Do you always use Lipo bag when charging or carrying batterie out?

[stockae92]

Just wondering, do you guys always use Lipo bag or case when charging or carrying the batteries out?

Wouldn't keeping the battery inside the Lipo bag while charging keep the battery temp high?

[Mad Ax]

Always charge in a LiPo sack.  It won't stop your house from being filled with toxic smoke if the battery catches fire, but it should prevent the flames from setting fire to your worktop.  A LiPo burns at a very high temperature, and this can set fire to your home very quickly.  A fire extinguisher won't stop it burning, it will continue to burn even if you throw it in water.

Battery temp when charging LiPos isn't typically a problem - unlike NiMHs, LiPos don't get hot while charging.  In fact if they do, you really need to turn off your charger and put the LiPo somewhere safe.  You may get some gentle heat in the cables if you are charging at a high current.  I don't know about charging in very high ambient temps, we typically don't get those where I live.

If you're charging at a BRCA sanctioned event and you're not using a LiPo bag, you will be asked to leave the venue.

As for transport - it's not a bad idea to put the battery in a bag, especially if it's a soft case LiPo.  It will protect it from damage in transit, and if anything does go wrong, it will contain the fire for a little while.

If you're still in doubt, a quick search on YouTube will show you what a LiPo fire looks like.

[alvinlwh]

Nope, never. Too much fluffing around, but that is a personal choice. 

[skom25]

1 hour ago, stockae92 said:

Just wondering, do you guys always use Lipo bag or case when charging or carrying the batteries out?

Wouldn't keeping the battery inside the Lipo bag while charging keep the battery temp high?

I use LiPo bags even for NiMh.

"Better to be safe than sorry"

[Mad Ax]

13 minutes ago, skom25 said:

I use LiPo bags even for NiMh.

At the very least, charging your NiMHs outside of the car is a good idea.  NiMHs don't tend to catch fire like LiPos, but they can explode quite dramatically.  I've seen a couple of chassis pick up significant damage when a cell pops while being charged in the car.

[toyolien]

I always use one of these:

[Marchie]

I think protecting your house from burning down is a no-brainer. No need to be anxious or up-tight, just respect the potential for danger and avoid it.

On that subject, the bags I've seen tested don't fill me with confidence. The Bat-safe box is one of the few solutions I've seen convincingly suppress a Lipo fire. Even then I was surprised to discover the mini-box I have is only rated to contain 50Wh (roughly a single 5000mah or 2x 2200's).

Has anyone here had a fire contained by a bag?

[skom25]

39 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

At the very least, charging your NiMHs outside of the car is a good idea.  NiMHs don't tend to catch fire like LiPos, but they can explode quite dramatically.  I've seen a couple of chassis pick up significant damage when a cell pops while being charged in the car.

This is exactly why I use bags. I want to avoid "shrapnel" flying around my legs.

[Hobbimaster]

I make a point to charge my lipo's on a glass top oven usually without a bag. If it were to go off, there's nothing to burn. However the toxic smoke will still be present as it would if a bag were used anyway. If you think about it, many items use lithium batteries inside of the home: laptops, personal shavers, tooth brush, game controllers, ect, everything seems to have battery that could potentially go bad at any moment.

[markbt73]

I go one step beyond a bag. I got a Bat-Safe. Supposedly fireproof, vented but filtered. Charger sits on a rack on top of the box, batteries go inside. Might be overkill for the little packs I use (only 2S, and nothing over 4000 mAh), but I feel better.

[Frog Jumper]

5 hours ago, markbt73 said:

I go one step beyond a bag. I got a Bat-Safe. Supposedly fireproof, vented but filtered. Charger sits on a rack on top of the box, batteries go inside. Might be overkill for the little packs I use (only 2S, and nothing over 4000 mAh), but I feel better.

I store my lipos in a BatBox too.  But I charge them outside in a large terra-cotta flower pot. 

Terry

 

[Wooders28]

Always charge in a charge bag or Batbox, you'll get kicked out of BRCA regulated club if you don't, so it's just habit.

Plus, I know they won't stop a fire, but will allow you to fling it down the garden/field.

I always transport in an ammo box, or Batbox too.

[Wooders28]

11 hours ago, skom25 said:

I use LiPo bags even for NiMh.

Ironically , it's only Nicads and Nimh batteries I've had explode.....so far 😳😬

[Wooders28]

10 hours ago, Marchie said:

Has anyone here had a fire contained by a bag?

Not personally, but had an incident at one of my local clubs.

It's mandatory to charge in bags / Batboxes - 

 

 

[Andreas W]

Nothing has happened here with either chemistry. The only thing that has happened to me is that a cell or two in two of my NiMh packs have backed out making the pack useless and been recycled.

 

I always store, charge and transport my LiPo batteries in different sacks/bags for it. The end solution for charging and storing is a Bat Box though; One large for storing and one medium or small for charging. The largest batteries I have are 5200mAh 2S, so the medium should do for charging.