LIPO fire at the FE Nationals

[runzwithsizorz]

Being a total noob at this, I'm like a sponge and hearing/learning about this stuff is VERY helpful to myself and others in the same situation as I am, new to the sport/hobby.

-RFL

WELCOME, grasshopper! It just so happens I will be visiting your great state in a couple of days, (Marietta), and then on to Florida, or at least what's left of it.
BTW, nice Nom D' Plume, I'm sure Properchopper would approve.

[keithbradley]

Has anyone ever overcharged a lipo (on purpose) to get more volts for that extra advantage?

Not on purpose. It wouldn't make sense...why not just use a higher cell count?

I charged a 2s lipo to almost 10v...

[RydForLyf]

Marietta is where I call home. Used to be FL, Palm Beach County, but not anymore.

Thanks for the notice.

-RFL

[Grimracer]

We do a ton of Lipo testing and Lipo bag testing.

We have found that the over charging a cell is puts the cell in the most danger of fire.

We have also found that you DO NOT want to skimp on a lipo sack. If the stitching is not fire proof the rest does not matter.

Just so you know.. we have found HUGE advantages to snaps over Velcro when it comes to lipo sacks.

Here is the one from GP.. (you can remove this link if you need to Steve. Im not trying to sell stuff just bringing forward some of what we have found)

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZKA2&P=ML

Grim

[runzwithsizorz]

Marietta is where I call home. Used to be FL, Palm Beach County, but not anymore.

Thanks for the notice.

-RFL

Is the chicken still there so's I can navigate? lol. Love Palm Beach, stayed at Breakers for a couple of night's, which pretty much cleaned out my bank account. But was it worth it, BOY HOWDY!

[runzwithsizorz]

"we have found HUGE advantages to snaps over Velcro when it comes to lipo sacks." OH, SNAP!

[RydForLyf]

Is the chicken still there so's I can navigate? lol. Love Palm Beach, stayed at Breakers for a couple of night's, which pretty much cleaned out my bank account. But was it worth it, BOY HOWDY!

Of course. 111111111111111111111.jpg

We're 8.6 miles from the Big Chicken. It's how everything is referenced down here.

-RFL

[detox]

I like Williams Bros BBQ. Not far from the big chick.

[keithbradley]

Thanks for the info in regards to the fire ext. not working Jim.
Is there a suspect cause in this? Lessons learned? Perhaps we shouldn't put so many eggs in one basket?

[Fluid]

Not on purpose. It wouldn't make sense...why not just use a higher cell count?

It makes sense if you are limited to a maximum cell count. I do not know this for a fact - but it was strongly suspected that racers at recent SAW events overcharged their packs to increase the starting voltage. This would not help much for an oval racer since the extra voltage will burn off during the mill. However if you launched a SAW boat pointed at the traps, that first pass would have a higher starting voltage and in theory be faster, rasing the average of two passes.

The solution to this dangerous practice is to require all SAW racers to actually launch from the pit area - like the rules state - so they have to make a U-turn before entering the traps. I'm just sayin'...



.

[Darin Jordan]

The solution to this dangerous practice is to require all SAW racers to actually launch from the pit area - like the rules state - so they have to make a U-turn before entering the traps. I'm just sayin'...

+1 Couldn't agree more...

[keithbradley]

I get what you are saying about the higher starting voltage, but I don't see where launching from a different place would make a difference. If you're at 4.2v/cell and lose 0.1v getting to the U-turn, you're at 4.1v/cell. If you're at 4.5v/cell and you lose 0.1v you're at 4.4v/cell.

I'm not suggesting anything about people cheating as I know nothing of the event in question, but I HAVE accidentally overcharged a lipo to a high degree and I can say for sure that if the cells remain stable, they hold that higher charge for a long period of time.

[Grazacind]

Just my 2 cents worth here. What plan or policy is in place to put out a lipo fire. It seems that we all rush in to help and maybe that is not such a great thing.

Over the next however long where we all use lipo's and I am sure will see more incidents. Could the people on here who have experience come up with a common plan. This plan should be used at race days and events so we limit harm to ourselves and others.

The added benefit is the information rubs off onto the sport boating community to help increase awareness and safety.

Cheers
Andrew

[detox]

Not on purpose. It wouldn't make sense...why not just use a higher cell count?

I charged a 2s lipo to almost 10v...

For instance in spec racing you are limited to 4 cell count (4s1p). You are not limited in voltage.

[JIM MARCUM]

Thanks for the info in regards to the fire ext. not working Jim.
Is there a suspect cause in this? Lessons learned? Perhaps we shouldn't put so many eggs in one basket?

I've asked what caused the fire in the first place, the silence is deafening. Payback for breaking the FE Natzi code of silence.

This is a SAFETY issue. There were over 30 of the most knowlegable FE racers on the planet there - but apparently even they tried to put the fire out with dry chemical fire extinguishers. At least 4 were used on that LIPO fire - to no avail. Nothing, zip, nada. Spread the word: ONLY WATER WILL QUENCH A BURNING LIPO.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Don't overcharge your LIPOs
2. Charge & store LIPOs in fireproof charging bags
3. Fire extinguishers are useless in putting out a burning LIPO(s) - and they cause a big mess
4. If your LIPO self emolates - toss it in the water, or a container full of water (lake police)
5. Don't inhale the thick white smoke - it's extreemly toxic - and has the potential to kill you or your pets, birds especially
6. If your LIPO ignites inside - get it outside & toss it in a bucket of water
7. Last but not least, don't expose any SAFETY issue or warn others of a KNOWN HAZARD - it might reflect negatively on your FE club

THX, and be safe. JIM