If you’re just coming in to radio sailing, it’ll be about two hours before somebody mentions LiFe and LiPo batteries to you in the cafe! Baffling.

Well, there is a bit of a debate to say the least.

https://www.large.net/news/8eu43mr.html

This link above is quite a good description of what is at hand. I am still trying to nett it out, but I think it comes down to:-

• LiPo batteries are a fire risk (gulp), but perform better apparently
• LiFe batteries weigh a touch more for equivalent power/life/durability
• RW says that LiPo can deliver different winch power on a surge.

My new IOM arrived with LiPo’s. They are definitely of the 2-cell variety. I notice also they come with a fire proof pouch!!

So I thought,…. use LiFe in the IOM and work within permitted minimum weights… but in the Marblehead use LiPo’s as we are mad about weight saving as there is no minimum weight rule.

Then I thought I would pop them on the scales and find out…..

The red battery is LiPo and the blue is LiFe… 92gms and 49.6gms respectively….NOT what I expected! There is obviously a physical size difference to consider when you buy!! By the way, I find you need a different charger (or a sophisticated universal charger) for LiFe batteries.