heater question

[Rex R]

thinking of building a 'warming oven/cupboard' for my lipos. how long would it take a 40w heater to warm 1 pound of water by 50 degrees(F). tia
rex

[Kmot]

Use what the guys on the Rum Runner board are using. Electric blankets for the car. Or, some are thinking of getting the r/c car tire warmers.

[steveciambrone]

Why do you want to warm batteries?

Steve

[Deestingray]

MMMMMM, that sounds like a bit of an explosive situation. I try to keep my lipos cool.......

[green-boat]

If I remember my high school physics correctly, I think that 1 BTU is equivelent to raising 1 Lb of water 1 degree farenheit. Now if I could remember how to convert BTU's to Watts I'd be dangerous.

[Kmot]

It has been researched and determined that lipos produce more current and have less internal resistance when they are warmed up:

High load LiPo test results - the Truth about LiPo's (http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/feforums/showthread.php?t=21739)

Same for NiMh, by the way.

[toesup]

"It has been researched and determined that lipos produce more current and have less internal resistance when they are warmed up"


...he explained to his wife as they looked at the smoking remains of the microwave.. ;)

[Kmot]

Yeah, really! :o

Warming your batteries, especially lipos, is not for beginners. It is truly for the guys who are trying to set world records, and don't care if they fry super expensive equipment getting it done.

For the everyday hobbyist, I would just forget about it.

[steveciambrone]

I agree with Tom, For everyday modeling performance you are better off keeping them cool they will last longer. Like any electrical and electronic item it is the heat that eventually kills them.

Steve

[Rex R]

I might be more inclined to use tyre warmers if, I had some, they didn't run more than $70 a set(methinks I can build my 'oven' for a good bit less). they are for my race boats.

[der kapitan]

Yeah, really! :o

Warming your batteries, especially lipos, is not for beginners. It is truly for the guys who are trying to set world records, and don't care if they fry super expensive equipment getting it done.

For the everyday hobbyist, I would just forget about it.

Uh, yeah Tom, really---. ;)

Going to the N'th degree of high-tech can end up in a messy disaster. :eek:

[Ghost 2501]

PMBC eco racers, use 2000mah Ni-XX batteries without pre-heat, and get 5 mins out of each set then charge between races, surely that rapid discharge/charge cycle act like heating the cells up?

[Kmot]

Yes, that does heat them up. But the first run is on cold batteries unless you 'peak' them first to get them warmed up.

[pkboo]

Uh, yeah Tom, really---. ;)

Going to the N'th degree of high-tech can end up in a messy disaster. :eek:

Tell me about it Kap'n, I don't need Lipo's to fry I already saw puff the magic dragon on a set of NiMh's once (yes, they smoke!) right after I fast charged them :)

[Shaun Hendricks]

I wonder if you can put a battery in distilled water and use a fishtank or other controlled heater to keep the water at X operating degrees. If the idea of dunking a battery in water scares you (distilled water doesn't conduct current) you can always use a weighted ziplock baggie to put the battery pack in...