LiPo Safety Questions

[jocatch]

I just ordered my first li-po battery, the TP 2100, along with the TP205 balancer and TP425 charger. I will be using a home made power supply.

Reading all the posts about these things exploding and catching fire, I am having second thoughts about them. I have a few questions:

1. Where are the best places to charge? The two I have seen that look good are the cinder blocks with ziplock sand page and the other is an ammo can. I assume the middle of my garage floor would work.

2. What KIND of fire extigisher? I assume a "C" or "ABC" at least? I assume "A" or "AB" is no good, right?

3. If I am in no hurry and I charge the 2100 battery at less than 1C, how long will it take to charge? In other words, how long will I have to babysit the charger?

4. What about crash protection? What do people use to pad the battery in their helicopters in case of crashes?

5. Isn't the smoke from one of these fires a health hazzard and should be avoided? I have seen videos people have made of these things on fire and they seem to be breathing in this stuff which can't be good and probably almost as dangerous as the flames itself.

Joe C.

[MrMel]

1. Flames can be 6 feet high, + it will develop ALOT of smoke, so outdoor is prefered, I do it inside in a working fireplace, dont know if thats enough, but I feel Ok, I also have a ammo box (home made out of steel plates) which I can charge on the padio during summer.
There is also a new invention called lipo-bag which contains the fire, search the net for it.

2. Im dont really know, but I suggest a bucket of sand instead of extingisher, just tip it over the battery in case of a fire.

3. 1C = 70-80 minutes, 0.5C will be around the double.

4. During many crashes I have totalled 2 batteries, problem is if you pad it, it will develop more heat which destroys the battery, so I say, run it free and cross your fingers.

5. Yep, I would stay away from the smoke, also I think the leftovers are hazardus.