[Elecraft] Being cautious around Li-Ion Batteries

[Doug Person via Elecraft]

Have to admit, outside of actually combat, that was the scariest thing 
I've ever experienced.  The battery was a generic, Chinese manufactured, 
lithium-Ion pack made up of 3 main, but unmarked, cells, wrapped in a 
fairly tough flexible, plastic wrap.  A little forensics leads me to 
think the flexible outer shell probably absorbed some the initial blast 
and helped contain the shrapnel - or at least slow it down.  I shutter 
to think what would have happened had it had exploded inside the steel 
case of of the equipment it was meant for.  I bought it from one of the 
many vendors on ebay - I couldn't really say which one.  I use these in 
many different projects.  They're very convenient.  The charger is a 
Tenergy Universal Lithium-Ion Smart Charger.  I've used it 100's of 
times without a problem.  I think this was just a couple of defective 
cells. Or, perhaps bad wiring.

All I can say is the explosion was far beyond anything I've ever heard 
of happening with bad Li-Io cells.  If it had been inside the steel 
case, it would have been a hand grenade.

73, Doug -- K0DXV

On 12/10/2014 5:15 PM, Nick Kemp wrote:
> One thing available and recommended are fireproof/resistant envelopes 
> to put LI-Io batteries into while charging.  Maybe good practice it to 
> charge them outside at least the first few times.
>
> Good to hear that you were not injured.
>
> Nick
> N1KMP
>
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