Proper LiPo Storage...Take It Seriously

[longballlumber]

Is it okay to drop off bad lipos that weren't properly discharged to battery recycling centers? I have some that I have no way of discharging which I need to get rid of.

They happen to be Traxxas junk lipos. Most of them were barely used, too. Someone should sue their asses for selling non-boat rated lipos with their boat(s).

You can soak them in a salt water solution that will discharge them to zero voltage over time. This should be done before disposing of them.

[tlandauer]

All lipos need to be soaked in salt water before proper disposal. Buy salt at Super Market and a plastic bucket, put salt in the water, and soak batteries for a few days.
You will see green corrosive sediments flowing on the water and you know it's working. The little pins in the balance plug should be completely corroded after a few days. You may see bubbles from the batteries not long after you put them in the salt water.
It's not safe to just dispose any un treated lipo.
I don't know if battery recycling center actually takes lipo. Hopefully someone would chime in.

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[ray schrauwen]

Is it okay to drop off bad lipos that weren't properly discharged to battery recycling centers? I have some that I have no way of discharging which I need to get rid of.

They happen to be Traxxas junk lipos. Most of them were barely used, too. Someone should sue their asses for selling non-boat rated lipos with their boat(s).

It depends on the place you go to. Some will, some won't . if they take laptops with Li Ion, they may take lipo too. My place does.

[Peter A]

Ok so lipo disposal, just throwing them in saltwater will not discharge them, it will only corrode off the terminals, the result of that is the 'green' which is the copper tabs corroding! To dispose of properly;
1) Discharge lipo on charger.
2) Using a small load, eg tail light bulb, discharge pack until bulb no longer lights. Do this in a safe area. Voltage should be less than 1v for pack or even millivolts.
3) Cut apart pack, remove wires and slice open or pierce cells.
4) Now put into saltwater solution for a week or two. I suggest a plastic bucket in a well ventilated area.
5) Dispose in landfill.

After this process the lipo battery is inert and no longer a fire risk.

Another thing to consider, if Doby had a smoke alarm near his cabinet he may have been aware of a problem earlier. He could just as easily been sleeping or not home and it could have been much worse. Smoke alarms are cheap and a really good first line of warning of fire.

[tlandauer]

I measured mine after a few days and they are completely discharged, i took my reading from the main wire and I thought that's ok????
I understand that they need to be discharged but I thought dumping them in salt water has the same effect while the batteries are being made inert????


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[Peter A]

Salt water is corrosive and while it is also conductive, it is not enough to necessisarily discharge the battery. Tim a zero or very low reading could be because the terminals have corroded off, and the cells could still be holding a charge. The only way to be sure is to take them through a process like I described.
It would be VERY good if battery manufacturers put out proper disposal methods for Lipo/Li-ion batteries. After all if they are not safe enough for the airlines to transport, how dangerous are they in the hands of every day people, who are often unknowledgeable (and often dumb a$$ idiots, not here of course!) on the technologies and associated dangers. Sadly it would seem that many battery disposal facilities have no idea either and just send them straight to landfill. There are so many lithium based batteries around now that is is only a matter of time before something goes wrong....

[Doby]

Smoke alarm went off 2 minutes after I opened the cabinet...it was keeping most of it inside....

I doubt the cabinet would have not been able to contain everything even if all the lipos would have eventually gone off....its big and heavy gauge steel construction. The visible damage on the inside was mainly from the paint being burned off...there was no visible damage on the outside of the cabinet...not even paint blistering directly on the location where the meltdown occurred. The gauge of steel is about twice as thick as the steel fire bowl on our outdoor fireplace, and it burns for hours on end without a warp etc...

All of this happened within about 20 minutes...got up...made breakfast with the Mrs....ate outside on the deck...came back in and noticed the odor.

So please, everyone who reads this....make sure your LiPos are stored safely...think OVERKILL.

[Doby]

Its also interesting that a few of the folks who have posted on here, basically implying they need to re-think their storage methods are some of the more "seasoned" racers.

I'm glad they posted as everyone has to be careful about becoming to complacent.

Scary to think how many LiPos are tossed in closets etc, awaiting their next use.

[Doug Smock]

"After the smoke had cleared and the carcases were removed, the suicidal LiPo was tracked down to one of the 4S Revolectrix LiPos I purchased recently".


Are you sure? Revolectrix just don't have problems. Must be your equipment.

Thanks Doby, a great reminder for all of us.



.

[Peter A]

Thanks Doby for the reminder, and being the guinea pig for us all. Good that you had a smoke alarm too. Just wondering if a smoke alarm sensor inside the cabinet wouldn't be a bad idea? Earlier warning.
And because I moved house only a couple of weeks ago, tonight's mission is to sort out my lipo storage and put up a smoke alarm. I have an old ammo box that has been used for a toolbox for decades, and I have eyeballed it and thought it would be just right for storing my lipos in. Currently I have only 9 packs plus two old ones that need disposal, but it only takes one!
I also like to have a smoke alarm where I charge also.

[Doby]

"After the smoke had cleared and the carcases were removed, the suicidal LiPo was tracked down to one of the 4S Revolectrix LiPos I purchased recently".


Are you sure? Revolectrix just don't have problems. Must be your equipment.

Now, now.. Mr Smock....I'll put my moderator hat on (if only I had those God like powers) for a minute...lets keep this topic on track and and not get into a LiPo "flame" war on brand "A" being better than Brand "B", or this P-Limited motor should be on a list but not this one.....

They are just toy boats fellas! Back on topic.

God that felt good (I could use a cigarette right now after that) Of course, I'd have to start smoking first.


The only reason I posted what brand it was because I knew someone would eventually ask.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming......STORAGE SAFETY!!

[Doby]

Peter, a smoke alarm is all fine and dandy as long as there is someone home to hear it.. few weeks ago I was in Switzerland for a week...had it happened then I probably would have lost all LiPos but I'm sure the house would still be standing.

[Peter A]

Peter, a smoke alarm is all fine and dandy as long as there is someone home to hear it.. few weeks ago I was in Switzerland for a week...had it happened then I probably would have lost all LiPos but I'm sure the house would still be standing.

Yep true, they are just so good for helping save lives when people are in the house. Perhaps a CO2 extinguishing system installed in the cabinet...I know I'm thinking out loud again!
Just the other day here in NZ, there were a number of people killed in a house fire, two got out because of a working alarm. Considering the potential risk it is something we need to take seriously, just like swimming for boats, lives (not forgetting property damage/loss either) are worth more.

[Doby]

Yep true, they are just so good for helping save lives when people are in the house. Perhaps a CO2 extinguishing system installed in the cabinet...I know I'm thinking out loud again!
Just the other day here in NZ, there were a number of people killed in a house fire, two got out because of a working alarm. Considering the potential risk it is something we need to take seriously, just like swimming for boats, lives (not forgetting property damage/loss either) are worth more.

Exactly!

I'm even now going to be on the lookout for a second cabinet to keep outside and move the LiPos out there when I'm away for a vacation etc..on second thought, move the current smelly one outside and keep the new one inside.

[JimClark]

Doby so you did nothing special as far as any vents or anything? Good idea maybe I should look for something a lot smaller as I only have small 2s (1500 mah0 AND 6 2S 5000 MAH batteries