Disposing of old Lipos?
 

Just wondering what everyone does to dispose of their old lips batteries? Every great once in a while I will get a battery that will no long take a charge and I know that its been damage internally and I now have a ticking time bomb for a house fire on my hands. I don't like to just throw them in the trash because I don't want to set the garbageman's truck on fire. At least not when it still on my street. I know you are supposed to discharge them and then place them in water or something but I don't have time for that. I usually take them out in my back yard and shoot them with my .22 caliber S&W revolver. let them fiz and fume and then I put them in the trash... I use 22 shorts so I don't disturb my neibours to much. :sneaky: LOL . Seriously question though. I'm wondering what does everyone do to neutralize these when they have gone bad....:D

Try asking your local hobby shop if they've got a recycling program. I think some areas legally need to offer them.

I just wish I had a local hobby shop! I live in central Pennsylvania. And for 75% of the people around here the main hobbies are Heroine and Methamfetimein. Thus the local economy has no room left for normal people hobbies....

Best buy will accept old lipo's and electronic devices.

Both Lowes and Best Buy near me have recycle bins for "rechargeable batteres",, they don't say no lipos,,, so I drop them off there

I do the same

If it is internally damaged and you cannot even connect a 12v automotive light bulb to drain the remaining voltage than you should use the salt water as it will do the job. To be clear, the salt water's purpose is only to slowly drain the remaining voltage from the cells. If you are careful, you can also separate the cells and try to drain each one separately with a light blub. Once the voltage is drained to zero, they can simply be tossed.

The salt water method is said to be a myth. The tabs on the cells will disintegrate before the pack voltage reaches zero.

I let mine drain all the way on the porch sidewalk in a metal cooking pot using an old bulb discharger I made. Once at zero volts, just short out the leads by connecting the positive and negative leads. Then toss in the trash once completely cool.

Burning barrel

I could see the tabs disintegrating, but would also expect the salt water to permeate the cell and create a drain even without the tabs. I suppose someone would have to test to confirm or deny the theory. Personally the light bulb method works just fine.

I like to charge um up and shoot with my 22. If they do not caught on fire I stomp them with my foot to try to get um to burn. The newer lipos have anti fire materials added that do not burn as well as older generations of lipos.

My method...discharge down to 3.0 volts per cell, then drain down to zero w/tailight bulbs (2) and then soak in salt water solution for 2 weeks and then garbage them.

If you're draining the cells below 3V or so, make sure that you don't ever accidentally attempt to recharge the pack!

Honestly, once the cells are discharged to 3V or thereabouts, there is very little electrical energy left in the pack, and I'm unconvinced that it's necessary to drain it any further.

I agree. My comment comes from the fact that one could put the pack in salt water, have the tabs degrade and the pack read zero voltage yet still be fairly charged.

I say bring that puffy bugger to BestBuy and drop it in their box recycle box and let them deal with it..lol