[BPWingN]

Well, I just purchased 6 LiPos (Nano Tech 2200 3s 35-70c) batteries.
The connectors had to be removed, and EC3 connectors soldered on as EC3s are what I use.
Well, I finished replacing all the connectors and charged the batteries.
So, I'm sitting at the kitchen table with the batteries, needing to put Velcro on the backs of them so they are stable in my aircraft.
I have the first battery lying on the table. I peel the sticky tape off the back of the Velcro piece and place it on the battery. I start applying light pressure to adhere it to the battery.
Then, it happens....I hear a hissing and know immediately what has happened. I run by my wife and her friend who are watching TV with the sizzling, smoking LiPo in my hand.
"The batteries going!" I yell as I toss it on our condo balcony. Realizing it could set the balcony ablaze, I pick it back up and toss it in my wifes planter as it continues to hiss and smoke violently! The amount of smoke pouring out of this thing is staggering. I closed the balcony door so the thick cloud of acrid smoke stayed outside.Good thing the balcony door was open for me to toss it.....and good thing I didn't get burned.

Well, I don't trust any of them anymore, so I'm done with them.
(This is not a comment on NanoTech batteries, but more on me. I'm thinking as I soldered I may have let too much heat travel up the terminal connection making the battery very unstable?)

[dashpuppy]

Originally Posted by BPWingN

Well, I just purchased 6 LiPos (Nano Tech 2200 3s 35-70c) batteries.
The connectors had to be removed, and EC3 connectors soldered on as EC3s are what I use.
Well, I finished replacing all the connectors and charged the batteries.
So, I'm sitting at the kitchen table with the batteries, needing to put Velcro on the backs of them so they are stable in my aircraft.
I have the first battery lying on the table. I peel the sticky tape off the back of the Velcro piece and place it on the battery. I start applying light pressure to adhere it to the battery.
Then, it happens....I hear a hissing and know immediately what has happened. I run by my wife and her friend who are watching TV with the sizzling, smoking LiPo in my hand.
"The batteries going!" I yell as I toss it on our condo balcony. Realizing it could set the balcony ablaze, I pick it back up and toss it in my wifes planter as it continues to hiss and smoke violently! The amount of smoke pouring out of this thing is staggering. I closed the balcony door so the thick cloud of acrid smoke stayed outside.Good thing the balcony door was open for me to toss it.....and good thing I didn't get burned.

Well, I don't trust any of them anymore, so I'm done with them.
(This is not a comment on NanoTech batteries, but more on me. I'm thinking as I soldered I may have let too much heat travel up the terminal connection making the battery very unstable?)

glad that you are all ok! yikes! You would have to have had the soldering iron on the power leads for a long time for it to travel that far, i suspect something else. i've soldered HUNDREDS of wires on lipos and never heard of this.

Ditch them kind of batteries and go other style another thing you can do is get a flower pot and a base to store them in and in case of emergency throw it into, it will keep the flame under control too!

[Smokeman]

Wow...glad you and your condo are ok. Shouldn't have been a tremendous amount of heat soldering on EC3's. Anything strange about how they charged?

[BPWingN]

Originally Posted by Smokeman

Wow...glad you and your condo are ok. Shouldn't have been a tremendous amount of heat soldering on EC3's. Anything strange about how they charged?

No, not really. I charged them at 1c, .....but after charging I checked voltage with a voltage checker, and 1 battery read 4.21 for all 3 cells. I doubt that would make much difference?

[Smokeman]

4.21...I know they don't like belong overcharged. Not sure of the accuracy of some of the voltage checkers either. I'll let someone with more experience on the subject chime in.

[dashpuppy]

naw 4.21 won't hurt it. When you charged you used a balance charger right ?

[BPWingN]

Originally Posted by dashpuppy

naw 4.21 won't hurt it. When you charged you used a balance charger right ?

Yes. Balance charged.
I think I may have damaged a lead from the battery with a real sharp tug on it by accident as I was soldering. Could that have had any bearing on this?

I am somewhat new to the hobby (last June) and these are the first batteries I have purchased that needed any modification by me.
This has really freaked my wife, and to a lesser extent, me.
I am very careful with charging etc (balance charge with a good charger, only at 1c, )

Be careful, folks.
Oh...and I love the hobby far too much to think about quitting.

[bcsaltchucker]

I keep mine inside a big fireproof safe. But I plan to build a larger concrete bunker for the batteries some day. I have a lot of lipos - I mean a lot of them, but never had one go off, and heck never even had one puff during a flight - 95% of them from HK. Just inherited a huge 1200lb jewelers safe I could use, but it is in my house we just inherited in Vancouver and I live in Victoria. Have no idea how to get it to me here. My wife hates and fears the lipos, justifiably.

[IceRain29]

You can make an xt60 to ec3 connector. Much easier and much safer.

[Max]

IF you did not mishandle the pack, then maybe it was a manufacturing defect.

Statistically speaking, it is a very rare occurrence.

Nevertheless, that is another reason to charge/store lipos, especially new ones, in a fireproof container