RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I like my lipos for my boats as they need to cope with some hefty current drawn! They do need treating with respect though, a fella on the boat board I'm on burnt his garage down when they went pop.

They're perfectly safe if you don't abuse them!

dgsselkirk wrote:Lipo? I think not!

That is not my Fault...looks like speedchargeitis a rather common thing... when people "think" they know lipos
also a good reason not to charge a lipo "IN" anything but a steel frying pan

Good try dgsselkirk

Happy Tanking

ALPHA

tomhugill wrote:They're perfectly safe if you don't abuse them!

Totally correct....even cadniums can "cook"... and hydrides can "burn" as well ...Like anything...if done properly...results are more favorable

Have a good one Tom

ALPHA

You steel frying pan got me thinking, maybe charge in a wok or big pan!

FYI I actually store my batteries in a WW II .30 cal ammo box...

If there that dangerous perhaps she who performs magic in the kitchen will let me use the pressure cooker? It comes to something when our model Tanks are becoming more dangerous than the real thing!!! shaun

tomhugill wrote:You steel frying pan got me thinking, maybe charge in a wok or big pan!

Yup... anything that isolates the battery ...I used to use the steel bottom of a BBQ grill ....In the early days of lipos they would actually pop and flame out.... now because of better polymer bases...they are a little more stable....the most that will happen is smoke and slow smoldering...so I downgraded to a frying pan ...What people don't realize is these are the same polymers found in those 5000 dollar plus batteries in electric "green" vehicles ...reason you will never see me in one of those...not even a hybrid...which are actually worse because there is a gas tank in the vehicle as well

Lipo technology has come far...but it still isn't a perfected power source...as the polymers are still a bit unstable

With that said... for what they are now...they are great for tools and toys ...I haven't found anything that can match the longevity ..power output...and size of a Lipo
I have 11.1s that are a third of the size of a 12 volt NIMH ... and not only is it better in performance..will fit in some really tight spaces

Just remember to use a good "balance" charger... not the big bulky electronically gadgetized models....as those tend to not only cause ignition...but also catch on fire themselves...and because the unit is larger than the more efficient compact chargers has more fuel surrounding the circuits to burn ...thus home fires

Bottom line is as you said Tom.... if you don't abuse them... they will serve you well

Happy Tanking

ALPHA

dgsselkirk wrote:FYI I actually store my batteries in a WW II .30 cal ammo box...

...Is it Damp where you are dgsselkirk?...that's actually a good idea if it is....but Lipos like to breath... I leave mine in a metal open air basket...the polymers release a gas...reason you will see some of them "puff"....this usually happens when people use the wrong kind of charger... making the battery heat up...the heat changes the composition of the polymer and it begins to release a gas...not toxic to the best of my knowledge ... but it is one of the signs it's time to get rid of the battery

Have a good one Dgsselkirk

ALPHA

jarndice wrote:If there that dangerous perhaps she who performs magic in the kitchen will let me use the pressure cooker? It comes to something when our model Tanks are becoming more dangerous than the real thing!!! shaun

Nah..Lipos aren't dangerous...it's the myth that comes with abuse of the product ...Just like pressure cookers... those are one of my favorite cooking utensils ....you just have to know how to use them is all

If you talk to anyone that has had a pressure cooker "blow up" on them ...or a Lipo "flame out" ....you will find it was due to their error

Piroziki comrade Shaun

HAPPY TANKING

ALPHA