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Post by renard80 on Apr 18, 2013 23:12:15 GMT 1
Priceless? I thought you were supposed to send me tithes via Paypal? ;D Yes indeed, I have tried repeatedly to send you 5% of all my income. But PayPal says they cannot handle such minuscule amounts . . . |
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Post by hghost on Apr 19, 2013 17:16:04 GMT 1
Storage question :Battery safety guide that comes with the Cub states to never store loose batteries together that it may cause the wires to touch and cause a short circuit ? And it also states to keep the temperature range between 40-120 degrees F or ( 4-49 degrees C ) and store in a fireproof container. I purchased a metal box and a Lipo fire proof bag to store them in.
Tape the end of the terminals to keep them from touching ? Perhaps would be good idea.
Between 40-120 degree's is normal temps for most everything. Some fridges are below 40 degree's and rarely are any rooms above 120 degree's.........SO storing them in a fire proof bag and in a metal container seems to be Ok...and keep them about 50% charged when stored for a period of time ( winter months for example) That is what I gather from the packaging warning that came with the SC paper work.
Other than over charging and or allowing them to fall to low in voltage these batteries seem to be pretty much like most all others I have read about.Sure there are dangers, perhaps more so, but with reading and gaining insight from those who use them, seems this battery is not as bad as I was lead to believe.
Thank you all on this forum for your info and your patience with us who are trying to learn.
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Post by flydiver on Apr 19, 2013 18:07:19 GMT 1
Precautions and instructions you get with RTF planes is about as useful as the manual that comes in your car is for working on the motor.
FWIW I do not tape my plugs (Deans Ultra). If you are using a FEMALE battery plug (EC3 are kinda 'both'), and it is properly shielded there should not be an issue. Having said that there are stories of guys putting them in pockets with loose metal (finger nail clipper, etc) and shorting them out to their horror.
I would try hard to never get lipos over 100*F. Some places in the summer this is not possible. They begin to become damaged at 140*F (too hot to touch).
I have a buddy that is HORRIBLE with electrics. He just doesn't get it at all. One day he handed me a whole handful of 2200mA batteries saying he couldn't get them to charge. All but one looks like it had been thrown hard against concrete.
The good looking one was found to have a small hole in one cell. I discharged all of them and threw them away.
Now, in 2 years of this kind of stupid behavior he has never had a lipo 'incident'. OTOH I do keep expecting to hear he burned his garage or house down.
Almost all fires are a function of over charging or crash damage. Most over charging is operator error. Most crashing is operator error. Therefore most lipo fires are operator error. Watch yourself.
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Post by SussexFlyer on Apr 24, 2013 7:33:18 GMT 1
I recharge fully after flying, so I am always ready to fly again should the opportunity suddenly arise. I am told this is bad practice but my need to grab every opportunity for flying over-rides such considerations. When that wind drops, I gotta grab everything and get to the field - can't spend time charging, the weather might change! And if that means killing my batteries prematurely, it's a price I'm prepared to pay. ;D Absolutely. I do the same. And, as has been mentioned, LiPos seem to retain their charge well although if I want to fly and hadn't charged the battery for a week or two I would recharge it. When I first started flying RC in 1990 NiCads had to be charged overnight which precluded any chance of spontaneous flying. I remember the frustration when a calm day dawned but the forecast had predicted near hurricane gales. NiCads were also very expensive, as was the radio gear. Progress can be a wonderful thing! |
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hounddog
Flight lieutenant
Ooh I Do Wish I Hadn't Done That
Posts: 80
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Post by hounddog on Apr 24, 2013 21:58:34 GMT 1
To put it all into perspective. The most common place you will find a lipo is in a cell phone.
Apart from a couple of celebrated incidents involving #phones, you don't hear much about people's pockets catching fire.
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Post by flydiver on Apr 24, 2013 23:54:10 GMT 1
The most common place you will find a lipo is in a cell phone. NOT the same kind of lithium cell. Cellphone batteries are inherently more stable. In addition there is an over and under protection circuit on it. OUR lipos do NOT have protection and are potentially more volatile, ESPECIALLY if handled improperly. Improper handling is almost always operator error. Doesn't matter if ignorance is the cause when the result is a fire. Know what you are doing with lipos. If you handle them right, they are fine. |
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Post by iandhunt on Apr 26, 2013 16:18:17 GMT 1
Jumping into this conversation real quick. Li-ion are commonly found in cell phones. NiMH/NiCd are found in rechargeable batteries primarily. Li-Po, like fly said, are more volatile if handled improperly due to the reactions taking place. NiMH/NiCd can be cut open, (why would you?), and be just a mess most times. They (Ni batteries) also have a "charge memory" that can be shortened if allowed to sit fully discharged for long periods.
