[Elecraft] Being cautious around Li-Ion Batteries

[David Orman]

I'm glad to hear you are mostly OK. Very sorry to hear this happened. I use
LiPo for R/C aircraft/helicopters, and charge them outside on the back
patio clear of anything inside those bags for this very reason. I've had a
couple grenade (you'd think figuratively, but as you described, literally)
after collisions.

For radio use, I switched to LiFe packs which seem to be much less
volatile, and the discharge voltage curve is more conducive for radio use.
You'll also get more cycles out of them. Not sure if you use your LiPo for
radio, but I thought I'd offer that suggestion if you do. They have
slightly less capacity, but with my KX3, I get a day of RX from a 4200mAh
LiFe battery, and 2 hours of solid 10W output; much more when using
something like SSB that isn't pulling the full 2A or so and isn't 100% duty
cycle.

Again, glad to hear you're OK.

David - K5DJO

On Wed, Dec 10, 2014 at 5:38 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft <
elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 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.
>
> 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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