Foil Drive Lithium Battery Use, Care & Storage

Foil Drive Lithium Battery Use, Care & Storage

Charging, using and storing your battery to ensure performance longevity and safety.  

Follow these guidelines below to ensure you get the most out of your battery and avoid any costly mistakes in the future.

Can I use different brands of dielectric grease?

In short, no. You should only use the Foil Drive dielectric grease provided with your Gen2 kit. 

Our dielectric grease has been specifically chosen to be used with our products and can be purchased directly from our website. 

For example, engine oil has many different variants on the market, each being used in a particular engine in which it was designed for. Like engine oil, dielectric grease comes in different viscosities and are used in a range of applications. 

*Warning: Foil Drive dielectric grease is the only grease Foil Drive endorses to be used on their products, and any deviation from using the Foil Drive grease, or absence of using, can cause damage to not only your battery, but your motor and unit and will not be covered under warranty! 

How low can I run my Gen2 Battery?

Best practice is to try and avoid running your battery below 5%. Your battery will last longer and have a better life span. Running the battery down to 0% often will age the battery faster and isn't good to do repeatedly.  

*Warning: If you run your battery too low, and leave it plugged in to your unit, you run the risk of damaging your battery beyond repair. 

IMPORTANT NOTES - MUST READ

a) The Speed controller in the Gen2 system will cut out around 30v. The system will prevent the motor to be used beyond this point. 

b) With a battery percent reading on your controller of 0%, your battery voltage reading will be around 32V. 

c) If you run your battery down to 0%, and leave the battery connected to the system after a session, the receiver and Bluetooth chip will constantly drain your battery, even if your remote is 'off'. Until your battery is REMOVED, your system is ON. 

d) Any voltage reading below 25v is non-recoverable and is proof in itself that the battery has been left in the unit and will NOT be covered under warranty.

Can I leave my Gen2 Battery Connected in the Unit?

In short, no. You must remove the battery after use otherwise you risk draining the battery below 0% and permanently damaging your battery beyond repair. 

Leaving the battery plugged in, means the Gen2 system is ON. The Bluetooth chip, speed controller and receiver is ON and searching for the remote and your phone app. This uses power and if left plugged in, will constantly drain power. Just like for your car - you cannot leave the lights on overnight and expect it to start in the morning. 

Plugging your battery in the night before for a morning session will do the same thing - you will get down to the beach without a fully charged battery, meaning you'll have a shorter session!

An example of best practice below:

a. Your battery is fully charged. You're driving down to the beach for a session, and you live 20 minutes away. You could plug in your battery at home, and drive to the beach and head straight into the water. 

b. You've drained your battery to 5% during your session, REMOVE THE BATTERY IMMEDIATELY. Removing the battery takes less than 1 minute. If you forgot to remove the battery, it will cost you thousands to replace. 

*IMPORTANT: If you fail to remove the battery after a session, and your battery is drained beyond repair, this will not be covered under warranty.

Charging your Battery

Cheap 110v-240v inverters and generators that DO NOT have a pure sinewave output can damage the charging equipment and your battery. Much like a laptop or TV, these chargers need a quality power source to function at peak performance and avoid damage. It is for this reason we DO NOT recommend using anything other than a pure sinewave inverter 110v-240v or conventional mains power protected by an RCD. If you are travelling and using an inverter, we would not recommend using anything under 500w. Please also consider the size of your battery supplying the inverter. 

Battery Storage:

Temperature 

Room temperatures can directly affect the temperature inside the lithium-ion battery — and this will affect how safe the battery is and how it performs. Very low temperatures can produce a reduction in the energy and power capabilities of lithium-ion batteries. High ambient temperatures, however, can contribute to a high internal temperature of the battery — which can also decrease performance and power capabilities. 

Lithium-ion batteries should be ideally stored in cool, dry conditions at a temperature of 15°C. The general temperature range for lithium-ion cells lies between 5°C and 20°C (41°F and 68°F). If temperatures are too cold, such as 0°C, it can result in a slight loss of capacity due to the chemical reactions inside the battery slowing down in the low temperatures. If conditions are too hot, it can result in hazards such as fire. 

Great care should be taken to ensure that batteries don’t suffer any kind of damage. This means handling the batteries carefully, not stacking them in storage, and ensure they are away from flammables such as fuels, heaters, exhausts and fireplaces, as well as in dry areas (Basements may have excessive moisture). Damage can occur if batteries are dropped, knocked or exposed to sunlight or excessive heat. 

State of Charge

Many lithium-ion batteries are best stored at approximately 40-60% state of charge. 

Failure to store your batteries at this rate may contribute to cell instability. The average lifecycle of a lithium-ion battery is around 300 to 500 charge and discharge cycles. However, the age of the battery, the temperature at which it is kept, and how cycling occurs can decrease battery performance. Overcharging, excessive charging voltages, and non-compliant battery chargers should be avoided when recharging your lithium-ion batteries.