Your airsoft gun battery should be the first thing you check when troubleshooting any airsoft gun that is failing to cycle. Be sure and check the fuse as well.  When upgrading your guns internals, keep in mind that a stronger battery may be needed to cycle your gun if you upgrade to higher torque levels(velocity).

Battery voltage (V) is determined by the number of cells in the battery pack. Multiply the number of cells by 1.2 volts to get the pack's voltage, e.g. 7 cells X 1.2V = 8.4V, 8 cells X 1.2V = 9.6V. The amount of voltage determines the rate of fire of the airsoft gun and how strong of a spring you can cycle in the individual airsoft gun.

Battery milliamp (mah) should be printed on the battery cells. The amount of Milli amp hours indicates the (volume of your battery) the larger the Mah rating the more reserve power your battery will store. this directly relates to how long you can fire your battery-powered airsoft gun for, and how long and often you will need to re-charge your battery.

There are three types of rechargeable batteries suitable for Airsoft AEG usage, nickel cadmium (Ni Cad), nickel metal hydride (Nimh) and Lithium_Ion Polymer (Lipo) batteries. The following is a comparison list between the three battery types and how each will effect your electric powered airsoft weapon. Most airsoft guns that include a battery, come with a Nimh 8.4 volt battery type.

Airsoft Gun Battery Types;

NICAD

1. Because of MEMORY in Nicads discharging is required after each use.
2. High output rates = High rates of fire = More BB's a Minute
3. Can be fast charged at high amperage
4. Smaller overall milliamp capacity than Nimh batteries
   

NIMH

1. No battery memory so discharging is NOT REQUIRED
2. Rate of airsoft gun fire will be slightly lower with Nimh
3. Must be charged at 3A or less requiring a special smart charger to fast charge.
4. Higher milliamp capacity than nicads meaning more Airsoft trigger time per charge.

Never pull batteries by their plugs and be careful not to damage the wiring insulation. Heat shrink tubing can be used to repair damaged insulation.

Exposing the battery wires to contact with another battery wire or other metallic objects can cause the battery to short out and create a potential fire hazard.

Unplug batteries from your airsoft gun whenever it is not in use.

Condition your batteries by charging them during times of extended storage.(1-3 months)

Store batteries in a cool, dry place when not being used.

Never expose batteries to open flame or break open the cells.

Be sure to dispose of batteries in the proper manner.

*WARNING*: Do not overcharge batteries! If they overheat, you could cause damage to the battery and create a potential fire hazard!

Be sure to read the charger instructions thoroughly before charging your battery. ·

Not all chargers are created equal. Please use the proper charger which is intended for your battery type, if you are charging a 9.6V Nimh battery, be sure your charger can charge 9.6V batteries and Nimh type batteries.

Be sure to use the proper connectors to connect your battery to the charger. Airsoft gun plugs are polarized, meaning they can only be "plugged in" in one direction.

Calculate the proper amount of time required to charge a battery by dividing the battery's milliamp capacity by the chargers charge rate, e.g. it would take a 250 mah rate charger 6 hours to charge a completely drained 1500 mah battery. Every charger is different, so be certain to read your chargers manual thoroughly before charging your battery.

If you are not certain of a battery's remaining charge and you wish to charge it, place the battery on the charger and check it every 5-10 minutes. If the battery is warm to the touch, assume it is fully charged. If it is hot to the touch, remove the battery from the charger immediately!

Remember, NiCad batteries must be completely discharged before charging again. Use the appropriate discharger to discharge the battery, or completely drain the battery through normal use before charging again.

LIPO Batteries

LiPo battery packs are newer to airsoft guns but are known to have the highest power to weight ratio than any other battery available. LIPO batteries can also be made very compact, which is especially useful in airsoft guns. These batteries are being used in just about everything portable these days ranging from hearing aids to laptop computers. By drastically extending trigger time and greatly increasing power, LiPo battery packs are making it possible for electric airsoft guns to fire at rates exceeding 25 bb's per second with proper durability upgrades installed. These batteries come in higher voltage ratings with faster discharge rates than other battery types.  Lipo batteries can present an extreme fire and or explosion hazard if not handled and charged correctly. Special charging units must be used.

Upgrading to a LIPO type battery to increase your rate of fire or bb's fired per second. The high discharge rate of the LIPO battery combined with high speed gears, (16:1 or 13:1) ratio can create rates of fire in excess of 1500 bb's per second.  Most internal parts of the gearbox will need to be upgraded for durability to handle the accelerated wear this fast cycling will create. For more information on lipo type batteries visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_polymer_battery

Airsoft Gun Battery Connectors

Currently there are two main battery connector types used. The most common is the Tamiya 2 pin connector. This type of plug is included on most stock airsoft guns and batteries. A special pin connector tool is needed to remove this type connector without damage.

A two bladed style connector called the "deans connector" is available from after market RC retailers and hobby websites. These connectors have more surface area on the blade style plug and are rated for up to 30 AMPS. You will need to install these yourself on the battery cable and airsoft gun wiring harness.

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