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• When charging, place the charger and rechargeable flight battery on a non-flammable, heat-resistant
surface (such as a stone tile). Keep the charger and battery away from flammable objects. Leave enough
space between the charger and the rechargeable flight battery.
•
Do not charge batteries when they are still hot (e.g. due to a high discharge current in the model). Allow
the rechargeable flight battery to cool down to room temperature before charging it.
• Ensure that there is sufficient ventilation, as the battery and charger may heat up during the charging
process. Never cover the charger or the quadcopter battery!
• Never leave batteries unattended when they are charging. Check the rechargeable flight battery for
overheating or bloating at regular intervals. This indicates an imminent risk of a fire or explosion. If the
rechargeable flight battery overheats or starts to expand, disconnect it from the charger immediately
and take it to a location where it will not cause any additional damage if it explodes or catches fire (e.g.
outdoors).
•
Disconnect the quadcopter battery from the charger when the battery is fully charged.
•
Never damage the casing of a rechargeable battery. Never charge damaged, leaking or deformed bat-
teries. This may cause a fire or explosion! Discontinue use immediately and dispose of the battery in an
environmentally friendly manner.
•
Rechargeable batteries should be charged regularly (approx. once every 2–3 months) to prevent them
from overdischarging. This may result in permanent damage and render the batteries useless.
•
LiPo/Li-ion batteries usually retain their charge for several months. However, if the batteries overdis-
charge, this will result in permanent damage and render them useless.
b) Additional information about lithium rechargeable batteries
Modern lithium rechargeable batteries have a significantly higher capacity than NiMH and NiCd bat
-
teries and are more lightweight. This makes LiPo (lithium polymer) or Li-Ion batteries particularly
suitable for use in model making.
However, lithium batteries require particular care to ensure safe charging/discharging, operation
and handling.
The following section provides an overview of the potential hazards associated with lithium batter-
ies and explains how these hazards can be avoided to ensure a long lifespan.
• The casing of many lithium batteries is made of a thick film, which is very sensitive. Do not dismantle,
drop or insert any objects into lithium batteries. Do not apply mechanical loads or pull on the battery’s
connection cables. This may cause a fire or explosion!
•
Ensure that the lithium battery does not overheat during use, recharging, discharging, transport or stor-
age. Do not place the rechargeable flight battery near heat sources, keep it away from direct sunlight.
This may cause the battery to overheat, which can cause a fire or explosion! The temperature of the
battery must not 60 °C.
•
Do not charge the battery if it is damaged or if the outer casing starts to swell/expand (e.g. after a crash).
This may cause a fire or explosion!
• Never store a damaged rechargeable flight battery in a flat or house/garage. Damaged or swollen lithium
batteries may catch fire.
