how to make lipos safe for disposal

[dasboata]

Is it true, to let them soak in salt water ? I want to recycle some cells, and want to make them safe, while waiting to dispose thanks Chris

[pistol18]

Hey Chris, this is what I've done a few times with good success.
Joe

http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...osing-of-lipos

From "Lipo Power"
** DISPOSAL OF LIPO BATTERIES **
Unlike NiCd batteries, lithium-polymer batteries are environmentally friendly.
For safety reasons, it’s best that LiPo cells be fully discharged before disposal (however,
if physically damaged it is NOT recommended to discharge LiPo cells before disposal -
see below for details). The batteries must also be cool before proceeding with disposal
instructions. To dispose of LiPo cells and packs:
1. If any LiPo cell in the pack has been physically damaged, resulting
in a swollen cell or a split or tear in a cell’s foil covering, do NOT discharge the battery.
Jump to step 5.
2. Place the LiPo battery in a fireproof container or bucket of sand.
3. Connect the battery to a LiPo discharger. Set the discharge cutoff
voltage to the
lowest possible value. Set the discharge current to a C/10 value, with “C” being the
capacity rating of the pack. For example, the “1C” rating for a 1200mAh battery is 1.2A,
and that battery’s C/10 current value is (1.2A / 10) can be used,
such as a power resistor or set of light bulbs as long as the discharge current doesn’t
exceed the C/10 value and cause an overheating condition.
For LiPo packs rated at 7.4V and 11.1V , connect a 150 ohm resistor with a power rating
of 2 watts (commonly found at Radio Shack)to the pack’s positive and negative terminals
to safely discharge connecting it to an ESC/ motor system and allowing the motor to run
indefinitely until no power remains to further cause the system to function.
4. Discharge the battery until its voltage reaches 1.0V per cell or
lower. For resistive load type discharges, discharge the battery for up to 24 hours.
5. Submerse the battery into bucket or tub of salt water. This container should have a lid,
but it should not need to be air-tight. Prepare a plastic container (do not use metal) of cold
water. And mix in 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. Drop the battery into the salt water.
Allow the battery to remain in the tub of salt water for at least 2 weeks.
6. Remove the LiPo battery from the salt water, wrap it in newspaper or paper towels and
place it in the normal trash. They are landfill safe.

[Peter A]

That mostly does it, just a couple of points from my own experience. You can discharge on the charger to 3V/cell, then connect to a bulb (I used an indicator bulb) until it glows no more. At that point there will be very little voltage left. Before putting in salt water cut open the cells so that the salt gets into the cells themselves.
Be safe also, do all this preferably outside on concrete or similar in case some thing goes wrong.

[photohoward1]

how to make lipos safe for disposal

I put a nail through them and dump them in a bucket. No voltage no power no energy no problem.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dmitry100]

I had my boat with lipos under 15+ feet of fresh water for less than 48 hours until my little brother recovered it (scuba) and it discharged each and everyone of my packs down to 0.9v per cell. It even corroded a lot of the connectors, especially the balancing leads.

I wonder if the salt water is made to prolong the discharge process...

[Fluid]

The cells should not be punctured as this is considered unsafe. The reason for the salt water is NOT to get into the cells, it is to provide an electolitic path from the positive lead to the negative, shorting out the pack at a very low rate. This is why the recommended soak time is measured in weeks.

This is the recommended procedure from LiPo manufacturers. Of course you don't have to follow it, some members here obviously know more about LiPo safety than the cell makers do.


.

[Peter A]

What I think is important in such a discussion, is to get right and accurate information.

This is the recommended procedure from LiPo manufacturers. Of course you don't have to follow it, some members here obviously know more about LiPo safety than the cell makers do.

Safety and disposal are two different things! As there is often more opinion than fact, it would be really great if the 'manufacturers' would publish a proper guide to the disposal of their products! Or do they really know? After all they make money out of producing them and there is no requirement on them for the end of life disposal.

As far as salt water providing "an electrolitic path", yes that will happen but it is very weak and salt in such a solution corrodes the terminals off quite quickly reducing such effect. When I have terminated lipos the leads are cut short and soldered together (cells around 0.1V) to completely short the pack, the cells then cut into to allow the salt to react with and neutralise the cells so that they end up dead, not just extremely flat, so that when they are disposed of I can be sure that they will never be a potential fire hazard. Works so far.
Of course I could be totally wrong and be creating a great fracture in some universal time space continuum and the daleks will return!

[Chilli]

This is what happens when you put a nail through a cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4KAOu1xiA0

Do what Fluid says.

[Jeff Wohlt]

I live in the country....a 12 ga cleans them up pretty fast and is fun to watch. Or we just ship all puffed cells to North Korea....LOL.

Sorry, listen to Jay if you want the safe way....as long as the manufacturers know more about disposal than most of their claimed C ratings you will be fine.