The Truth About Lipos?

Hi Everyone,

I gotta say I've read some real piss poor info when it comes to using lipo cells in boats. Having used lipos in boats over the last three years I've seen them go from 12C to 30C discharge rates and capacity rise to a point where things are getting very interesting now.

One of my big problems with the info out there is much of it is coming from theory and paper. The latest rounds of "bench testing" I've read about suggest that preheating cells to undesirable levels (imo) is an acceptable way to increase a lipo cells output. DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

We've known for quite some time that as the cells reach the 110 to 115 degree mark they come to life, nothing new there. What I like to see is my cells going into the boat when they are 75 plus degrees up to what ever the ambient is at the time. Because I race/run all year long I've been out when the ambient is 50 and at times like that I try and keep my cells warm but nowhere near the suggested temps from the bench test report I read.

Posting test results like that is really irresponsible. Can you imagine what could happen if a new user of lipo cells took that info to heart and preheated a set of cells to 140 degrees?

To me, the only test reports that matter are of the practical type. I've got 100s of cycles on packs and more on water time than just about anyone I know in the FE boating community. I have pushed cells to their limits, collected data and I'm here to tell you that following advice from someone that is a paper pusher is a disaster waiting to happen.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Take what you read online with a grain of salt. Do yourself a favor and do a little background check of anybody that posts info on setups or makes claims like the ones I've been reading. Ask yourself "is this person racing/running like I do?"

I'll be giving more info on lipo use in the next post. Until then...

Keep the wet side down,

Paul