Scary Lipo Fire - Thought I might be moving into Lincs basement.

[Gee]

Yeah it could of been worse. I could still be getting drunk everyday before I go home to the ex. She could still be living with me. I would be forced to acknowledge her complain about the weather, her hair, the burnt spot in the floor, and how I almost burnt the place down. Instead of what a pleasent fall day we ar having, being glad she doesn't have a receeding hair line, being thrilled getting new linolium (sp) for the back room, and how I saved the house from burning down...

Got the ammo can for transporting and have the lipo sack in my shopping cart already. Just having a problem deciding on which lipos to buy.


I charge the lipos through the LBA6 balancers. If I would of taken the time and fixed the cracked tap on the lipos. I am sure the lba would of told me to step back and think about what I was about to do.

Glad you found the humor in the story Jeff. Nice to look at the lighter side of the situation while still understanding the gravity of how eventually every womens boobs end up around thier knee or how their knee eventually end up around their boobs.

I did inhale, but that was in college. Do I still have your vote Lutah? I was hard not to breath in any of the smoke. I did get one hit that stopped me in my tracks and told me this is what life on Mars would be like (very short). After that hit I grabbed a longer stick and stood farther back with my marshmellows.


Lucky indeed. Although I am a few points away from actually be called a prophit. I believe that some higher power is speaking though me..... Not all the time, just when it's convienent.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT LIPO FIRES.


My first LIPO sack.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Gee

Yeah it could of been worse. I could still be getting drunk everyday before I go home to the ex. She could still be living with me. I would be forced to acknowledge her complain about the weather, her hair, the burnt spot in the floor, and how I almost burnt the place down. Instead of what a pleasent fall day we ar having, being glad she doesn't have a receeding hair line, being thrilled getting new linolium (sp) for the back room, and how I saved the house from burning down...

Got the ammo can for transporting and have the lipo sack in my shopping cart already. Just having a problem deciding on which lipos to buy.


I charge the lipos through the LBA6 balancers. If I would of taken the time and fixed the cracked tap on the lipos. I am sure the lba would of told me to step back and think about what I was about to do.

Glad you found the humor in the story Jeff. Nice to look at the lighter side of the situation while still understanding the gravity of how eventually every womens boobs end up around thier knee or how their knee eventually end up around their boobs.

I did inhale, but that was in college. Do I still have your vote Lutah? I was hard not to breath in any of the smoke. I did get one hit that stopped me in my tracks and told me this is what life on Mars would be like (very short). After that hit I grabbed a longer stick and stood farther back with my marshmellows.


Lucky indeed. Although I am a few points away from actually be called a prophit. I believe that some higher power is speaking though me..... Not all the time, just when it's convienent.

ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT LIPO FIRES.


My first LIPO sack.

It can hurt a bit if inhaled, but it might kill you. Just keep an check for corrusion from any electronic device that was near the smoke.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by Gee

It must have been 40' high and just as wide!

40 feet huh... I have to hear some of your fishing stories...

Glad to hear you did ok. Sorry about your tighty-whities, bleach is your friend!

Now sell that crap mrc chargger, and get a hyperion with an integrated balancer. That will cure the issue of overcharging a single cell. These bad boys get hot and pissed when you push too many volts into them!

This is why I always suggest that people buy a charger with a built in balancer, as that balancer can interrupt the charge if any cell decides to go over voltage...

And for the record I do not have a basement (below sea level here) so I have no idea where NS and those rogue circus animals are living...

[tedo]

Question 1:
I know the fire-safe boxes will keep a fire out, however will it keep a fire in? Like if one explodes inside the box.

Question 2:
Can a lipo even explode when it's just sitting around, or does it have to be in the process or charging, balancing, or dis-charging (running).

Man, now I am paranoid. 2 years of running and never thought twice (always charged, balanced, and had my LVC's set properly) until I read your story and saw your pics... Scary.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by tedo

Question 1:
I know the fire-safe boxes will keep a fire out, however will it keep a fire in? Like if one explodes inside the box.

Question 2:
Can a lipo even explode when it's just sitting around, or does it have to be in the process or charging, balancing, or dis-charging (running).

Man, now I am paranoid. 2 years of running and never thought twice (always charged, balanced, and had my LVC's set properly) until I read your story and saw your pics... Scary.

