Do lithium ion batteries need to be conditioned (drained fully and fully recharged) the first few times?

Question

Do lithium ion batteries need to be conditioned (drained fully and fully recharged) the first few times for the best battery power?

Answer 1

Negative.  No.  Never.  Bad idea.  They are designed to be continually charged as they're being used.  There is battery technology called Deep Cycle in which they function best when drained to almost no charge before being recharged, but Lithium Ion is NOT such technology.  (Nor for that matter, is NiMh.)  While it won't hurt the battery for it to be used for a long period before recharging it, don't deliberately drain it completely.  That WILL decrease the life expectancy of it.