How to recover a dead lipo cell

I usually try to recover my dead batteries and figured I'd share my method.
The chances of the cell being recovered are fairly slim, there's usually damage to the cell from being at such a low voltage. I've had about 1 in 6 success rate with bringing back cells so far.

[@kenboo4]

I've watched this video probably 4-5 times. Very helpful, educational, and interesting. Thanks for posting.

[@KenLovesLynn2003]

Thanks for the informative video, you saved us 300$$ on my XMaxx batteries. I thought they were garbage status but after watching your video they're alive again. Thank you so much 😀😀😀

[@baldfatgit1]

I know you shared this vid over 2 years ago but i just watched your vid And i have just recovered one of my Yaneec packs {I lost it down the back of a cupboard and was not put into storage} 3S pack with cell 1 on 0.00v just finished balancing discharge recharge and it is giving me the standard 15 mins flight time £100 saved thanks to your good self thanks for sharing. :) Steve uk

[@nuthn2do]

"keep an eye on me" stuck on one of the batteries screams get rid of it before it burns your house down

[@jasongreen2353]

Just performed similar recovery on a lipo I thought was dead when my charger gave me an error that no battery was plugged in. The voltages had dropped to 2.5v per cell and the charger refused to charge it. After slowly bringing each cell back up to over 3v it finished charging normally on the charger. Thanks for the video!

[@LiquidXiron]

Just what I was looking for and needed to know. Many thanks.

[@MrChanw11]

THANK YOU! My 3s is back and charging!

[@user-qo8js3qk5z]

Great video, thank you for the help.

[@MrJarrod]

thanks I recovered one cell from 1 v back to 3.8v then balance charged it and discharged it in flight. Its works perfectly now.

[@Chillin-fpv]

Sounds so good!

[@alexerickson7716]

thank you very much, this is exactly the video i was looking for to potentially help revive a mavic air 2 battery that i drained to 3.2-3.3v accidentally. didint want to have to buy a smart rc charger and was wondering if i could use my adjustable power supply from work but was worried it may not be adequate for charging. i know i probably just needed to juice up the cells enough to get the factory charger sensing them and this looks like a great way to do it. the dual meters as standalone gauges is genius too!

[@auxpower13]

Amazing video. We have almost identical equipment in our labs.

[@johncalhoun358]

are you keeping the black voltage tester lead on the end black balance lead when checking cells or it looks like you move them both along the pins at the same time? wouldnt this be two positive leads? thanks for the vid!

[@jonathanarmitage4640]

Thanks heaps, my 4s Lipo batteries been sitting half charged untouched for over 3 years. Total voltage of all 4 cells were sitting on 2V. After charging using NiCd up to 12V the charger would only recognize 3 cells. 1 of the cells was still at 0.5V so following this and charging the individual cell using NiCd, all 4 cells were than recognizable by my charger and I could now balance the 4s lipo... woohoo!!

[@erringnadinger5448]

This trick WORKS! Saved by $150 in buying 2 new 6400mAhr 3 cell batteries.

[@Fun2av8RC]

A very informative video. This is the sanest approach I have seen so far. However, not all of us are electrical engineers. You completely glossed over the wiring hook up between the power supply and the two meters used to measure voltage and amps. In the end I gushed that the balance plug Grey wire was attached to the black alligator clip and the white wire was connected to the red alligator clip. I have looke at the video a dozen times and still can’t figure out how the two meters are interconnected with the power supply. Please clarify the hook up. I really like this approach.

[@bazarrebloggs7280]

I'd agree, he glossed over even how to test the individual cell voltages - I couldn't work out which terminals on the balance plug he was using to make cell measurements.

[@elijahdeane6671]

This is a great video, thanks but can you define your method of charging for me once you recovered the cell please. I am unsure if you discharged then balance charged, or if you balance charged then discharged and balanced charged again.

[@AjmalYakoobMMAMuayThai]

Hi bro, would appreciate your response, I have 2s and i have the b3 balance charger, mistakenly i have gone below 3v i guess so is there any another way to bring it back with some simple household charger?

[@Abszurdista-fatalista]

Is there a way to recover a lipo cell in terms of internal resistance? Some cells have around 70-100 mOhm internal resistance.

