All About Batteries

Batteries power many of our products, from RC to Airsoft, to E-Bikes. They are often an overlooked aspect of performance, and require proper care to remain operational. We aim to clear up misconceptions, and let you know how to best operate your products to ensure a long life.

What do all these terms mean?

There are a lot of electrical terms that are often interchanged or used improperly.

This can add to confusion, when purchasing, and in some cases buying the wrong item or even destroying equipment by connecting the wrong type of battery to a device.

We hope that learning the terminology behind the batteries we sell will help you find the right product to fit your need, and help you to keep your batteries in the best shape.

Cells

(sometimes referred to as S.)

Batteries come in connected packs with a certain number of cells. To achieve acceptable levels of voltage, these are wired in series in a sealed case/pack.

This adds their voltage together to achieve a higher voltage then than the original cell can provide.

Sometimes multiple packs can be installed in an enclosure, to provide the power necessary for what the battery is installed in.

Example:
4 x 12V (6-cell) battery packs in an E-Bike = 48V
3 x 3.7V Lipo cells= 11.1V.

Voltage or V

This is electrical potential or “pressure”. More voltage generally means a stronger source of electricity for the equipment connected to it.

This specification has to be matched, as electrical equipment is designed to work within a certain voltage range, and can be destroyed by being connected to a voltage source outside this range.

Amps or A

This is how much current flows from a battery. A common misunderstanding is that batteries “push” power into a device.

Voltage provides the electrical potential that will allow electricity to “flow” from negative to positive. The item connected to the voltage source will only allow a certain amount of current to flow based on it’s resistance.

The less resistance, the more current will flow, and the device will draw more amperage.

Batteries are only able to provide a certain amount of amperage. If more current is allowed to flow then the battery is able to provide, then the voltage may drop, severely damaging equipment.

In this case, the battery itself is very likely to be damaged. In some cases, it may even explode!

A short circuit is a good example of this, where wires are connected in a way that provides almost no resistance, and allows a tremendous amount of current flow.

Amp-hours or Ah

This is a measure of capacity. Often measured in mAh (milliAmp-hours), this lets you know how long a battery will last.

A larger Ah rating, will result in a battery that will last longer, while maintaining the same voltage and compatibility with the equipment for the smaller battery.

A 1 “Amp-hour” (1000mAh) battery, can provide 1 amp of current for 1 hour. If 2 amps was drawn, it would last 30 minutes.
If it is known how many amps or watts a device will draw, you can calculate how long a specific battery is estimated to last.

“C” rating

This defines the maximum rate a battery can be discharged. It is measured as a multiple of its Amp-hour rating.

A 1Ah 20c battery can be discharged at 20amps safely.

Printed C ratings are generally limited to Li-Po batteries, as they will be catastrophically damaged if the current draw exceeds this rating.

Battery Types

Lead Acid

Lead Acid Batteries

Maintenance of batteries is absolutely essential to the long-term value of an E-Bike. Generally in the form of 12V sealed cells, lead acid batteries power the vast majority of electric scooters we have in stock. It is very important to remember the following:

-Lead acid batteries should not be allowed to completely drain. They can be recharged, but it will severely shorten the life of the battery.

-It is necessary to keep the battery charged by charging on a regular basis. Even if an e-bike is not in use, we recommend charging the battery monthly.

-Do not expose the battery to extreme cold. Canadian winters can be severely destructive to lead acid batteries. Exposure to temperatures below -20 degrees C. can freeze and damage the battery.

-If a battery has bulging sides or reads below its rated voltage, it is likely damaged beyond repair, and should be replaced.

Ni-MH batteries are the most common battery in our RC and airsoft products. They are sometimes included with the car and offer good performance at a cheaper price then other options. Easy to maintain, there are a few things to remember about Ni-MH batteries.

-Do not charge at higher amps than the given Amp-hour rating. Slower is better, and if the battery is getting hot, you are charging it too fast.

-Do not let the battery die completely. This may in some cases damage the battery, but can also cause them to read incorrectly in some smart chargers, which can cause problems during charging.

It is very important to never short circuit, charge or discharge excessively quickly or physically damage a Lipo battery. Doing so, may cause the battery to catch fire and/or explode!

Do not charge a Lipo at a greater rate than 1c. Chargers may be capable of faster charging rate, but batteries are not designed to support it. If your Lipo is warm when you are charging it, you are charging too fast.

-It is very important to never let a Li-po battery die completely. Most products that use Li-pos have sensors built in to detect when a battery is nearing the end of it’s capacity and to automatically disable the vehicle. Be very wary if your vehicle does not have some form of low voltage detection. Letting a Li-po battery die is permanent and renders the battery useless. By the time you notice the power in your device slowing, it may already be too late.

-While Li-po batteries have exceptional discharge rates. High-end controllers may exceed this and damage batteries. A sign of damage to a battery is a “puffy” or bloated look. These should be discarded and recycled responsibly. Always make sure that the battery will support the estimated amperage required by the device. On the more extreme end, discharging a Li-po too quickly can cause it to catch fire.

-Do not throw out Li-po batteries. It is dangerous for landfills, and lithium is a non-renewable resource that is already facing shortages. Windsor Disposal Services will recycle used Li-pos that are dropped off at their location on Central.