Introduction
LiPo batteries can be easily charged by a Pb charger. It is commonly used. But a Pb charger is not enough to charge a dead LiPo battery. To revive a dead LiPo battery some techniques should apply.
Now come to the question: how to charge a dead lipo battery?
A dead LiPo battery can be revived. But first, you should check the voltage with a multimeter. You can find out the discharge rate of the battery. Then connect with a good Pb charger. When charging reaches 3.5 volts, disconnect the Pb charger. Revive the cell with a balance charger.
That’s not the end. We have discussed the solution elaborately in our article. Stay with us to clear your concept.
How to Charge a Dead LiPo Battery
A dead LiPo battery can be recovered. You need not throw it out when it seems dead. It can be used like before. A LiPo battery should not dispose of until it is less than 1 volt. LiPo batteries are good when the discharge rate is slow.
But when the discharge rate becomes high, it means the LiPo battery is risky to use. Sometimes the LiPo battery remains unused for a long time. But they keep discharging. When we wanted to use it, the battery did not serve well.
In such a condition a question arises: how to charge a dead LiPo battery? A dead LiPo battery is revisable. You can give it the old stable position. We have given some steps to charge a dead LiPo battery. You can follow the five easy steps.
Step 1: Check the Voltage With a Multimeter
The first and most important step is to use a multimeter. You should check the battery capacity. A multimeter gives you the accurate condition. If the voltage is 3.0 volt, then it is safe to charge.
All LiPo batteries have a safety circuit. It turns the battery into rest mode. When the discharge rate is between 2.2-2.9 volt per cell, rest mode turns on. The discharge rate can puff the battery. You can avoid puffing a LiPo battery.
But if it is less than 2.5 volt, then you should keep an eye during charge. The multimeter can show a range below 1 volt. It means the discharge rate is very high. There is a chance of accidents and firing while charging.
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Turn on the multimeter switch to voltage. Give a range according to the battery. Reconnect the power lead of the multimeter to the current battery positive plug. Then connect the negative port with the negative lead of the multimeter.
Here the positive and negative ports are important. Reconnect the power lead of the multimeter to the current battery positive plug. It will not give you reading then. Now note down the voltage of the battery. Avoid charging if it shows below 2.2 volts. It should be disposed of.
Step 2: Select a Well Qualified Charger
The LiPo battery charger should have the current controlling capacity. Many best chargers for LiPo batteries are available in the market. But for a dead LiPo cell, the charger should have a good balancing quality. Here the commonly used charger is a Pb charger, which charges a Pb acid battery properly.
Some askes, How to charge a dead flat LiPo battery? A flat dead LiPo battery also can be charged by a Pb charger. As it is a dead cell, you should use a high-quality charger. Otherwise, the battery will heat easily.
Step 3: Charging
How to get a dead LiPo battery to charge? Now you simply connect to the charger and keep charging the battery. But here you should take care of some points. As below 3 volts is unsafe, charging should be slow. The rate of charging should be 1/20 C.
Then the voltage of the battery will reach above 3 volts. You may still maintain a charging range between 1/10 to 1/5 C.
How to charge a LiPo battery without a charger? You can charge a LiPo battery without a charger. It can be done by a USB port. But for the dead LiPo, a balanced charger is best.
Keep charging with a Pb charger up to 3.5 volts.
Step 4:Look After the Battery Temperature
The full charging process should be monitored thoroughly. Always keep checking the temperature of the battery with your hand. Sometimes the battery catches fire. So it is unsafe to charge it without any surveillance. Take it outside carefully if it catches fire.
Step 5: Balance All the Cells With a Balance Charger
When the charge reaches 3.5 volts, stop charging with a Pb charger. You should now use a balance charger. A balance charger can revive the dead cell fully. It can equilibrate the cells.
A balance charger helps to charge the cells at the same rate. So, at the end of charging, the dead cell will be recovered. You should charge with a balance charger until the voltage reaches 4.2 volts.
During this time, you should take more caution.. Always keep attention to the display of the charger.Here, you may determine each cell’s voltage separately.
Now you can differentiate between a normal LiPo battery and a dead LiPo battery charging. You need not throw it. The cell can be dead for the security circuit. Otherwise, more discharge rate can cause that. You should not leave a LiPo battery unused for a long time.
FAQs
Here are some very frequently asked queries on this topic-
Do LiPo batteries lose charge when not in use?
Yes. These batteries discharge, when they are not used. But the discharge rate is slower in the case of a LiPo than in other batteries. Some safety ranges of discharge are mentioned on the internet. If the discharge rate is below 1V, it means the rate is very high. If you charge it, there is a risk of catching fire.
Should LiPo batteries be discharged before charging?
LiPo batteries should not discharge before charging. Like other batteries, LiPo also discharges by itself. So no need to discharge it before charging. An excessive discharge rate can create fire and explosion. Also, the battery can puff and a chemical smell can come out from it.
What happens if the battery is deeply discharged?
If the battery is deeply discharged, the battery can be degraded and useless quickly. Deep discharge rate damages the capacity and hampers the cell performance of a battery. A common problem of deep discharge is puffing of the battery, also, chemical reactions inside the battery.
Can I use a damaged LiPo battery?
It will be a wise decision not to use a damaged LiPo battery. When the battery loses its 20% of internal capacity, it should be disposed of. Physical damage is also a sign of risk. The battery can split or tear. It means you should not use this battery.
Conclusion
That’s all about how to charge a dead lipo battery. It’s not a difficult task. Here safety measures are important. You can easily revive a dead LiPo battery by following the steps. Hope this process can help you and save your money.
Stay safe and healthy!