[@milkeraktass]

thanx you saved my lipo :D

[@cometpowell]

I bought a brand new 4S battery but one of the cells shipped with 1.72 V charge on it where as the others were 3.8 V. Do you think if I toss it on the balance charger it would get fixed? Thanks

[@evandromaf]

Thx bro!

[@12around1]

sup? a quick question: the 2-pin plug you spliced up is connected to the - and + and as + is 2nd next to - , you are charging the first cell. my 2nd cell in the 3s is kaputt so in that case i need to connect the + to the third pin, yes? i can put togather a 3 pin connector and leave the middle empty. is this ok? cheers

[@ZaidanMhmood]

Can this be done to a Li-Polymer laptop battery?

[@larkkane982]

I used a little box thingy that you'd plug into the wall that was used for something random and it outputted 4V 300mAh. I just used that thing connected it to my dead cell and it charged it enough to put it on my balance charger.

[@72nivo]

Great vid mate !!! Got a quick question for you. 😁 I have a 6s 4000mah lipo with number 6 down to .07. Am I able to cut the balance wire on the low cell put a 5S balance plug and use it as a 5S battery?? Sorry if this is a silly question 👍🏻😋

[@districtfpv6394]

this power suply work for lipo battery? or any charger non charger lipo

[@ervanaz4850]

Hi, I have been trying to charge my dead cell for a while but It only rises up until 0.6V and doesn't goes on anymore, will it be dangerous if keep trying?

[@swimwithcoachraven1532]

My zero cell completely dead. Doesn't work at all. Other cells drops voltage quite fast. It has become a dying cell

[@MrMad1966sChannel]

Would have been an even better video if your camera had shown things like the connections from your fluke and power supply to demonstrate how you measure the current

[@jarka1361]

I have a question I hope you can help me with. I have a IMAX B6 by SkyRC. My 2c 2700mAh battery will balance charge with no issues. Both cells read the same, and charger shuts off when fully charged. When I install the battery to my drone it will read 8.1volts. As soon as I take off flying the battery drops to 6.4-6.2volts causing me to land. As soon as I land battery voltage jumps back up to 7.4-7.6volts. Again when I take off it drops again. Is this battery salvageable? Thanks

[@barkuslabs]

Sounds like your batteries have high internal resistance. They'll hold a charge, but as soon as they need to supply current, the voltage will sag. This usually means the cells are either permanently damaged or at the end of their lifespan. Might be time for a new battery :/

[@jarka1361]

Ok thanks, they are not that old, maybe 8 months. I think it was the original Hubsan charger from my 501s that took them out. I now have the new charger. Ok, thanks for your help

[@tomvanjura54]

Do you by chance have a link to contact you? I looked up Barkus Labs and come up with a Microbial World. I am trying to charge AED batteries. I have charged a couple of them and volt meter shows charge. When plugged into the unit it shows no charge. I would really appreciate the help.

[@aurgasmic6739]

Can you go over what kind of wiring setup you used to do this? This is something I'm sure plenty of us need since we're potatos when it comes to it.

[@captainprototype187]

I tried to make a 7.2 batt by using jumpers in the connectors. It got very sparky and hot. In the end one cell puffed up and started to smell. The other cell still holds 3.7v. I don't think I shorted the pack out. Can anyone help me find a new way to make a pack?

[@Autocharge1]

This worked for me

[@jonathanarmitage4640]

By the way guys you don't have to have meters. you can use your charger to do what he is doing. I.e. I used my Turnigy Mega 400W charger to charge the individual cell that was affected. (via NiCd charging)

[@toddy2519]

I have a question: How do you discern which cell is which in the pack? I understand you can read each cell with a VOM but how can I know which cell it actually is? I ask because I have a 5s battery with one cell dead and want to remove it to make it a 4s pack. Please advise and thank you for the video...very interesting!

[@TonyRule]

You just follow it electrically - whichever two adjacent leads on the balance cable give the dead cell voltage are attached to... the dead cell.

[@mysterious_trash]

My 6s 3 cells died and is at 0.5 V and 3 cells even bulged is it safe to recover cell which expanded ?

