Battery PSA

[Harry Hill]

if you switch to LiPo you have to be even more careful, they can go off in a white hot fire. I had a damaged battery that I had cut the connector off but didn't tape the ends of the wires and it shorted out in my truck bed. It was right next to a can of gas but luckily nothing bad happened but it could have been a very bad situation, every year one of my fellow radio control airplane fliers has a LiPo battery burn down their house or burn up their car because the put it away damaged unaware of the chemical reaction going off inside the battery. This was a 3 cell, 12 volt battery. I posted a picture of it in the Ryobi FF battery post

[TJones]

Sucks starting a trip off that way, or even ending one under those conditions for that matter. Fortunately, no real loss of life or limb other than the battery and your mesh bag. If you need a loaner battery, let me know.

[GregAndrew]

One of the benefits of the sealed LiFePo4 batteries is they come with smart circuit boards that shut them down in the case of over discharge (among lots of other things).

[TJones]

Originally Posted by GregAndrew

One of the benefits of the sealed LiFePo4 batteries is they come with smart circuit boards that shut them down in the case of over discharge (among lots of other things).

Does this make them any less dangerous if the above situation had occurred? What about if the hull of the kayak was flooded with water and shorted the terminals? Would you have multiple problems to contend with such as a battery fire?

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by TJones

Does this make them any less dangerous if the above situation had occurred? What about if the hull of the kayak was flooded with water and shorted the terminals? Would you have multiple problems to contend with such as a battery fire?

Yes, with the new technology that probably wouldn't have happened. The battery manufacturers are doing a lot to prevent battery accidents. My shorted batttery was earlier technology so it didn't have the protection but the newer batteries should short out and render themselves safe from fire and explosion. Of course subjecting the battery to an outside heat source or fire will bring other problems. As far as submerging the LiFePo and LiPo batteries are neutralized by submerging in salt water so I don't think you have to worry about that.

[GregAndrew]

Originally Posted by TJones

Does this make them any less dangerous if the above situation had occurred? What about if the hull of the kayak was flooded with water and shorted the terminals? Would you have multiple problems to contend with such as a battery fire?

The circuit board is inside the sealed battery compartment and cuts off the power before the terminals. So flooded kayak would not be an issue either. It is the same principle for both though, a short between the terminals (one with water and the other with metal).