LiPo Fire!

[Radioflyer]

Hi All,
I wanted to share a story to bring the reality of fire and safety to the fore front when charging your batteries. As posted on RCG a guy was charging a lipo in his garage. He had gone and checked on it a couple of times but then he heard a bang and his smoke detectors went off. He got to the garage to find the corner on fire. He went back inside and grabbed a fire extinguisher which he said took about 5 seconds. When he got back to the garage it was fully engulfed. At that point he was able to get his family and dogs out of the house.

Here's the news story and video~

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/video/?cid=239142

I hope all who read this rethink how they charge and store your batteries.

I store mine in cinder blocks with pavers on top. Today I modified one so the wire of the battery come through a small hole for charging. At Menards I was able to pick up a cinder block for $.85 and pavers were $1.00 a piece. Very cheap security and insurance.

Blessings,

Jay

[liquid1]

Hi All,
I wanted to share a story to bring the reality of fire and safety to the fore front when charging your batteries. As posted on RCG a guy was charging a lipo in his garage. He had gone and checked on it a couple of times but then he heard a bang and his smoke detectors went off. He got to the garage to find the corner on fire. He went back inside and grabbed a fire extinguisher which he said took about 5 seconds. When he got back to the garage it was fully engulfed. At that point he was able to get his family and dogs out of the house.

Here's the news story and video~

http://ozarksfirst.com/content/video/?cid=239142

I hope all who read this rethink how they charge and store your batteries.

I store mine in cinder blocks with pavers on top. Today I modified one so the wire of the battery come through a small hole for charging. At Menards I was able to pick up a cinder block for $.85 and pavers were $1.00 a piece. Very cheap security and insurance.

Blessings,

Jay

WOW thanks for sharing..I sure need to do something with mine. I have a small fridge, Wonder if this would be a good place to store the batts.

[WJCJR1]

WOW thanks for sharing..I sure need to do something with mine. I have a small fridge, Wonder if this would be a good place to store the batts.

Storing the batteries in the fridge has no ill effects especially if you have them at about 2/3 charged.

But just to mention this Fire happened during charging.

BTW Jay if you recall the particular post this originated from I'd be interested.

Most definitely one needs to respect their LIPOS.

Thanks,
Wayne

[Radioflyer]

The story starts on this page post 5826 and continues through. This guy and his family is very fortunate although a ferret and some snakes were lost along with many other things.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1156732&page=389

I went out today and purchased more cinder blaocks and pavers and I will be charging with more supervision. I have always triple checked the charge rate and then walked away. I won't be doing that any more.

Even though this happened during charging... have you seen what happens when they get punctured? Think of a dog biting done on an unattended pack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M5ftkN9PtY&feature=player_embedded

Blessings,

Jay

[Radioflyer]

Hi All,
I urge you all to watch these videos on containing LiPo fires.

http://www.utahflyers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=28

Blessings,

Jay

[Mike]

Has anyone heard of a lipo exploding while not charging?

[Radioflyer]

Yes.
If it was involved in a crash and punchured. After any crash a battery should be watched and stored in a safe place. I have not heard of them igniting just because they sat though.

Blessings,

Jay

[v11t]

Hi Guys

I'm always on the battery while charging,but after wacthing the videos I wonder if when they are stored they are also dangerous.

I store them in my garage whith many other things (cars-bikes etc.)is safe or even when they are resting are dangerous to explode and fire?

We must build a "bunker" to have peace of mind? The vendors who store them in their shops what precaution take to not have their business turn in a fireball?

:confused:

[jrb]

Does anybody have proof that an undamage LiPo has blown up with the proper voltage/cell count applied?

[phantomphan]

I believe there is. Sorry I cant point you to it at the moment. However, the one I read about was a small lipo (2s) that ignited while being charged. The pack had never been in a crash, it wasnt puffed, no indication of anything wrong. I think the charger was a Hirobo auto type supplied with a coax heli, so setting voltage/cell count wasnt an option. Luckily, the guy just suffered some minor damage to a table that the batt and charger were on.
Now, there were a few things I dont have the details on, so I do think its possible that the charger was the problem. But I wont gamble on that assumption.
Cheers.

[jrb]

IIRC all fires to date were from damaged cells or wrong count/volts when charging.

[WingingIt74]

With all these cheap Chinese Lipos, I could see it happen. Never heard of one, but it could always be possible I guess.

[v11t]

The problem is if there is a proof that they are dangerous while STORED AT REST not while charging or cause damaged.

Have anyone some evidence?

:confused:

[phantomphan]

IIRC all fires to date were from damaged cells or wrong count/volts when charging.

How can anyone claim 'all fires'? Maybe all fires reported, as anything under the heavens can fail at anytime without warning.

Cheers.

[WJCJR1]

I have only seen LIPOS puff up when being used beyond their capacity rating.

I ALWAYS protect my LIPOS from constant UV exposure, charge/draw at or below max charge/draw rates and store them in cool environment. I have never had a battery PUFF, blow-up or catch fire on me.

A HZ representative told me they had a LIPO puff on them after being in a display case under a small UV light for a few days. Other than making sure they're not directly under a UV light a few inches away I am not aware of any extraordinary measures thay take in storing batteries for market.

My opinion, just my opinion, if you take care of your batteries, use and charge them responsibly you will be fine. It was practive for me to use a safe for charging my batteries but dropped my guard after a few months of cycling batteries without a single issue.

Wayne