[@mahesasanggadipa]

Hello, can dead cell is charging with TP4056 module because i dont have power supply? Btw im using 3s 3000mah 20c

[@robertsquillace9507]

I have an Autel Drone. X-star. It has a 14.8 volt, 4800 mah battery. The drone company Autel stopped manufacturing and supporting their product and batteries. No more new batteries.. it’s a huge issue as there are many of these drones out there and can’t be flown... can you help me see if I can revive/recover the batteries?

[@scott1171]

I’ve got a 1650 cell battery that is reading 0.00 volts and when I charge it it does not keep its voltage up, is there any way I can revive this and my volt meter is correct I checked a working battery and it’s showing up normal voltage just fone

[@kaveenhettiarachchi5776]

thx bro

[@dannycooper1574]

Hi brother, my turnigy 2200mah 3s 11.1v is working but one cell won’t hold charge but it’s new I used it once left it for about a month and now the plane only detects two cells, the voltage meter and the balance charger but it lets me charge it but one has no voltage and I try to charge the cell on it’s own the voltage goes up to a certain voltage and when I stop it dies again is it broken now, thanks

[@TonyRule]

3:17 Surely the internal resistance doesn't rise - resistance is resistance, no? I thought the potential difference changes, the resistance remains much the same, so the current and thus rate of charging drops.

[@paulalbaran8124]

so one of the cell is weak. then you decide to charge it with a (1Amp) current which below the mah rating of your battery. but before you make connections, you limit the voltage from your power supply with (4.2) Volts which is safe for a 4s battery. then you used an ampere meter to display how you limit your current to (1amp) because mainly your power supply has a current adjuster capability. as soon as you got your settings to its proper adjustment, you den connect it to the weak cell's pins. after reaching the desired battery voltage, you disconnect the wires and read the voltages of each cells. after that is you've drained the battery and charge it again using balance charging. after balance charging it, you got your battery voltages correct. am i right ?

[@elijahdeane6671]

Good point, I too am unsure whether he: discharged then balance charged, or balance charged then discharged and balanced charged again.

[@angel00demon]

Thanks for the Nice video :) How much would a power supply like yours cost? A lot i suppose????

[@angel00demon]

Barkus Labs thanks for the link!

[@based_will]

I just keep clicking out of the error message untill it starts charging. Gives the dead cell a little voltage each time

[@buffaloBRAVE]

I'll pay to have a cpl lipo batteries recharged. Can you do it or recommend someone

[@neeshanbalan6253]

Is that a dc power supply?

[@nolpaulmino1626]

I guess my lipo's condition is different. I have a 3S pack that charges normally (each cell goes up to about 4.17-18 v) but after trying to fly my helicopter with it, I find one cell still at 4 V while the other two have discharged as expected (3.7V). Being a total newbie, I have been wondering how this could be. I balance the pack manually before charging it up again. The charged pack's total voltage goes up to 12+ V.

[@samuelm.2608]

2 of your cells might have a way higher internal resistance then your third one. Which mean that, when put under load, the ones with higher resistance will discharge quicker then the low resistance cell.

[@nolpaulmino1626]

Samuel M. Thank you for replying. Yes, so, is there a fix for this or is this pack headed for the bin? Thanks again.

[@normellow]

So 1 amp is the idea recovery current you recommend right ? I have a 3s that is dead

[@Xander779]

It'll depend on the capacity of your battery. 1C is the max charging rate I would recommend. For a 1500mah battery, that's 1.5A, for a 1300mah it's 1.3A and so on. For recovery, I'd recommend something closer to 0.5C or even lower.

[@michaelgilliard2094]

so on yesterday I received two 13000mah 11.1 v 25c batteries in the mail, one of the two batteries had a completely dead cell, so I tried this method and wow oh wow it work, let was able to fully charged the battery back to its proper forum, thanks for the Information, conrad.

[@AjmalYakoobMMAMuayThai]

@@Xander779 hi, then for 2s with 3200 mah, will it be 3. 2 A for recovery?

