Q1 Why does AirThunder recommend balance connector charge, instead of lead charge?

A1: The wires on the balance connector are connected to each individual cells and charges all cells simultaneously. As each cell receives the same voltage differential, they are charged more evenly, thus the name balance connector. Charging through the balance connector prolongs the life of the packet and give you the highest capacity on every charge. Charging through the wire gauge in conjunction with a balancer such as the Astro Blinky Balancer has the same effect.

You do not get such benefit when charging directly with the red and black leads. Take a 3S1P battery pack as an example, the lead charge applies a 11.1V voltage across the 3 cells connected in series. Although it charges the packet faster, it cannot guarantee all cells are charged evenly. In rare situation when one cell is physically damaged and shorted, the other two cells may be overcharged and lead to fire hazards. With balance connector charging, each cell is charged at 3.7V and your charger will let you know if there is a problem with a particular cell.

This is why we emphasize the importance of balanced charging through the balance connector and monitor the charging process carefully. This is the best practice for all lithium polymer batteries, not just for AirThunder batteries.

 To see photos of our connector, click here . 

 Q2: Can you really discharge LiPo battery to very low voltage? How does this benefit RC users?
A2: Yes, but only with AirThunder batteries. While we do not encourage such practice, our batteries are engineered to withstand over-discharging; they will not deform nor degrade as other LiPo batteries do. This improvement brings a new-found freedom to RC users as you no longer need to time your flight or use a low-voltage cut-off device to protect the battery. Just enjoy your flying, and bring your plane/heli back when you feel the battery is dropping off. No more worries. It is that simple!

 Q3: My charger won’t charge AirThunder battery after over-discharging. What should I do?
A3: Our battery can endure very low voltage after over-discharge. Some chargers may show that the voltage is too low and refuse to charge the battery. If this happens, charge the battery from red and black leads FOR A FEW SECONDS to supply the needed electricity to bring up the voltage, then you can start the normal charging cycle.

 Q4: Do I need to condition (break -in) my new AirThunder battery?
A4: No. You do not need to do that with AirThunder battery. Some people fly at low current to break in, or activate, a new battery by floating the heli/plane in the air. Honestly, we don’t know why other batteries need such a step. But you definitely don’t need to do that with our batteries!

 Q5: AirThunder connector won’t fit my charger. Do I need an adapter?
A5: There is no industrial standard on balance connector. With so many chargers on the market, there is a possibility that our balance connector won’t fit your charger and you may need to find a transfer connector or adapter. Alternatively, you can reuse the connector from an old battery that fits your charger. Carefully cut off the connector, solder it to the balance connector wires of AirThunder battery, then wrap the bare wire with electric isolation tapes.

To see photos of our plug, click here.  

 Q6: Should I charge my battery right away after each use?
A6: After each use, do not recharge the battery until next time you want to enjoy it again. Store it in room temperature. If the battery is fully charged but not used, store it in the fridge. Before each charge, wait until the battery is completely cooled off inside out to prolong the life of the battery. Two hours of wait time is recommended. It is a common practice to have at least two or more replacement batteries as you can recharge one while using the others.

 Q7: Will cold weather affect AirThunder battery's performance?
A7: AirThunder Li-Poly battery performs best between 38 to 42°C. If the starting temperature is too low, the initial discharge rate will be limited. To ensure the peak performance and to achieve the maximum burst power right away, warm up the battery by putting it in your pocket before use.

 Q7: How to protect my AirThunder battery?
A8: Always use the balance connector to charge. Do not overcharge. Stops charging when the voltage exceeds the specified maximum value to prevent overheating and possible fire hazard. Promptly stop discharging if a large current of several tens of amps is observed. Such current indicates external shorting of the battery.

Bring back your model when you feel power is dropping off and give your battery a break. Do not abuse the battery by doing extreme experiment.

For details, follow the link to our battery specifications and safety precautions.