A wake up call to leaving lipo unattended

[Coyote]

This is what can and in this case did happen to a UK model pilot Nick B from Wiltshire. He posted this on rcheliaddict.co.uk as a warning to others. I think its a good idea to post it on here as well just to appreciate what can happen.

He had CCTV running on his house and shed that caught the whole thing from inside to outside.

I really feel for the guy, its a lot of damage, but no one was hurt.

Left a lipo discharging and went off to work after forgetting about it

We are only human at the end of the day...mistakes do happen and yes,it could of been worse.

The incident :

SAD ENDING EDIT

Aftermath :

AFTERMATH

[Ratty]

Crazy how fast fire takes hold. Lucky it wasn't worse.

I wouldn't of opened the shed door tho, has he not seen the film "Backdraft"? Id of just stood there with the hose on it until the fire brigade arrived.

They did arrive very fast too. A lot of respect for those guys.

[Coyote]

Yeah the fire service were fast.

Now I`m no fire fighting expert, but to me, opening the door would be the last thing I`d think about doing. It would let lots of oxygen in and promote the oxygen starved fire making it worse wouldn't it ?

[keukpa]

Yeah the fire service were fast.

Now I`m no fire fighting expert, but to me, opening the door would be the last thing I`d think about doing. It would let lots of oxygen in and promote the oxygen starved fire making it worse wouldn't it ?

Yes!

What a shame :(

[marcin]

that is scary ,but monitored lipo on discharge and balance can catch such fire ?
I think that was wrong settings on charger or lipo was faulty ,damage or something ? - they don't just blow when you use them properly ???

Still scary.

After 1hour reading about Lipos on rcgroup  !!!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209187

I order 1KG POWDER ABC FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOUSE  + blanked and check all my smoke alarms at home.Having huge safety lipo bags and remove
6 x 5Ah 6S puffy with bad internal resistance zippy lipos
3 x puffy 3s 2200mAh
1 x 4s puffy 2200mAh
3 x 4S 5Ah Turnigy lipos old and puffy.

Screw that I prefere to keep my family alive  !!!
Still need pyrex dish  :)

[mark1975]

Dam damn shame

[Gundummy]

Ouch ......  I'd be gutted!

Good idea to post.

[Coyote]

that is scary ,but monitored lipo on discharge and balance can catch such fire ?
I think that was wrong settings on charger or lipo was faulty ,damage or something ? - they don't just blow when you use them properly ???

The pack does not have to show any visual signs of damage, he was using the correct settings. They can and do do that when using and charging / discharging them properly. Sometimes the lipid just break down.  Scary yes, even more so when it's going to happen in your own home.

[RaySky]

To understand why it happens it's better to understand how it happens,
Lipo charging relies on reaching a final voltage and during charging the unit alters the charge current as it proceeds to the top off voltage, if a cell(s) voltage(s) is/are under voltage for any reason the charger will continue to charge at a much higher charge rate/amps until the pack is at the final top off voltage, therefore a damaged or problem pack will potentially charge at a much higher rate until it goes into thermal meltdown.

To reduce the risk I always charge at 1c max for small packs and probably only 0.5C for larger packs, yes it takes longer but as mentioned a pack can go into meltdown even if everything is set as per the manufacturers recommendations.
Once you start charging a 5000ma pack at 2C that equates to 10amps and it wont be too long before it gets warm/hot if there is a problem with one or more of the cells.

I concur that the best way is to stay with the packs whilst charging and have ways and means to put out a fire should it happen but my way is to charge at such a slow rate as to not induce a thermal runaway in the first place, when I first started using lipos I was terrified  :o maybe I am getting complacent as to date I have never had a problem.

   

[Ratty]

Yes opening the shed door would have let a load of oxygen in to fuel the fire. That's why it was all really smokey then the flames kicked back in. Firefighters have to deal with that when entering houses. The rooms can be a super high temp but starved of oxygen, as soon as they open the door the whole room can flash over with fire like an explosion.


Has anyone ever tried putting out a Lipo as it goes up? There isn't much chance of stopping the initial fire once it starts. Much better to charge in something you can pick up (a lipo bag in a pyrex bowl) so you can pick it up and throw it outside before it gets out of control. Remembering the smoke is toxic too. Which is why you should never leave them alone.

[Drone 5]

I feel for him.

Thanks for the posting, it is a great reminder. Will be taking extra precautions from now on. Got a little relaxed on charging over the last few months.

[FPVSteve]

I've currently got my lipos in the garage ... I've made a little charging station out of bricks and large tiles as platforms, with one of them on top as a lid..

In theory it should cause any flames/smoke to blast out of the gap at the front so I at least have a chance, but I have to say charging + storing outside is looking very attractive to me.

[marcin]

Good idea IMO is to get fireproof box from ebay or some online shop ,storage and charge lipos inside that case.
Think that could work ?

[Ratty]

As long as its not a sealed box, or it becomes a bomb.

I store my batteries in a Lipo bag, in an ammo box with the lid open, on a glass table with a glass top above.

I charge in a Lipo bag and never leave it unattended. Will start putting the Lipo bag in a glass pyrex bowl from now on.

[BigT]

Happened to a club mate 4 weeks ago. Unfortunately it was a much bigger workshop, 2 car size, total loss £20,000.  Insurance is paying out but only 74% of contents. The heat was so intense it melted the plastic double glazing on his house. Fire inspector was asked if he did a anything wrong. They said no. A battery bag would have given 2 minutes warning. Battery was on a steel plate and just went bang. I had same thing last winter but was in the workshop when it happened and got the battery outside and stopped the fire in the workshop with a powder extinguisher. I now charge all lipo's outside in an old kettle barbecue. My friend uses an old camping oven.t