A high C rate describes how quickly a battery can be discharged. A 2000mAh Lithium polymer battery with a continuous C rating of 1C would mean it should not be discharged any faster than 2000mA (2A), which would take one hour. A 2000mAh pack rated for 5C continuous would be able to discharge at 5 times its capacity (5 x 2000mA = 10000mA or 10A), at which rate it would discharge in 1/5th of an hour. Using a pack with a higher C rating than you require will leave some room for safety and extend the life of your lithium polymer battery.

To select a highly-rated lithium polymer battery for your RC helicopter, you must first know what voltage you require and how much current you will draw continuously. If the motor in your RC helicopter is rated to work with 11.1V, you would need a 3-cell lithium polymer battery. If you need to draw 10A and would like your RC helicopter to have a 10-minute (1/6th of an hour = 6C) flight, you would need a battery with 10A / 6 = 1.7A = 1700mAh. This means you would need to put a 3s 1700mAh lithium polymer battery with a C rating of 6 or higher in your RC helicopter.

C-rated is the discharge rate of the lipoly battery or lipoly battery pack. Ordinary lipoly batteries have an average C-rated value of 1-2C, and this particular high C-rated lipoly battery is made of a unique electrolyte that can support polymer batteries draining at 5C-50C without overheating and damage.

While most consumer applications only require 1C lipoly batteries, these high c rated lipoly batteries are ideal for high-emission applications such as RC Auto, RC Heli, Airsoft, Robotics, E-Bikes, etc. Essentially, any demanding applications require higher amounts of amps or bursts of amps.

If you know the continuous current and the capacity of the lipo battery pack you want, you can quickly determine the C rate you need. If you are drawing 10A from a 5000mAh pack, take the current and divide by the capacity: 10A = 10000mA, 10000mA / 5000mAh = 2C.

LiPoly battery is also given a C rate in terms of burst, the rate at which the battery discharges quickly. A 5000mAh lipoly battery, the burst rate is 5C, which means the battery can provide 5 x 5000mA=25000mA(25A) current for several seconds.

Determine the Required Discharge Rate (C-Rating):

Assess the needs of your device or application. The discharge rate you require will depend on how much current your device draws during operation. For instance, high-performance drones or RC cars often need batteries with higher C-ratings (30C or above) to perform optimally.

Calculate the Required Capacity:

Consider how long you need the battery to last before recharging. Battery capacity, measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), determines the energy storage capacity. Select a battery with a capacity that meets your usage duration while also considering the size and weight constraints of your device.

Check the Voltage Requirements:

Ensure the battery’s voltage matches your device’s requirements. The total voltage is determined by the number of cells in series within the battery (e.g., 3.7V per cell in LiPo batteries).

Size and Weight Considerations:

Make sure the physical dimensions of the battery fit within your device without adding unnecessary bulk or weight, which can affect performance, especially in portable or aerial applications.

Connector Type:

Verify that the battery’s connector type matches your device or is adaptable. Common connectors include JST, XT60, and Deans connectors. Mismatches can lead to poor connections or the need for adapters, which might affect performance.

Quality and Safety Features:

Opt for batteries with built-in safety features like a protection circuit module (PCM) to prevent issues such as overcharging, deep discharging, and overheating. Choose reputable brands and suppliers to ensure quality and reliability.