead-acid batteries is their weight.
 For robots, the most frequently used type of Lead-acid battery generally used is the ''sealed'' one, where the battery is a closed box. This is safer for handling, because Lead-acid batteries are filled with very corrosive sulfuric acid: with sealed batteries, this cannot escape the battery. The other common type of Lead-acid battery is the one with the refill caps for distilled water on top. We do not use this in AIRLab.
 == NiMH Batteries ==
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-metal_hydride_battery Nickel–metal hydride batteries] are commonly used for cheap low-power electronics. Besides being inexpensive, they are very easy to buy: you can usually find them in supermarkets.
 Unfortunately, these are their only advantages. They suffer from low energy density (i.e. ratio between stored energy and weight) and are subject to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_effect memory effect and other capacity-reducing effects].
 == Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries ==
@@ Line 26: / Line 28: @@
 -have a long cycle life
 -have the correct size and weight
--give you the longest flight times
+-give you the longest flight or operating times
 -be able to deliver the correct voltage/amp (Power)
@@ Line 54: / Line 56: @@
 Never leave a charging battery unattended.
 Never allow the battery's voltage to fall below 3.2v per cell. (example: 3S, never below 9.6v)
 == How to select a battery ==