LiPo packs are the gas tank, the turbocharger and the most fragile part of every RC we sell. They do not die in a big crash nearly as often as they die quietly on a garage shelf: stored fully charged for a month, baked in a car trunk in August, or run down to nothing and forgotten. Then one day you pick up a pack and it is shaped like a pillow.
This is the Bash Brody guide to the boring part of the hobby that saves the most money: how to store LiPos, how to tell when a pack is puffed beyond saving, and how to get rid of it without starting a fire in a garbage truck. Numbers come from Team Associated's LiPo safety instructions and the EPA's guidance on lithium battery recycling.
The Short Answer
Store LiPo packs at about 3.8 V per cell in a fire-resistant container somewhere cool (ideally 41-77°F), retire any pack that swells, and never throw LiPos in the trash or curbside recycling: tape the terminals and take them to a battery recycler or household hazardous waste collection.
- Storage voltage: 3.8 V per cell, set with your charger's storage mode.
- Heat is the enemy: a closed car in a Georgia summer is the worst place to keep packs.
- Swollen means done: stop using it, move it outside and watch it for at least 15 minutes.
- Disposal: bag each pack, tape the terminals, and take it to a recycling drop-off.
1. How to Store LiPo Batteries
A LiPo is happiest sitting around half charged, cool and disconnected. Full packs left sitting age faster, and empty packs can drift so low they never recover. Here is where the voltages land for common packs, using Team Associated's 3.8 V storage level and 3.2 V minimum discharge figure.
| Pack | Full charge (4.20 V/cell) | Storage (about 3.8 V/cell) | Minimum discharge (3.2 V/cell) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2S | 8.4 V | 7.6 V | 6.4 V |
| 3S | 12.6 V | 11.4 V | 9.6 V |
| 4S | 16.8 V | 15.2 V | 12.8 V |
| 6S | 25.2 V | 22.8 V | 19.2 V |
Use storage mode after every session
If the packs will not be used within a day or two, put them on your charger's storage mode, which charges or discharges each cell to storage voltage. E-flite's Sportix manual says the same thing in plain words: store the battery at about half capacity and do not let it fall below 3 V per cell. Team Associated adds that packs in long-term storage should be charged back to 3.8 V per cell at least once a year.
Keep them cool, never in the car
Associated lists a storage range of 14°F to 104°F (-10°C to 40°C), with 41°F to 77°F (5°C to 25°C) recommended. It also warns that storage above 170°F (76°C) for more than two hours can damage the battery or cause a fire, and that transport temperatures should stay under 140°F (60°C). A closed car on an August afternoon in Atlanta can get hotter than that. Packs ride in the cab with you, not in the trunk, and they come inside when you get home.
Container, location and connectors
Associated recommends storing packs in an airtight, flame-resistant container when not in use, and never storing or charging them inside a car. Take packs out of the model when you are done, and unplug them. A metal ammo can lined with something non-flammable, a purpose-made LiPo case or a LiPo bag on a concrete floor all beat a cardboard box on a wooden shelf.
2. Swollen LiPo Batteries: Causes and What to Do
A puffed LiPo has gas building up inside the cell pouch. It is a sign of internal damage, and it does not go away.
What makes a LiPo swell
Battery maker Grepow lists crashes, over-discharging and over-charging as common causes. In our repair bay, the usual stories are packs run past the low-voltage cutoff, packs stored full for weeks, packs charged while still hot after a run, and packs that took a hit in a cartwheel. Age plays a part too: a pack with hundreds of cycles will eventually puff even with perfect care.
When to retire a pack
Team Associated's rule is simple: stop using a battery immediately if it is damaged, starts to balloon or swell, or gets hotter than 160°F (71°C). It also says to remove any cell that reads below 3.0 V from service. A pack that is slightly soft but otherwise normal is still on its way out; do not squeeze it back into a tight battery tray and keep bashing.
What to do with a swollen pack right now
- Stop charging or using it. Unplug it from the charger or model.
