LiPo puffed

[NightFlier X4.6]

So I just got home from working out of town and Saturday I ordered some LiPo battery voltage testers due to the frightening run once with my x maxx. Long story short when I was done running my truck I noticed when I was store charging my batteries that the cell counts was not where I like them one 3s pack was way low and there was a pretty good difference between each cell always storage charge with the balance plug and when I get it out next I balance charge. So I just checked the puffed battery and the cells are as follows 1st cell3.80 2nd cell 3.79 3rd cell 3.79 is my LiPo ok?

 

[Jam Racing 1]

If there is swelling of the pack most guys do not run them as they are swelled and can be dangerous to charge.... I say use it with care if you decide to use it at all.....

 

[NightFlier X4.6]

Yea I'm on the fences on using it or ordering new ones. These packs are only about a year old I feel like I've taken better care of them then most.

 

[Northernnightmare]

Are you running traxxas batteries? as that is a commen problem with that brand.

Most rc LHS know about it but still sell them, unless they got good service and recomend a better LiPo brand

 

[NightFlier X4.6]

No sorry there smc 7200 90c 131 amps.

 

[olds97_lss]

My SMC 9000mah 2S packs are slightly puffed, a couple more than the others. They used to fit in my ERBE just right, but now, I have to shove them in pretty hard and they bow the battery bay a bit. They have 15 months of use, always balance charged and with LVC set at 3.5V on all my rigs but my ejato as it has a traxxas vxl 3s esc in it and I can't adjust it. I did run these packs in that rig until LVC, but I don't think I ran all 4 in it as I ended up running the SMC 7400mah 2S packs because they fit better and were lighter.

This is how they look today, oldest to newest left to right:

How they looked after 2 months of use:

How they looked when new:

As far as I can tell, none of my True Spec Premium 7.4V 7400mAh 2S packs are puffed, but I don't know how much room is inside the hard case. I've run pairs of those in my savage flux, singles in my ejato and stampede 4x4. They are all I have that fit in my stampede.

 

[NightFlier X4.6]

Your LiPo on the far right is about how the one I have puffed looks in your second pic. Did you plastic dip those olds?

 

[X]

Those cell voltages look fine, .01V can easily be taken care of by a balance charge.

A puffed LiPo is a tricky thing though. It's caused by the break down of the electrolyte due to excessive heat from over discharging or charging, or running it when it's too hot. It's always a tough call whether they should be continued to run or not.

Many resources will tell you to stop running a LiPo as soon as you see puffing, it's a judgement call though. I, like @olds97_lss, have ran several packs with a little puffing without issue.

 

[olds97_lss]

Your LiPo on the far right is about how the one I have puffed looks in your second pic. Did you plastic dip those olds?

No, they come wrapped really well, but I was noticing wear on the ends, so I put a couple wraps of electrical tape on them so it would wear instead of the battery cover.

 

[NightFlier X4.6]

Oh ok well I just charged my batteries and I planned on give the x maxx a runn tomorrow with my lvd`s on the balance plugs and see how things go.