Battery Care:

Many people are still in the habit of storing packs at low voltage (below .9 a cell) like they did with GP cells.  This is not good for the IB cells. We found rapid loss of runtime leaving a cell below .9volts (5.4 for a 6cell pack) for more then a week, yet the voltage gained from this was so minimal that we strongly do NOT recommend sacrificing the runtime to gain voltage!  There are a few different methods that can be used for storing cells, but this is what we recommend to keep you packs in the best shape possible:

Charging:

Before charging, ensure the pack is discharged, equalized, and at room temperature.  We recommend a 6 amp linear charge for almost all circumstances, along with a .03volt (30mv) cutoff value, and if you have thermal on your charger, set it to 120degrees F.  This will ensure a full charge that is safe for your pack.  Higher amp charges will create more power on the track, at an apparent loss of runtime during that run, and if done frequently, in overall pack lifespan.  We found 8 amps with a .02v (20mv) cutoff to be the highest rate worth charging at, above that will just get the pack hotter.  Whenever charging at higher amp rate, use a lower peak detect and keep a close watch on temperature.  Over 130 degrees F can cause severe damage to the cells.

Re-Peak:

Sometimes your battery will be sitting a while before it is actually needed to run.  We recommend re-peaking only if the pack has been sitting 20 minutes or more before the race.  Use the same parameters as your charge, and watch the temperature, if the pack is getting hot, or the voltage has started to decrease, your pack is ready to go.

Discharging:

After each run discharge the pack at 30 amps down to .9volts per cell (5.4 for a 6cell pack) and then use a discharge tray such as the Novak Smart Tray, or the Much More CTX-D to bring each cell to .9volts.  You can also use a more economical version with bulbs, just monitor the voltage of each cell closely.  The use of trays that bring cells down to a lower voltage (such as the Tekin or Integy 0-30) is alright to get all the cells equalized, but some charge must be put back in afterwards if the pack is not being used again that day.

Storage:

Store your packs with about 500mah charge in them on a week to week basis.  If you will not be using a pack for longer periods of time, such as once a month, then keep around 1000mah in the pack.  This storage method preserve the cell the best.

If you store packs at .9volts per cell (5.4 for a 6cell pack) you will notice a small decrease in runtime, and the voltage will creep up slightly.