Battery Care
One of the most important parts of an AEG is the battery. However, improper batter care and use can lead to anything from a dead battery to an exploding, popping, hissing, and melted gun. (trust me, I've seen it happen) This page will show you how to charge, use, and maintain your battery to ensure you get the most out of it.
Battery types
NiCad (nickel cadmium): NiCad batteries are one of the oldest airsoft batteries out there. They allow faster charge times and high rate of fire (ROF). However, they have less MAH (milliamp hours), also, they have what's called a memory, and therefore need to be discharged after every use before recharging.
Pros:
Higher ROF
Fast charge time
Cons:
Low MAH
Battery memory requires discharge after every use
Nimh (Nickel metal hydride): Probably the most popular battery type, and my personal favorite, Nimh batteries are simple and effective. They have good MAH and don't have a memory so there is no discharge required. Newer versions have higher voltage and thus allow a good ROF. Also they are probably the most resilient to freezing in the winter. Nimh batteries are considered to be the replacement for NiCad batteries.
Pros:
Good ROF
Good MAH
Durable, and freeze resistant
Cons:
Slower charge time
Can be kind of bulky
Lipo (Lithium polymer): Though relatively new to the airsoft world, Lipo's are becoming increasingly popular among airsoft players. They have high voltages, and high MAH. However, this increased rate of fire can ruin an airsoft gun if it's not properly upgraded to handle such high ROF. Lipo's are also flammable and care must be taken with storage and use. Most often, Lipos are used in place of upgrade parts to achieve high RoF. However, in some guns they simply don't work. For example, my ICS M16 is well upgraded and can handle a Lipo, however the RoF is so fast that it cause all sorts of odd mechanical problems; these problems don't break the gun, they just make it fairly useless. Lipos do have other advantages as well: They are less affected by cold weather, take up less space, and are much lighter. I would recommend 7.4v Lipos if you don't want to concern yourself with the risks of an 11v Lipo.
Pros:
High ROF
High MAH
Good charge time
Cold weather has a minimal impact on Lipos
Cons:
Hard on gearboxes/motors
Flammable
Pros:
Higher ROF
Fast charge time
Cons:
Low MAH
Battery memory requires discharge after every use
Nimh (Nickel metal hydride): Probably the most popular battery type, and my personal favorite, Nimh batteries are simple and effective. They have good MAH and don't have a memory so there is no discharge required. Newer versions have higher voltage and thus allow a good ROF. Also they are probably the most resilient to freezing in the winter. Nimh batteries are considered to be the replacement for NiCad batteries.
Pros:
Good ROF
Good MAH
Durable, and freeze resistant
Cons:
Slower charge time
Can be kind of bulky
Lipo (Lithium polymer): Though relatively new to the airsoft world, Lipo's are becoming increasingly popular among airsoft players. They have high voltages, and high MAH. However, this increased rate of fire can ruin an airsoft gun if it's not properly upgraded to handle such high ROF. Lipo's are also flammable and care must be taken with storage and use. Most often, Lipos are used in place of upgrade parts to achieve high RoF. However, in some guns they simply don't work. For example, my ICS M16 is well upgraded and can handle a Lipo, however the RoF is so fast that it cause all sorts of odd mechanical problems; these problems don't break the gun, they just make it fairly useless. Lipos do have other advantages as well: They are less affected by cold weather, take up less space, and are much lighter. I would recommend 7.4v Lipos if you don't want to concern yourself with the risks of an 11v Lipo.
Pros:
High ROF
High MAH
Good charge time
Cold weather has a minimal impact on Lipos
Cons:
Hard on gearboxes/motors
Flammable
Charging
9.6v 1600mah Nimh battery connected to smart charger
Almost all of battery care takes place during charging. The best way to keep/store a battery is fully charged. Though all airsoft gun batteries will slowly lose power and eventually die. Proper care will maximise the life span.
Most guns will come with a relatively cheap battery and a basic charger. When I say basic charger I mean a charger that does nothing but provide a continues flow of power to your battery. This means if you leave it plugged in and the battery if fully charged, it's just going to keep pumping the power in. The result can be anywhere form a useless battery to a house fire. So please keep in mind that if you are using a basic charger you must attend your battery.
How do you know when your battery is charged? When it's warm but not hot is my rule of thumb. However if you are using an auto cut off charger, (I highly recommend one) You won't have to worry about it. I also recommend an automatic trickle charger, as this will help extend your battery life. Overall a "smart charger" is the way to go if you want an easy and worry free method of charging. Just make sure you are using the correct charger. You can't use a Lipo charger to charge a Nimh battery.
Most guns will come with a relatively cheap battery and a basic charger. When I say basic charger I mean a charger that does nothing but provide a continues flow of power to your battery. This means if you leave it plugged in and the battery if fully charged, it's just going to keep pumping the power in. The result can be anywhere form a useless battery to a house fire. So please keep in mind that if you are using a basic charger you must attend your battery.
How do you know when your battery is charged? When it's warm but not hot is my rule of thumb. However if you are using an auto cut off charger, (I highly recommend one) You won't have to worry about it. I also recommend an automatic trickle charger, as this will help extend your battery life. Overall a "smart charger" is the way to go if you want an easy and worry free method of charging. Just make sure you are using the correct charger. You can't use a Lipo charger to charge a Nimh battery.
Storing
If you are not using your battery(s) for a prolonged period of time, make sure you give it at least a partial charge before storing, and keep the battery at room temperature.
Tips/warnings
- Batteries with higher MAH's such as 1600 vs 1200 will last longer and store longer. They also work better in the winter.
- Be sure to use a discharger if you are using a NiCad battery.
- Use the proper charger for the type of battery you are using.
- Be sure to use a discharger if you are using a NiCad battery.
- Use the proper charger for the type of battery you are using.