Proper LiPo Storage...Take It Seriously

[tlandauer]

Tim, fire bricks should handle some quite high temperatures. I used to have a furnace for heat treating spring steel that would get up to 1000 deg. C. It was lined with fire bricks.

Thanks, Peter. I just have some doubts as to the everyday variety househood bricks they use for homes. I have no knowledge whether there are different grades of bricks. I know the ones used in a metal foundry can withstand high temp.

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[TRUCKPULL]

I guess the correct term is dry chemical.
Pretty much a power from the fire extinguishers that we used.
It does leave quite the mess of powder behind to clean up afterwards

Ken
What I have been doing at home when charging since I charge on a wooden table.
I use Medium Zip lock Freezer bags with sand about 1/2" to 3/4" inch deep when laying on there side, (press out the air and zip them up)
A flat sand pack is laid over each cell, If it gets to hot, it melts the plastic, and the sand runs out and smothers the fire.
This could also be used for storage, One sand bag for each cell.
Price is pretty low also.

Larry

[kfxguy]

Ken
What I have been doing at home when charging since I charge on a wooden table.
I use Medium Zip lock Freezer bags with sand about 1/2" to 3/4" inch deep when laying on there side, (press out the air and zip them up)
A flat sand pack is laid over each cell, If it gets to hot, it melts the plastic, and the sand runs out and smothers the fire.
This could also be used for storage, One sand bag for each cell.
Price is pretty low also.

Larry

Very good idea. Sandwich them with the bags would be even better.

[dmitry100]

(Just got a nice 12" x 6" x 7.5" steel ammo box for like $20 bucks from amazon)

Wouldn't it make sense NOT to drill holes in the air tight ammo box ... since a fire can't burn without much air in the first place or do lipos burn without air anyway?

So in that case... maybe holes just big enough to release pressure build up?

[TRUCKPULL]

So in that case... maybe holes just big enough to release pressure build up?

Yes - this is what you want.

Larry

[pescador]

(Just got a nice 12" x 6" x 7.5" steel ammo box for like $20 bucks from amazon)

Wouldn't it make sense NOT to drill holes in the air tight ammo box ... since a fire can't burn without much air in the first place or do lipos burn without air anyway?

So in that case... maybe holes just big enough to release pressure build up?

I take out the rubber seal in the lid, it's easier than drilling holes.

[NativePaul]

Burning lithium produces its own oxygen, it will burn feely in a sealed container, under water or buried in sand, A CO2 extinguisher will only work if you can physically chill the lithium to below its thermal runnaway temperature. This may vary with the location of your charger, but I think in the majority of household locations a hole in the top will allow for the maximum size of flame before it comes in contact with any thing that could be flammable.

[JimClark]

I will find the videos but I have seen ammo boxes with smaller batteries than we usually use nearly blow the lid off an ammo box

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[markwithak]

For a Grainger tip try ZORO TOOLS its grainger online same part numbers with a totally different price.

[urbs00007]

A LiPo Public Service Announcement...by Doby:

This is my LiPo storage Cabinet:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]136620[/ATTACH]

Its a Rittal Electrical Panel Enclosure. The company I worked for several years ago was going to throw it out (brand new) as the contract it was purchased for got cancelled. I felt sorry for it and gave it a new home.

It is made out of thick steel and weighs about 60 Lbs.

On any given day it houses approx. 70 LiPos of several brands, Turnigys, Zippys, Revolectrix and Polyquests., and a handful of SLA batteries for my scale boats.

All LiPos stored at 50% or less capacity.

As of Saturday morning, it now stores approximately 60 LiPos.


Those of you with advanced math skills will realize that there is a 10 LiPo difference from the beginning of the story.

Here is where the Qty 10 LiPo's are:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]136626[/ATTACH]

Seems on Saturday morning, there was a rather peculiar odor coming from the workshop, upon further investigation (after opening the cabinet) one of my LiPos decided it had had enough of living and decided to commit suicide and take a few innocent by standers with it. (Perhaps the offending battery originated for a rather unstable part of the middle east...)

As the entire cabinet was clouded in smoke it was hard to see the extent of the damage other than a few glowing "coals" in one location.

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.

It had a wonky cell that would only charge to about 91% while the remaining charged to 99%. When stored at 50%, the one cell was about 10% lower as well.

After all of the "soot" and other crap was cleaned out, here is what the cabinet looks like now, clearly showing where the Chernobyl event began.:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]136627[/ATTACH]

After spending several hours and using several jugs of alcohol to clean the remaining batteries, life is back to normal. The cabinet, while a tad smelly and scarred is no worse for wear and the house is still standing.

People hear stories about things like this happening and hope it will never happen to them...well, I can assure you that it can....but if you are prepared, the damage will be minimal.

TAKE A QUICK MINUTE AND MAKE SURE YOUR LIPOS ARE STORED PROPERLY. IF THEY AREN'T...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.

if that 4-s had a bad cell, why didnt you return it for a replacement. and why did you store it with other good batteries? is it unusual for a lipo to blow up in storage mode? just asking.

[Doby]

if that 4-s had a bad cell, why didnt you return it for a replacement. and why did you store it with other good batteries? is it unusual for a lipo to blow up in storage mode? just asking.

Bought the Revos used from a member here..they were good when I bought them...should I have returned it to him after the cell went bad? Now if a lipo shows even the slightest sign of wonkyness..its bath time and asta la vista...to the dump you go!

Remember..the whole point of this thread is to wake up people who store them in totally inappropriate places.

[TRUCKPULL]

This is what I use now:

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...Storage-Bunker

If one pack goes, the rest are protected.
All packs are stored at 50% and BALANCED

Larry

[tlandauer]

I have a large number of packs, i keep them in my fire place. Is that a no no?

[JimClark]

What houses in California have fireplaces?

I have a large number of packs, i keep them in my fire place. Is that a no no?

[tlandauer]

Mine has a real one, not one of them gas ones...