1: They burst into flames, but there has to be a short of some sort.
2: They expand and burst due to the presure, but only if a short occurs inside of it.

I've had lipos read 0.00v and none puffed, I've had none short, but I've had MA almost burst.

[lincpimp]

From my experience with lipo:

Over discharge (low voltage) usually causes puffing. But the lipo has lost most of its juice so it does not really have the potential that a full pack has.

Over charging causes the battery to be too full, and it has alot of potential energy so you can draw your own conclusions!

Now running a battery past its capabilities while it is close to full may have similar effects to over charging. So trying to pull 100 amps out of a 50amp rated pack may cause a dynamoc reaction.

A good carger and properly picking your packs will put you in very good standing considering safety. Gee did not cross his Ts and dot his Is and it bit him in the ass... Good example!

[tmaxxdaddy]

I feel your pain. I too had become very "layed back" when caring for lipo's. So much so that I had been charging in my trucks. This was a Maxamps 6500 pack that had been in a hard head on crash with my 1.1 van tire. I had been having an mgm esc braking issue. After the crash, the truck sat on my bench for about 4 hours and no I didn't even check anything , I got ambitious after the 4 hour break, charged up the one pack (all seemed ok, I did balance charge with a 606i ) It took about 50 minutes and put 5000 mah into the pack.( I came back 90 minutes later , charger said complete and all seemed ok). So I put my charger on the other side, went upstairs and about 15 minutes later......BaBoom, Not just fire, a big bang . By the time I realized what had happened (and got back downstairs) all the big flames were done and I was left with a smoke filled basement, a bench on fire as well as a whole buch of other things. I too was very thankful Kiddie was there to "put out the basement". I know better but had just got to use to not having problems........Never again !!!!!

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by tedo

Question 1:
I know the fire-safe boxes will keep a fire out, however will it keep a fire in? Like if one explodes inside the box.

It would depend on the box. If you just have a lipo fire, then most likely they will contain the initial fire, and the lack of oxygen will keep the fire from buring long. If it explodes, then it all depends on the quality of the box. In an explosion, something has to give somewhere to let that pressure out.

I store/transport mine in an military ammo box that's lined with foam. A lipo just sitting is likely not going to start on fire, or explode, but I had a couple extra boxes and they make a handy way to transport them.

[jayjay283]

Gee, good well written story as usual.. You should write a book with all your description etc. really... Though bro the old I doubled this and didnt hook that up LOL ok you said you know...Hyperion FTW I get drunk go to the store for hours come back and the things singing its song but just keeping it balanced lol. $180 for a charger is way less than $500 for a new floor, extinguisher, tools and the same lame charger

[PBO]

Sobering story Gee. Pleased it wasn't worse for you & you'd have a career in writing that's for sure

Watched in disbelief as a friends ERBE went up in flames a couple of months ago also...not a charging issue though but still a good reminder

[Rnemhrd]

Originally Posted by Freezebyte

Paranoid much?

I had a NiMh pop once while charging. I'm in the better safe than sorry club.

[Gee]

Thanks everyone. I know your all happy I'm not asking if your couch is free. JK I know it's sincere and I would feel the same for anyone of you.

You guys would laugh your ass off it you saw how jumpy I am now handling a lipo. I think the stress would kill me before I was able to retire if I was a suicide bomber. A flashlight the size for a keychain rolled of the shelf above the charger when I was hooking one up. Hit the work bench with a small tap... I am taking the screen door off for a while.

[BP-Revo]

Originally Posted by Rnemhrd

I had a NiMh pop once while charging. I'm in the better safe than sorry club.

A NiMH blew when I was at the track once...made a grenade sound quiet. Needless to say the force was enough to launch half the pack (it was a middle cell that exploded), or 3 cells about 50ft across the room.

Hmm....might use a metal biscuit tin with a few holes in the lid to charge my battteries inside from now on, although my iCharger 208B looks pretty good at stopping you from doing things that will end in tears!

A few holes in the tin lid should allow any pressure to escape rather than cause it to blow in the event of a nasty situation.....

[Bondonutz]

I myself use a GI Ammo box that I cut one wall out of and replaced w/1/4" plexiglass for a viewing window for packs as they charge. It's bomb proof for the most part, if anyone I interested I made it for under $15.00 and can post pics.