I guess in summary that any damage to a Li-Po can possibly result in a fire if just simply ignored. Cost of a new battery is about $45....cost of a house???
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Post by flydiver on Apr 27, 2013 2:21:13 GMT 1
They (Ni batteries) also have a "charge memory" that can be shortened if allowed to sit fully discharged for long periods. Got to love guys that that try to help and further cloud the issue.  I suggest you read this. www.dansdata.com/gz011.htmand this: www.buchmann.ca/Article10-page1.aspIt's interesting that one of the persistent myths in the male world is about NiXX memory, when it's essentially proven to not be a realistic factor in usual use. The other myth is the necessity of complete discharge to prevent that memory problem. That's OK for SINGLE cells and potentially a disaster for PACKS. How many people use single NiXX cells? Almost always they are used in multiples, which is the same as a pack even if they aren't soldered together. Most of the disappointment from NiMh is crappy cells (common), lack of information (very common) and lousy chargers (even more common). It's good info because even if in the RC world NiXX are rapidly going away, they are still common in a lot of other applications. My personal reality is I use NiMh a lot more than I use Lipo or Lion. People think NiXX are simple and Lipo are scary and hard. In reality from a CHARGING perspective lipo is easy and NiXX are HARD, or at least more difficult. OTOH, if you screw up NiXX most likely nothing happens besides disappointment. When you screw up Lipo charging you can have an exciting time of it indeed. |
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Post by iandhunt on Apr 27, 2013 5:45:00 GMT 1
That's why I use quotes fly! Charge memory is nothing more than improper charging techniques and battery storage that damage the cells. Speaking of myths, are you trying to say you live in Seattle but don't believe in Bigfoot?  |
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Post by Crazy Horse on Apr 27, 2013 8:33:42 GMT 1
My tuppence worth. Personally I do not charge Lipo's in my house or in my workshop. They are charged outside, in a charge bag which is placed on a concrete block away from anything that might combust. There is always a large bucket of sand nearby (just in case the soft stuff hits the fan) and I keep a good eye on the proceedings, they are never left unattended. Storage for the 10 months of Winter in England? The Lipo's reside in a closed metal container. Checked on a fairly regular basis, i.e. when I remember. Paranoid, quite possibly. I have been called a lot worse by many people as you might imagine. ;D Problems with Lipo's so far? Zero. Long may that continue. As for Bigfoot, isn't that a tribe in Alberta and Montana? Ah no, that was the Blackfeet. I get confused these days! |
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Post by flydiver on Apr 27, 2013 15:20:05 GMT 1
NiXX memory is one of my pet peeves. It gets bandied around all the time by guys that don't have a clue what they are talking about. They've heard that somewhere and think they know battery charging because they can spout trot that 'wisdom' out.
Of course I believe in Bigfoot. If we can get cougars and bears in the middle of the city parks (yes, it happened-my mother in law actually saw the cougar and they trapped it) and no one knows how they got there, seems like you could hide a big hairy fella in the Cascades, no problem.
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Post by Crazy Horse on Apr 27, 2013 19:44:01 GMT 1
Fly,
I would love to comment on your last post, however I feel that I might upset you and your mother-in-law, which I would not want to do.
I have to sit on my hands to prevent my posting a response!
As for big hairy fellows, that sounds like my older brother, perhaps you could hide him in the Cascades, whatever they are?
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Post by iandhunt on Apr 27, 2013 23:20:50 GMT 1
As for Bigfoot, isn't that a tribe in Alberta and Montana? Ah no, that was the Blackfeet. I get confused these days! Man oh man I am glad my wife didn't read your comment! Being half Blackfeet and half Cree. She thinks she has big feet as well.... |
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Post by spindeepster on Apr 28, 2013 1:10:58 GMT 1
............ I store mine fully charged in a air tigh bag in the friged, not the freezer the air tigh bag is to keep the moisture out, remenber to let them set too room temp befor charging them. Actually, the air inside your refrigerator is drier than the air outside your refrigerator. You can prove this by putting a slice of un-wrapped cheese in your refrigerator. After a day or two, the slice of cheese will resemble a square of brittle plastic...all dried up. The plastic bag is a good idea though. It will help ward off condnensation when you remove the batteries from the cold refrigerator, much like a cold beverage can "sweats" when brought out into a warm room. |
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Post by Crazy Horse on Apr 28, 2013 7:56:15 GMT 1
Ian, You are indeed a privileged man. To be married to such a fine lady with a superb family pedigree. Cree and Blackfeet, two wonderful tribes, each unique. I bet she is beautiful. I have long been an admirer of the true Americans and Canadians, their way of life and values. Much respect to you both. As an aside, have you ever met a lady that is satisfied with her looks? No, of course not. We love them all the same. |
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