[@danieltrovao2831]

Thx so much bro. You saved my ass lol

[@joefuller3467]

I have 3 $100 batteries for the xstar premium drone all were new and factory sealed BUT old .....anyway i could ship them to you to "fix" i would be willing to pay you $100? i realize this is a long shot but i do not have the equipment you do. thank you for posting this

[@andyMSH700]

funny enough if you put you charger to Nicad or Life mode it can also kick start the cell.....leave it on for around one minute at around an amp charge rate...used it many times on those silly spectrum smart cells

[@xXBallsackGamingXx]

When i measured one of two lipo cells i accidentally short circuted it. I hope it didnt get too damaged.

[@nicksmith5919]

Id say if it didnt blow up...so your sayn theres a chance???...

[@Shitinthemorning]

I bought 4-5 years ago Lipo batteries, I almost never used it. Just in storage and always checked for 3.85 - 3.9V per cell for storage. Sudenly i checked them again and my Zippy 3Cell Lipo had a cell showing almost 0 Voltage on a voltage checker. On my charger it charges or storage charge it quiet quickly 2 cells and shows 1 cell staying 0,0 Volts , my charger says quickly its ready storage charge , while put option to charge 3 cells and not 2 cells, still 2 cells are Ok and 3th showing 0Volts, why does my charger deosn't recognise it only showing 2 cells being charged ? And what can I do about it? Take in mind the batterie was fine the first years in storage voltages on all 3 cells, is it possible it dies on its own without even using it ? I am very worried it can damage my hous or somthing, can it explode if I leave it like that in storage ? And if I use it in RC car, is it ok to do so ? Will the car act like its a 2 cell batterrie ? Thank you in advance for any help . Cheers from Belgium

[@Shitinthemorning]

I tried to discharge and charge as a 2 cell batterie, and charger doesn't mind to start the chjarge or discharge. While normally if 3 cell batterie you get an error when trying charge or storage-discharge when selecting 2 cell in options if you start it. So Im assuming charger sees it as 2 cell and 3 cell batterie , can't recognize it ? Strange

[@XwpisONOMA]

No! What you should have done is put the problem cell through an up to 3x cycle of charging at 1/10 C and then discharging at no more (the lower the better) than 5/10 C and monitoring how many mAh went into the cell and how many mAh was the cell able to put out before falling below the "safe" level of 3.0V. By comparing these two numbers and how close these two numbers are with the original rated capacity of the cell, then and ONLY then you can confidently assess the state/health of EACH individual cell in this pack. If you recover up to 25% less of the rated capacity, I say keep it, if recovery is less than 50%, I say discard it, it's probably not worth it. But if the recovery numbers look good, then and ONLY then attempt to balance charge the who pack, always keep an eye on it and in the end check the cumulative V and mAh numbers against the original rated specs. This is the proper procedure and I hope I helped.

[@TonyRule]

I agree that charging a dead cell at 1C is too much - it should be set to an absolute trickle.

[@chrisbethel7108]

Don't you store them at 3.8/cell. The bad cell was still .2v off of the rest, that's too far for me.

[@MrKillerhaze]

I try this and my house burn down jk this works 100% did it today with my 6s battery and it was golden 😊

[@mukhdi80]

Im confused with which is (+) and (-) since my dead cell is cell number 2 ... Can we use reguler charger and power supply for fixin it ... Thanks

[@TonyRule]

If I understand what you're asking, in say a 3S1P (nominal 11.1V) the cells are in series so you measure across adjacent pins on the balance charger to check each cell. The 'negative' is connected to the negative of the first cell in the pack and the 'positive' is off the last cell in the pack. Inside the pack, positive of the first cell is connected to the negative of the second cell etc.

[@georgegeorge899]

U R playing with fire 🔥 ! 🤦

[@tomgiorgini9154]

that was not a dead cell you had 3.17 on it dead is 0 with 3 volts just charge normally below 3 charge as low a current as you can .001 amp if available .01 amp most chargers can get

[@207esmeril]

I saw this vid 2 batts too late

[@Pops180]

I certainly hope people aren't doing this. Saving a 100 dollars on a battery isnt worth the time bomb sitting in your home.

[@Martin-xh1hd]

Just charge it on storage mode then charge it normally

[@red17able]

put the battery in the freezer overnight, then do a balance charge in the morning, and you skip all that work!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ISEEORBS]

red17able I'm trying this when I get home. Hopefully it works. Would be sweet. 2 batteries for my Yuneec Q500 drone. You are the man if it works.