- Move it outside to a non-flammable spot such as concrete, gravel or a bucket of sand, away from buildings, vehicles and anything that burns.
- Watch it for at least 15 minutes. Associated warns that delayed ignition can occur.
- Do not puncture, squeeze or cut it to "let the gas out."
- Plan disposal. Once it is cool and stable, prepare it for recycling as described below.
3. How to Dispose of LiPo Batteries Safely
The EPA is blunt about it: lithium-ion batteries, the family LiPo packs belong to, should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. A battery that gets damaged or crushed in a truck or in sorting equipment becomes a fire hazard, and the EPA notes a rise in fires at recycling and waste facilities.
Prepare the pack
The EPA recommends putting each battery in its own plastic bag and covering the terminals with non-conductive tape such as electrical tape. For RC packs, that means taping over the main connector and the balance plug. Do not try to charge or cycle a damaged or swollen pack before you drop it off.
Where to take it
The EPA says lithium-ion batteries should go to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points, and names Call2Recycle and Earth911 as two resources for finding a recycler. Team Associated likewise says to take used or damaged batteries to a hazardous waste facility or recycling center, separate from household waste.
Local options near Cumming
Forsyth County's Recycling and Solid Waste department has held household hazardous waste collection events that require pre-registration. Check the county page for upcoming dates, and confirm with the department that lithium batteries are accepted before you go. Other metro counties run similar programs, so check your own county's solid waste page.
Damaged packs need extra care
If a lithium-ion battery is damaged, the EPA advises contacting the battery or device manufacturer for specific handling information. Keep it in a fire-resistant container outdoors until you can drop it off, and tell the collection site it is damaged when you arrive.
Conclusion
Good LiPo habits are cheap. Put packs on storage mode after every session, keep them cool and out of the car, store them in something that will not burn, and retire them the moment they puff. When a pack is done, bag it, tape it and recycle it. Do that and your packs last longer, your wallet stays fuller, and your garage stays a garage.
Need a storage case, a charger with storage mode or a replacement pack? Stop by our Cumming showroom or browse our LiPo safety gear and LiPo batteries. Questions about a pack that looks off? Contact the shop before you charge it.
Gear Mentioned in This Guide
Racers Edge Pro Series LiPo Charging and Storage Hard Case
A hard-sided home for packs between bash days.
Shop now
LiPo Charging Safety Bag (up to 6S)
Fire-resistant bag for charging and storing packs up to 6S.
Shop now
Hitec RDX1 200 AC/DC Charger
Has a storage mode for all lithium chemistries, so packs sit at the right voltage.
Shop now
Spektrum Smart Battery Checker and Servo Tester XBC200
Quick cell-voltage check before packs go on the shelf.
Shop nowFrequently Asked Questions
What voltage should I store LiPo batteries at?
About 3.8 V per cell: roughly 7.6 V for 2S, 11.4 V for 3S, 15.2 V for 4S and 22.8 V for 6S. Use your charger's storage mode to set it.
How long can a LiPo sit fully charged?
As short a time as possible. Charge packs close to when you will use them, and if plans change, put them back on storage mode within a day or two.
Can I still use a slightly puffy LiPo?
We do not recommend it. Swelling means internal damage, and Team Associated's guidance is to stop using a pack that swells. Retire it and recycle it.
Can I throw a LiPo battery in the trash?
No. The EPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Bag the pack, tape the terminals and take it to a battery recycler or household hazardous waste collection.
Is it safe to keep LiPos in my car?
Not in summer. Team Associated says not to transport packs above 140°F, and a closed car in the sun can get hotter. Carry packs in the cab and bring them inside.
Where can I recycle LiPo batteries near Atlanta?
Check Call2Recycle or Earth911 for drop-off points and your county's household hazardous waste program. In Forsyth County, household hazardous waste events have required pre-registration with the county's Recycling and Solid Waste department; confirm lithium batteries are accepted first.
