Being cautious around Li-Ion Batteries

[Elecraft mailing list]

Just a quick note to affirm the need for caution around Lithium-Ion
battery packs.

Today I was charging a new 12 volt Li-Io battery pack.  Fist time being
charged.  I was using a specialized automatic Li-Io charger.
Nonetheless, the battery pack exploded with an incredible force, blowing
items off my workbench within 2 feet of the explosion.  The burn area on
my workbench exceeds 12 inches.  If I hadn't been wearing safety
glasses, I'm sure my eyes would have been badly affected.  The sound
level was at least equal to a 44 magnum. My facial hair has been burned
and there are numerous particles embedded in my skin, walls and table.
The furthest piece, embedded in ceiling, is at least 10 feet from the
ignition point.  About 2 ounces of C4 would perform about the same.

I consider myself lucky in that I was wearing my welding jacket which
protected my body very well.  I was only 18 inches from the pack when it
exploded.

I never realized or expected such a thing to happen from a commercially
produced battery pack.  I guess I will weld together a steel blast-proof
box should I have nerve enough to ever use these battery packs again.

73, Doug -- K0DXV
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[k6dgw]

Glad you weren't hurt.  Anything in the first column of the periodic
table are very reactive, starting with H for Hindenburg.  I had a little
Li-Poly RC battery burst into flames on our deck table when it was
powering my KX1.  Fortunately, I had it external on a little pigtail and
I could fling it over the rail onto our gravel driveway.

I believe the Li-Poly's are the least stable, followed by the Li-ion,
and then LiFePO4.  I charge any Li chemistry battery outside in a steel
bucket using my solar panel, and I'd never put one inside my radios.  Of
course we have 2 laptops, two Kindle Fire's, and two Samsung Galaxy 5
phones, all with internal Li-ion batteries and none of those have burst
into flames ... yet.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 12/10/2014 4:21 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote:

> Just a quick note to affirm the need for caution around Lithium-Ion
> battery packs.
>
> Today I was charging a new 12 volt Li-Io battery pack.  Fist time being
> charged.  I was using a specialized automatic Li-Io charger.
> Nonetheless, the battery pack exploded with an incredible force, blowing
> items off my workbench within 2 feet of the explosion.  The burn area on
> my workbench exceeds 12 inches.  If I hadn't been wearing safety
> glasses, I'm sure my eyes would have been badly affected.  The sound
> level was at least equal to a 44 magnum. My facial hair has been burned
> and there are numerous particles embedded in my skin, walls and table.
> The furthest piece, embedded in ceiling, is at least 10 feet from the
> ignition point.  About 2 ounces of C4 would perform about the same.

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