Are lipos safe indoors?
#1
As in storage? I have a small work area for my rc cars in my spare room and I usually have a few 2S batteries lying around. My pit box is kept in the garage and I always charge outside. Just wondering in a dormant state are lipos still a fire/explosion risk? I usually have them discharged or at least, below 50% when I lave them inside but is this still a bad idea?
#3
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,121
As in storage? I have a small work area for my rc cars in my spare room and I usually have a few 2S batteries lying around. My pit box is kept in the garage and I always charge outside. Just wondering in a dormant state are lipos still a fire/explosion risk? I usually have them discharged or at least, below 50% when I lave them inside but is this still a bad idea?
Don't discharge the battery in anyway below 3.00 per cell.
Don't charge past 4.40V per cell.
Don't let the cell get cold enough to discharge itself past the above voltage.
Keep an eye on IR's, and voltage separation when balance charging.
Always balance charge.
If it puffs, it's ready for trash.
Don't leave it plugged in.
I don't know how you guys aren't watching IR's and voltage during charging, it's an obvious sign when there's an issue.
Never leave a charging battery unattended.
#5
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,090
From: Antelope Valley, CA
During the summer months I keep all of my lipos in a basket in the house. It gets into the triple digits here and in the past I have had lipos swell in the heat. You just need to occasionally check the voltage in the batteries. I have about 40 lipos between my cars, crawler, drones etc....it takes an hour or two once a month to put them on the charger and top off the storage charge or cycle them as needed.
#6
Tech Adept
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 192
As in storage? I have a small work area for my rc cars in my spare room and I usually have a few 2S batteries lying around. My pit box is kept in the garage and I always charge outside. Just wondering in a dormant state are lipos still a fire/explosion risk? I usually have them discharged or at least, below 50% when I lave them inside but is this still a bad idea?
also a vid of a fish tank with a thin wood top (not saying to use wood)!!! but to give you a idea of what your working with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAEe0QO6TMU
"so main thing is just dont leave junk around it that burns easy"!!! and you should be good.
#7
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,743
From: RIP 'Chopper', 4/18/13 miss you bud:(
I'm not saying that all the safety tips and storage methods mentioned in this thread or the many others like it are wrong or bad, they're good ideas and safety measures. But storage is the least likely time for you to see an issue or a fire. Assuming you don't live in AZ and store them in the trunk of your car in July.
Simply watch your packs. Are they starting to puff, and what type of puffing?? If you have a pack that puffs abruptly for seemingly no reason while charging or running. Stop using it, there's something wrong with it. If you start to see slight puffing while running that may or may not go back down, monitor the IR and WATCH it while charging and be aware that it MAY "explode" or catch fire while running or charging in the future. Or simply stop using it and replace it. If when you're done running your vehicle and the lipo is at a safe storage voltage with no visible puffing. It's not likely to puff while sitting in storage.
IMO, while properly stored is the LEAST likely time to have a lipo failure.

Simply watch your packs. Are they starting to puff, and what type of puffing?? If you have a pack that puffs abruptly for seemingly no reason while charging or running. Stop using it, there's something wrong with it. If you start to see slight puffing while running that may or may not go back down, monitor the IR and WATCH it while charging and be aware that it MAY "explode" or catch fire while running or charging in the future. Or simply stop using it and replace it. If when you're done running your vehicle and the lipo is at a safe storage voltage with no visible puffing. It's not likely to puff while sitting in storage.
IMO, while properly stored is the LEAST likely time to have a lipo failure.
#8
Tech Master
iTrader: (21)
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,188
From: Mooresville, NC
As in storage? I have a small work area for my rc cars in my spare room and I usually have a few 2S batteries lying around. My pit box is kept in the garage and I always charge outside. Just wondering in a dormant state are lipos still a fire/explosion risk? I usually have them discharged or at least, below 50% when I lave them inside but is this still a bad idea?
#12
Your original question:
No, in a dormant state lipos are typically not a fire/explosion risk.
I recommend:
1) Keep them stored in a lipo bag or bags if you have many batteries
2) Keep them out of direct sunlight or where it will get too hot
3) If you are paranoid, put the batteries that are in their lipo bags inside a clay pot and cover w/ a clay pot dish (the kind the clay pots sit on top)
I have seen lipos catch fire, they are most always started during use and by over-charging, or over discharging. If your using a standard lipo charger and following the directions you shouldn't have to worry about this happening. I've never seen one spontaneously begin to catch fire. And I've never seen one explode. I think for a lipo battery to explode there would have to be a situation where there was a lot of energy trying to be released under extreme pressure (not a likely scenario).
Just wondering in a dormant state are lipos still a fire/explosion risk?
I recommend:
1) Keep them stored in a lipo bag or bags if you have many batteries
2) Keep them out of direct sunlight or where it will get too hot
3) If you are paranoid, put the batteries that are in their lipo bags inside a clay pot and cover w/ a clay pot dish (the kind the clay pots sit on top)
I have seen lipos catch fire, they are most always started during use and by over-charging, or over discharging. If your using a standard lipo charger and following the directions you shouldn't have to worry about this happening. I've never seen one spontaneously begin to catch fire. And I've never seen one explode. I think for a lipo battery to explode there would have to be a situation where there was a lot of energy trying to be released under extreme pressure (not a likely scenario).




