Batteries - Lipo vs Li-Ion

[ToeTag]

As I am switching from NiMh batts to either Lipo or Li-Ion...I could use some opinions cause this switch isn't really cheap. I am going to purchase Titan brand as they boast some great features. No swelling, no memory and some crazy good Mah ratings...2600 and even 7000 with 7.4v. Kind of pricey but would love to hear if anyone has tried or is using Li-Ion batts. Second part - 7.4 or 11.1? I have just started researching the pro's and con's.

As always - thanks for any information you can provide.
ToeTag

[pestobanana]

Titan is not doing anything new. Li-Ion technology is older than Li-Po. They are literally just sticking 18650 batteries together and calling them something new.

Li-Ion is more stable than Li-Po in that it handles user error and misuse better. They have higher mAh ratings but have much lower C ratings than Li-Po. Li-Po batteries tend to be more compact, more energy dense, and have more current handling output than Li-Ion.

[ThunderCactus]

Lithium Polymer is a category of Lithium Ion batteries.
More correctly: "Lithium-ion polymer"
LiPo's use polymer electrodes as opposed to liquid electrodes typically found in "Li-ion" labelled batteries. Although, a "Li-ion" battery (in consumer electronics) isn't necessarily using old technology, as Zim said; in airsoft they're just slapping cheap 18650s together, and you don't want that.
LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) was the other common lithium battery for airsoft use, but I don't think they hold up to modern LiPos.

"Memory" doesn't occur on any lithium batteries, and it doesn't really occur on NiMH batteries, either.
NiMH tends to develop voltage depression, a slightly different effect.
NiCd's get memory, but avoiding it is as easy as just cycling the battery when charging.

If you've got a stock gun with no mosfet, get a 7.4
If you're got stock a gun with a mosfet, check to see if it needs an 11.1 or not. Some of them do need an 11.1 to work properly.

The reason people get swelling on their LiPos is due to mismatched batteries for use.
Most swelling isn't harmful anyway, and LiPos tend to give you plenty of warning before going up in smoke.

I've got a writeup on batteries here:
http://airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=156571

[ToeTag]

Thanks guys. Very helpful.

[Jimjo2402]

I'm definitely a fan of team Li-po. Mainly because most guns will spike at 40-60 amps in Simi.

I tend to build around 11.1v for a few reasons.
- relatively easy to get good rps and trigger response.
- results in lower strain on parts then equivalent rps build in 7.4v

My only exception to this is when the battery space is very limited. Then I'll use a 7.4v as energy density is better.

Edit: An additional thing to understand is that we are abusing most battery's we put in our guns.
For example:
1500mah 11.1v 20c lipo, 1.5Ah x 20c = 30amps.
The gun is useing 45amps peek on Simi.
So if you only shoot on Simi your 15amps over what the battery is rated for. Hence the inevitable swelling of most LiPO batteries.

Note this is not the case if you run on auto as the same gun might only average 20amps.