I see this mentioned quite often, people advising others that for the best performance from their batteries they need to discharge/recharge them a few times first.
Is this true?
Only if the battery wasn't correctly "formed" at the factory or if it has been sitting unused for many months.
I've tested over 150 different batteries (approaching 500 total) that vapers use and the only ones that needed to be cycled a couple of times first were from Chinese battery manufacturers or had been in storage for about a year. None of the batteries from Samsung, Sony, LG, or Panasonic/Sanyo needed this cycling. None of the batteries that use rewrapped Samsung, Sony, LG, or Panasonic/Sanyo cells needed to be cycled first either.
Less than half a dozen batteries from a couple of Chinese manufacturers needed 2 or 3 moderate cycles to reach what they were capable of doing. I believe this is because they did not undergo the complete "formation process" at the factory. This process charges/discharges each battery a very specific way just after manufacture. It is an initialization process that assures maximum performance from the battery and is used by to weed out underperforming ones.
Or, it should be used for that. Some of these Chinese battery manufacturers seem to skip some of the formation process. Some of these batteries might have just sat around for a year though. This results in batteries that need to be cycled a couple of times to reach what they are capable of doing.
Some LiPo pack users often recommend running a couple, if not more, break-in cycles to get the pack up to its max performance level. Whether this is needed or not depends on what LiPo's are used. They shouldn't need breaking in at all.
If you suspect that your batteries are underperforming, and you know they are genuine, try using them at a moderate level for a couple of cycles. Don't cycle them hard, just something that is about 1/2 their true continuous rating. Hopefully they will respond well and start performing as they should.
Is this true?
Only if the battery wasn't correctly "formed" at the factory or if it has been sitting unused for many months.
I've tested over 150 different batteries (approaching 500 total) that vapers use and the only ones that needed to be cycled a couple of times first were from Chinese battery manufacturers or had been in storage for about a year. None of the batteries from Samsung, Sony, LG, or Panasonic/Sanyo needed this cycling. None of the batteries that use rewrapped Samsung, Sony, LG, or Panasonic/Sanyo cells needed to be cycled first either.
Less than half a dozen batteries from a couple of Chinese manufacturers needed 2 or 3 moderate cycles to reach what they were capable of doing. I believe this is because they did not undergo the complete "formation process" at the factory. This process charges/discharges each battery a very specific way just after manufacture. It is an initialization process that assures maximum performance from the battery and is used by to weed out underperforming ones.
Or, it should be used for that. Some of these Chinese battery manufacturers seem to skip some of the formation process. Some of these batteries might have just sat around for a year though. This results in batteries that need to be cycled a couple of times to reach what they are capable of doing.
Some LiPo pack users often recommend running a couple, if not more, break-in cycles to get the pack up to its max performance level. Whether this is needed or not depends on what LiPo's are used. They shouldn't need breaking in at all.
If you suspect that your batteries are underperforming, and you know they are genuine, try using them at a moderate level for a couple of cycles. Don't cycle them hard, just something that is about 1/2 their true continuous rating. Hopefully they will respond well and start performing as they should.
