Lipo Charging Fire

Hi Chris

Still researching boxes, but ammo box seems like a good solution.

I found this video, interesting viewing, it demostrates pretty convincingly that lipo bags are fairly useless on anything but small batteries!

Thanks for posting the video Jon, It seems to me that it's not going to be good whichever method of storage you use if a LiPo goes bad on you but the ammo tins at least aren't going to fall apart.

I ordered two ammo tins this morning while having breakfast, and will sort out an external charging solution. As well as the flames you've got to wonder what toxic fumes are in the smoke.

Rotten luck Jon
My Bantam BC8DX Charger came with temperature probes (which I have never bothered to use or investigate). Would this add any protection against LIPO fires? I.e. do LIPOs get hot before letting go, or do they just Blow ?

Firstly, bad luck, Jon. Time for us all to reconsider our charging regime.

Secondly, JRI, I don't think the temperature probe will help. I'm sure that by the time any temperature rise is detected it will be too late. Also, where would you put the probe? On a six-cell pack (for example) you could attach it to cell 1 or cell 6, but that's no help if cell 3 goes off!

Your description of the damage did not prepare me for the photos and very sorry you experienced this. If you imagine how many Lipo's charges occur each year by UK modellers, your experience is probably one in a million but it shows that charging near combustable material has to be avoided. Its easy to understand how complete garages and houses could be destroyed.
PS - some people suggest that if you charge in an ammo box - it should be vented in such a way to disperse the explosive effects in a safe direction.

So what are the chances of two people at our club having a similar incident a week apart? Luckily the other one was outside on a patio, not in a shed or house.