One of the most important tools for RC hobbyists is lithium polymer battery charging. When you buy a new RC electric car, boat or helicopter, the whole package generally comes with a charger that you can immediately use to charge the battery of your vehicle. There are various types of chargers available for electric-powered RC cars or boats or remote control helicopters.

The tips of lithium polymer battery charging and discharging

Just as with other kinds of lithium-ion cells, the voltage of a LiPo cell depends on its chemistry and varies from about 2.7-3.0 V (discharged) to about 4.20-4.35 V (fully charged), for cells based on lithium-metal-oxides (such as LiCoO2), and around 1.8-2.0 V (discharged) to 3.6-3.8 V (charged) for those based on lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4).

The exact voltage ratings should be specified in product data sheets, with the understanding that the cells should be protected by an electronic circuit that won’t allow them to overcharge nor over-discharge under use.

For liPo battery packs with cells connected in series, a specialized charger may monitor the charge on a per-cell basis so that all cells are brought to the same state of charge (SOC).