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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Ty Marcucci on July 12, 2012, 05:29:33 PM

Title: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Ty Marcucci on July 12, 2012, 05:29:33 PM
Well, it had to happen. This afternoon one of my batteries I noticed was swollen. I put it back on the chair and pierced the cover with an #11.   This to let out the air causing the swelling. Ha. Then it caught fire. Wow you never saw so much dense white smoke. As it was  spitting fire and smoke, I kicked it out onto the driveway. I didn't know I could move that fast.  LL~
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Darkstar1 on July 12, 2012, 05:51:09 PM
Ty
What kind of battery, and how puffy was it? My Thunderpower 3300s are a bit puffy but I don't remember dropping any and having them catch fire. Do U remember how it fell. If it fell on the balance wires that would explain a lot.
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Dave Denison on July 12, 2012, 06:01:53 PM
The first time is really the one that scares the H*** out of you.  I've been very lucky lately, I had my old Nobler go straight in on asphalt...NO Fire no Leaking, just one badly bent up battery.. $35.00 quickly disposed off.
  Your best tool in the shop is a quality Fire Extinguisher.    Be safe.

Dave.
41041
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 12, 2012, 06:31:31 PM
It WAS a Thunder Power 45C 3300 MAh 4 cell 14.8 V
Not sure what it landed on, but only one cell burned up The other three are ok, but it split the covering. It now lays outside next to the fence next to the drainage ditch. Maybe one of those pesky nosy into everything Raccoons that lives back there will drag it home.  D>K

I don't know if it's still the recommended method, but when I started flying with LiPo packs you were supposed to chuck them in a bucket of really salty water for 24 hours to discharge before throwing them away.

Or, duct tape them to a post and shoot at them...
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Steve Fitton on July 12, 2012, 06:37:33 PM
Will a regular dry chemical home extingusher even begin to put out a burning metal fire like a lithium battery?

Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Russell Bond on July 12, 2012, 09:30:09 PM
I just belt them with an axe and watch the fireworks....it's exciting!!!! ;D
I make sure all 4 cells have flared though and then drown them with water after the fire is out. Great fun!
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Mike Anderson on July 12, 2012, 10:37:11 PM
Will a regular dry chemical home extingusher even begin to put out a burning metal fire like a lithium battery?



Rechargeable LiPo or LiFe or LiIon cells use NO lithium or other flammable metals.  They use lithium salts, lithium oxides or other lithium compounds.  Some primary (non-rechargeable) lithium cells - like some hearing-aid batteries - do have small amounts of lithium metal.
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Dave Denison on July 12, 2012, 11:17:25 PM
Thanks Mike, for the great explanation on the chemistry.

Dave.
41041
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: PJ Rowland on July 12, 2012, 11:19:31 PM
I just belt them with an axe and watch the fireworks....it's exciting!!!!


There you go : A perfect example of a South Australian... possibly living in Adelaide  :-X


Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Russell Bond on July 12, 2012, 11:23:48 PM
PJ, if you're going to "rubbish" people, get your facts straight!!!! S?P

I live in Monarto South.  Hahaha. ;D
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: PJ Rowland on July 13, 2012, 02:22:51 AM
Lets not let facts cloud this..

Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Tim Wescott on July 13, 2012, 10:29:37 AM
Will a regular dry chemical home extingusher even begin to put out a burning metal fire like a lithium battery?

Here's what little I know.  The information is probably out there on the web if someone has time to dig.

Fire needs three things to live: heat, oxidant (air), and fuel.  Remove one of these three, and the fire goes out.

Lithium cells don't have metallic lithium (unless they're way overcharged), but they do carry around their own oxidant, so when things go wrong with a cell it'll keep putting out lots of heat and smoke even if you deny it all air.

Dry chemical extinguishers work by smothering a fire, and denying it air...

I suspect that dumping a lot of dry chemical fire extinguisher stuff on and around a burning battery will do you a lot of good -- the battery won't be getting oxygen from the air, which will restrict the amount of energy it can release, and the dry powder will help prevent other things from catching on fire.

I wouldn't empty all or even most of the extinguisher on the battery, though: I'd put some on the battery, and save the rest to protect any exposed flammables that catch on fire because the battery is torching.
Title: Re: OH SH(*T!!! My first battery fire.
Post by: Douglas Ames on July 13, 2012, 10:48:26 PM
At the very least an ABC Fire Ex. or better yet a Class D Fire Ex.!

Don't ever use water!!   http://www.fire-extinguisher101.com/