Nobody's kidding about proper LiPo storage...

by backpackingn3rd | March 19, 2014 | (13) Posted in Tips

Everyone says you shouldn't store LiPo batteries with your plane/quad/tricopter unless you're ready to use them. I would suggest that the two shouldn't mix until you're actually flying.  

I was going to go flying later today and put my batteries in my carrying case last night so I could throw it in my car and go as soon as I got home from work.  This morning I found out that one of the Turnigy LiPos had combusted inside of the toolbox completely ruining my scratchbult tricopter, my radio, spare parts case, and the toolbox itself.  

This battery had only one flight on it, zero crashes, and had been properly balance charged two weeks ago. I am proof that this can happen to anyone.  Let my incident remind you to always store your batteries in a LiPo Safe bag or ammo can.  

If anyone has suggestions for higher quality LiPo batteries, please let me know!

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COMMENTS

TimberWolffe on April 2, 2014
your problem may have been the foam acting like a jacket, because although the battery is not in use a reaction still occurs.
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PaladinDG on April 2, 2014
I am sorry that this happen, but I am glad it didn't burn down the house or cause more damage..... thank you for sharing your story. My wife and son thought I was paranoid about LiPo batteries... I used this to show them why I store and charge my batteries on a cookie sheet, only charge the batteries when I am going to use them, and never charge them unattended.
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Mizzster D Double-a on April 3, 2014
i think i am on the safe side with a dollar metal sheet box with two battery in each :?
how come the foam doesn't burned out? is it good for alternative lipo bag? just curious
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backpackingn3rd on April 3, 2014
I used furniture-grade foam padding which is likely why it didn't burn/melt more. My guess is that it may have some fire-retardant properties in the material itself. I have since started storing my other batteries in a steel surplus .50cal ammunition box.
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ghostrider03z on April 3, 2014
as for higher quality batteries, readymaderc batteries kick butt, I love mine and have 4 of them. They are always in stock (100+) and get to my house in 3 days.
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backpackingn3rd on April 5, 2014
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to look into the ones they carry. Since I get to start from square one, I'm happy to look at a different vendor for my new mini quad.
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donnyb on April 3, 2014
I really didn't think they would just randomly catch fire like that. I know when there puffed there dangerous. Until I seen this article mine has just sat in the living room by the charger. Also I have around 50 or more charges on mine. Mine are the gforce elite with nanotechnology additives from value hobby. I think they are a pretty good value. So I'm going to find something to put them in right now!!! Sorry about your incident, but something good came from it.
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1959cutter on April 4, 2014
you lived my biggest fear!
glad everything is alright
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RCEM-Joey on April 4, 2014
Good call on the foam!

I'm willing to bet this was a manufacturer defect and maybe the charging triggered a reaction. I assume the battery was charged?

It does make me wonder what caused it since it's so new. Are you using a standard LiPo charger that automatically limits the charge?
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RCEM-Joey on April 4, 2014
Also, incase anybody wants to share their stories of Lipo explosions and fires I had previously started a thread on the forums:
http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?8394-Bubble-Zap-Puff-Bang-and-Blow-Tales-of-a-Little-More-Than-a-Puffy-Battery
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backpackingn3rd on April 5, 2014
Since I was going to be flying it the next day, I had charged all three the night before. Even though they were new batteries, I was careful to balance charge them only at 1C (nowhere near the max of 4c). The charger I was using was a Turnigy Accucell 6 in LiPo mode.

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Epitaph on April 7, 2014
I had an old makeup case, aluminium with proper fasteners on the front... the makeup inside was really rubbish, so I just emptied the case and I use that to keep my LiPos in, as it is isolated well and any problems are contained.
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SteevyT on April 8, 2014
I keep my batteries in a ceramic oven dish. That should be able to take the heat.
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++TheMacster++ on August 16, 2014
Its amazing the whole thing didn't turn into a bonfire. My speculation, but keeping oxygen away from the battery in such a situation probably saved your bacon. It looks snugly packed and surrounded on all sides, meaning it didn't have oxygen to start a massive exothermic event. I guess this is proof of concept for keeping batteries stored in individual compartments inside an ammo can for instance. That could further reduce damage if one of the packs had a bad day.
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DARKHOURS on September 24, 2014
I had my Lipos in the back of my van in a plastic box very similar to yours and i Lost my van and my car a couple weeks ago.. Just finish charging them and a hour later no van planes radios etc.. very expensive day... i keep them in a metal ammo box now and put car as im heading out to fly
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Nobody's kidding about proper LiPo storage...