Wet lipos

[Jlov]

I have a pair of soft case lipos that we're submerged in fresh water over night. Their apperance seems fine. No swelling and look normal. They have dried for about 5 days. I'm about to try and charge them for first time. Anything I should do special? Thx Jeff

[lenny]

What do the cells read with a cell checker ?

[Jlov]

First says. No1 7.03. No2 d3.3. All 6.86
Second. No1 3.27. No2. 3.23 All. 6.43

[tlandauer]

Look carefully at the balacing tabs, even fresh water will put greenish corrosion, you need to use a tooth brush with WD-40 to clean. I had a pair under water for only 30 minutes and was like that already. If it isn't cleaned, may give false reading and incorrect balancing.

[Jlov]

Yes I soaked bullets and balancing plugs in Corrosion X and cleaned them good. Just don't want them to catch on fire when I plug them into charger. Lol Thx Jeff

[lenny]

Those reading do not look very good,
And most lipo charger will not work with the cells that low.
You could try and charge them on a very slow NiMH charge with the cell checker on them,
And watch that they do not start to get hot and the volts do not go over 3.85 for each cell.
Than if they take that NiMH charge and do not get hot,
You can try and do a lipo charge on them.

[Jlov]

I have a Prophet charger. It only charges 2s and 3s. And only adjustment is the amps from 0-6amps. My 5000mah I charge at 5amps. Could I try charging them on say 1a? Thx Jeff

[785boats]

Jlov.
Is that a typo? In the first pack you say that the No 1 cell is at 7.03V.
Please tell me that you meant 3.03V.

Paul.

[Jlov]

Don t believe its a mistake. I'm going to go check them again right now

[Jlov]

1st- 7.15. D3.2. All 6.91
2nd- 3.29. 3.02. All 6.24

[Jlov]

So based on 785's reaction I assume I should not try and charge that lipo or either of these lipos? Thx Jeff

[kfxguy]

Charge them out on your driveway. That's what I do for looks in question. Catch fire....well at least nothing will be around it.

[Jlov]

Sounds like some good advice kfx. I would like to test them before I just throw them in trash. It won't hurt my charger trying to charge them if lipos are bad will it ? Thx Jeff

[kfxguy]

Sounds like some good advice kfx. I would like to test them before I just throw them in trash. It won't hurt my charger trying to charge them if lipos are bad will it ? Thx Jeff

I didn't hurt mine. It would go into protect mode when I had it set for lipo. I put it on NiMH on a VERY low amp setting and let it bump them to minimum voltage. I think it was on .1 or .2 amps.

[785boats]

It's just that a single cell can't be at 7.15V . I can't figure out how it can be that high & not have exploded. It must be a false reading somehow. Or perhaps the negative balance wire has come off & it is reading the full pack voltage.
The cells themselves can't be damaged by being under water. Only the connections. They will eventually corrode & the balance wires break off.
The ends of the packs need to be opened up & all the connections completely dried out after a dunking.
I have opened up many packs to re solder wires & tabs, remove blown cells, or replace puffy cells. Both for myself & fellow club members.

***But if you are not confident in cutting open a pack, I would advise you not to try it.***

That reminds me. I have a mates 6s pack that has a dead cell & needs to be re configured to a 4s pack. Must get to it.

Cheers.
Paul.