Batteries and gas power most of what you buy in an airsoft shop, and both deserve a bit of respect. A LiPo that is charged wrong can catch fire; a gas canister in a hot car can burst. This article covers safe charging, storage and transport, what we can and cannot ship, and what to do with old batteries.
LiPo batteries: charging
- Use a balance charger made for LiPo and always connect the balance lead. Never charge a LiPo on a NiMH charger.
- Charge at 1C or lower: a 1200 mAh pack at 1.2 A. Faster charging shortens the life of the pack and raises the fire risk.
- Charge on a non-flammable surface, in a LiPo safe bag and never unattended or overnight.
- Stop if a cell gets hot, swells or the charger reports an error. A puffed pack is finished: do not charge or use it again.
- Do not charge a pack that is still warm from playing and do not charge below 0 °C.
LiPo batteries: using and storing
- Never discharge a LiPo below 3.0 V per cell. Stop playing when the rate of fire drops; a MOSFET with low-voltage cut-off protects the pack.
- Store packs at storage charge (about 3.8 V per cell, 40 to 60%), not full and not empty. Most chargers have a storage mode.
- Store in a LiPo bag or ammo box, dry, at room temperature, away from anything flammable.
- Check the voltage every couple of months if you store a pack for a long time.
- Never pierce, crush or short a pack. Tape loose connectors before transport.
NiMH batteries
NiMH packs are more forgiving. Charge them on a NiMH charger with delta-peak detection at 0.5 to 1C, let them cool between use and charging, and store them in a cool, dry place. Unlike LiPo they can be stored full. A NiMH pack that has lost a lot of capacity can sometimes be revived with a few full charge and discharge cycles.
Green gas and CO2
- Green gas and CO2 capsules are pressurised. Keep them below 50 °C, out of the sun and never in a car in summer.
- Do not leave a GBB magazine filled for months; the seals dry out. A light film of silicone oil keeps them supple.
- Use CO2 only in replicas and magazines made for CO2. The higher pressure damages green gas magazines.
- Empty canisters are household waste in most countries once fully empty; check your local rules.
Shipping restrictions
Lithium batteries, green gas and CO2 are dangerous goods. We ship them by road within the EU only, packed separately in the parcel according to the carrier's rules. We cannot ship them to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway or any other country outside the EU, or to islands served by air. When you return a replica, remove the battery and the gas first; see exchanges and returns and shipping countries and rates.
Warranty on batteries
Batteries wear: losing capacity over time is normal and not a defect. A pack that is dead on arrival or fails within the first weeks of normal use is covered; a pack that was over-discharged, overcharged, punctured or charged on the wrong charger is not. See warranty and defects.
Old batteries: hand them in
Under the EU battery regulation, batteries never go in household waste. Hand in old LiPo and NiMH packs at a collection point: most supermarkets, electronics shops and municipal recycling centres take them for free. Discharge a LiPo to storage voltage and tape the connectors before you hand it in. Puffed or damaged packs should go to a recycling centre, not a supermarket bin. As a seller of batteries we also take back your old airsoft batteries free of charge: e-mail [email protected] for the address.
Playing safe
Always wear eye protection that is rated for airsoft, keep the replica on safe when you are not shooting, remove the magazine and battery when you store it and check the rules of the field you play at. The legal side per country is in airsoft law per country.