Ive been using lipo's for the last 5 years with no problems, i don't understand how these are sooo dangerous when you pay attention and are properly keeping tabs on how much the batts are being discharged and charged.

Other than a defects in manufacturing you REALLY have to be out to lunch
to not set your charger correctly.... cell count and capacity ARE printed right on the battery for anybody who hasent realized this yet

[mjws]

With a good balancing charger the risk is decreased dramatically. The cell has to be held over voltage for quite a while to puff and 'vent with flame'. Integrated balancer chargers just shutdown any cell that is running away. That is exactly how it works with your cell phone and laptop as well.

With multi-chemistry chargers, or balancing systems that aren't integrated there is significantly more room for user error and or cell runaway. The charger will just keep doing as it's told even though one cell in the pack is about to explode. Many of the fires were/are from incorrect cell counts set, or from an incorrect automatic cell count detection.

A friend cooked his basement carpet in the early days (before balancing) on a Triton with incorrect settings. I've seen a number of planes burn. Treat them like you would your gas can for your lawnmower, or your nitro fuel. You pay attention, but don't lose any sleep.

I still charge in a fire safe, or ceramic pot. But admittedly with the new balancing chargers I feel pretty safe. We've come a long way.

Mike

[Sparhawk]

Ed, LiPo's are your least worries, and if treated properly are as safe as anything else.... You drive around in a car that contains what? 60-70l of gasoline? Helluva lot more explosive power in a gallon of gas than most people think.... and where do you park it? Yep, all nice and suggly out in the closed in garage.

Another silly post on the dangers of LiPo's. Living is dangerous. Period. Get over it.
Geesh. I wish people would find something better to do than start posts that do nothing to add to the knowledge of other folks coming on here. Really. What was the purpose of your thread? Meaningless dribble. I guess just to stir up the dust....

[pogo]

Originally Posted by E Smith

We read about battery explosions and the releasing of smoke. We are told that to be on the safe side, Lithium batteries should be in a "Safety sack" or metal box while charging.

My attitude to this is, that if there is a danger of batteries exploding, I do not want them in my house or even on my property, in a sack, box or anything else.

If this is a real danger through the correct charging procedure then I will no longer use them. I will revert to "Nitro" power. It has served me well for over half a century!

Ed s

The very title of this thread displays a total ignorance of the behavior of Lipo's when/if failure occurs. They may puff, they may release acrid smoke, and they may, in rare cases, burn vigorously- they do not explode.

As has been stated on this thread and a thousand others like it, gasoline will. I wouldn't allow gas on our property but my lawn tractor has not, as yet, been converted to run on Lipo's.
Tom

[hifly2104]

Originally Posted by Sparhawk

Ed, LiPo's are your least worries, and if treated properly are as safe as anything else.... You drive around in a car that contains what? 60-70l of gasoline? Helluva lot more explosive power in a gallon of gas than most people think.... and where do you park it? Yep, all nice and suggly out in the closed in garage.

Another silly post on the dangers of LiPo's. Living is dangerous. Period. Get over it.
Geesh. I wish people would find something better to do than start posts that do nothing to add to the knowledge of other folks coming on here. Really. What was the purpose of your thread? Meaningless dribble. I guess just to stir up the dust....

Originally Posted by pogo

The very title of this thread displays a total ignorance of the behavior of Lipo's when/if failure occurs. They may puff, they may release acrid smoke, and they may, in rare cases, burn vigorously- they do not explode.

As has been stated on this thread and a thousand others like it, gasoline will. I wouldn't allow gas on our property but my lawn tractor has not, as yet, been converted to run on Lipo's.
Tom

Now I for one find these two replies to Ed's question very rude I don't know Ed never met him, but I have listened to things he has to say on here and his airplane builds are first class.Now when one is new to a subject he /they don't always use the right terminology. Guess what he is asking questions and not going around saying electrics aren't any good because he doesn't understand them.So give a person a break and try and help not criticize when a person asks for help.

[chuebner]

Originally Posted by hifly2104

Now I for one find these two replies to Ed's question very rude I don't know Ed never met him, but I have listened to things he has to say on here and his airplane builds are first class.Now when one is new to a subject he /they don't always use the right terminology. Guess what he is asking questions and not going around saying electrics aren't any good because he doesn't understand them.So give a person a break and try and help not criticize when a person asks for help.

+1 for hifly2104

[Ken Currell]

Originally Posted by chuebner

+1 for hifly2104

I'll second that!

[E Smith]

Now I for one find these two replies to Ed's question very rude I don't know Ed never met him, but I have listened to things he has to say on here and his airplane builds are first class.Now when one is new to a subject he /they don't always use the right terminology. Guess what he is asking questions and not going around saying electrics aren't any good because he doesn't understand them.

Thank you for that.

Pretty much every post I have made on the electric forum I have stated that I am new to the subject. I seek information and ask for help. I have received a lot of help from this forum. I also try things out for myself. The most interesting part of it all for me is, it is something new to learn. At my age it is easy to stagnate.

I am still very active in Pylon Racing. If anybody wants to know how to make a racing engine "GO" just ask.

There is a move in the U.S. to get electric racing recognised as an AMA event. The airplanes will be based on Formula 1 racers. Horizon hobbies already has an ARF on the market. It is the LR 1A Pogo. When the rules are finalised for sure I will be involved.

Ed s

[Guest]

Originally Posted by E Smith

There is a move in the U.S. to get electric racing recognised as an AMA event. The airplanes will be based on Formula 1 racers. Horizon hobbies already has an ARF on the market. It is the LR 1A Pogo. When the rules are finalised for sure I will be involved.

Ed s

Can't wait, got my name on one when they arrive at the hobbystore There is tons of racing around here so it should be a riot....as I said to Walt C. out here, it will get guys like me back to doing some racing that just want something fun and simple. Hopefully they don't turn it into a motor game!

[E Smith]

it will get guys like me back to doing some racing that just want something fun and simple.

Chad, I agree with you.

However, AMA competiton rules have a habit of NOT staying fun and simple. I hope to be receiving a kit next week to build and review for a producer. We will see how that goes.

Ed S