Glossary
Storage voltage
The partial charge level, around 3.8 volts per cell, recommended for LiPo batteries that will sit unused for more than a few days.
Storage voltage is the charge level manufacturers recommend for a LiPo pack that will not be flown again soon. It sits around 3.8 volts per cell, noticeably below a full charge of about 4.2 volts per cell. Most smart chargers include a storage mode that discharges or tops up a pack automatically to this level.
Keeping packs fully charged for weeks at a time puts ongoing stress on the cells and tends to shorten how many cycles they last, while leaving a pack fully discharged for a long period can damage it in a different way. Storage voltage is the middle ground that keeps a pack healthy between flying sessions without needing constant attention.
A common mistake is charging every pack to full the night before a flying session and then forgetting some of them for weeks when plans change. Get in the habit of storage charging packs as soon as a session ends rather than right before the next one, and only bring them to full charge shortly before you actually plan to fly.