[rcpilot]

Originally Posted by rscamp

Your camera has protection circuit(s) in it to ensure the battery does not exceed safe parameters. Most lithium packs for our aircraft do NOT. OEM suppliers of rechargeable lithium cells are not even allowed to sell them without such circuits. We are the ones using them without this protection. This situation will likely change significantly in the next year or so requiring changes to the subject safety alert.


Rob

This is the Key point that Rob pointed out. From all the reading I've done on them, not using protection circuit and using same standard practices as Nicds, and not taking the time to carefully go over the instructions and follow them is the cause of it.

[rcpilot]

Originally Posted by Nuker

You can blow a nicad pack by charging at 4-5 amps as an example.

Bob

That is not fair statement Bob, as it depends on what type of Nicds are you charging. It might be true for AAA's, AA's, or AAU cells, but the high quality SCR Sanyo cells, or the AR series cells can easily be charged at 5AMPS and they only get slightly warm.

Again, comes back to taking the time to completely understand your equipment and follow the proper procedures.

[rscamp]

Originally Posted by rcpilot

That is not fair statement Bob, as it depends on what type of Nicds are you charging. It might be true for AAA's, AA's, or AAU cells, but the high quality SCR Sanyo cells, or the AR series cells can easily be charged at 5AMPS and they only get slightly warm.

Again, comes back to taking the time to completely understand your equipment and follow the proper procedures.

Masqood.

I think Bob meant overcharging them at 4-5 amps - at least that's what I assumed.

Many people, including myself, charge Sub C NiCds and NiMHs at 8A or more through the median portion of the charge cycle. It might come as a surprise to some, but cell construction is often more important than the cell chemistry with regard to current capability.

Anywho, I'm just glad LiPos have come along. They are quite revolutionary.

Rob

[Gary Maker]

Good comments Maqsood. Thats exactly what I was saying.

Take the time to understand what your working with and apply the proper handling skills. My goodness, even a substance as volitile as Nitroglycern, is completely safe if handled properly. The onus is on use to follow the safety proceedures to an absolute degree and only then will we reap the full benefits of this wonderful technology with out risk to self and others!!!

[Nuker]

Rob,

you understood what I was saying. Basically without following the proper procedures, any battery could be a risk.

Incidentally a club member did exactly what I described to a set of AA's so I wasn't talking hypothetical and was merely used as an example.

Sorry if the others misundersood.

Bob

[rscamp]

Originally Posted by Nuker

Rob,

you understood what I was saying.

Actually Bob, no I didn't.

Oh well, doesn't matter. I know what you mean now. That's pretty wild though. Charging those little low-rate cells at 5A. What were they thinking?

Rob

[Nuker]

Accidental

[Bryan Hewitt]

maybee after burning everything up its time to read the instructions

[JimMcIntyre]

I think the main point here is that many things in our hobby, if used incorrectly, can become a hazard.

I've been using Lithium batteries in laptops, cell phones, park fliers etc. for a couple years now. Yes, they are a little more volatile than the Nicad's but, to put it in perspective, I've seen all too common hazardous practices ... like smoking near a jug of fuel ... that I think time and energy would be better spent warning about.

Safety is a practice. Take the time to comprehend what you're doing before jumping in. Fail to do this and, well, .... Mother Nature knows how to deal with these matters and the next generation will be better off without those genes.

[rscamp]

Originally Posted by JimMcIntyre

Mother Nature knows how to deal with these matters and the next generation will be better off without those genes.

That's how the "Darwin Awards" got its name.

Unlike NiCds and NiMHs, with LiPos we on the "bleeding edge" in this hobby. LiPos for high current applications have not yet found their way into power tools and the like. We find ourselves working with the battery manufacturers as they bring out each successive improvement in the current capability of the LiPos. Safety circuits suitable for these high power LiPos are being developed concurrently. There is no way in heck Black & Decker will use these cells without safety circuits, but we do.

Anywho, some day we'll look back and at these pioneering days and say, "Remember when..."

Rob