Picked up Losi's Lipo:Help me work through my paranoia

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:57 am

I don't know why I'm so paranoid about Lipos. I guess because I've been known to make stupid mistakes, and hate to make a stupid mistake with one of these. I finally went with the Losi one, because I figured if they burn down my house I know who to sue, but I get it, and there's this warning: "If you are not prepared to accept complete liability for the purchase and/or use of this product, you are advised to return it new and unused to place of purchase immediately"

WTF? So I'm liable just by purchasing the battery. I don't like the sound of that, and I don't feel secure with a product that has that kind of warning, so I figure, I follow their instruction explicitly, so I don't have any problems, but then the warning seems a bit extreme, so let me ask you guys a few questions and see if I'm just being paranoid.

So, I'm supposed to monitor the battery watching for swelling, and constantly checking for excessive heat. Really? I have to sit there for the whole hour just staring at my battery. I don't like the sounds of that. I've heard of filling zip lock bags with sand and sandwiching the battery between them. Should I just do that, and be done with it, or do I really have to sit and stare at the battery the whole time?

The other thing that bothered me was the storage. It is recommended that when not in use it is stored in its own plastic bag in a vented fire proof container. First off, what do I use as a fireproof container, and really? They're that unstable that if I leave it in the car, my car may spontaneously burst into flames?

Which brings me to long term storage. lets just say that for some reason my Micro-Ts get packed away, and unused for a few years. Should I just dispose of the battery at that point rather than worrying about it blowing up in my closet?

I know everyone says Lipos are much more stable now, and with proper care you'll never have a problem, but Losi doesn't seem to have as much confidence in their product, which makes me have little confidence. I am seriously ready to take this thing back, unless you guys can convince me otherwise. (Don't worry, I do not hold you guys liable for my actions.

)

ibjamn · Post by **ibjamn** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:17 am

I don't know jack about lipo's. I still use NIMH packs for everything.
But I agree, the warning seems a bit extreme. I doubt that little thing would cause a lot of damage, though.

steelwoolghandi · Post by **steelwoolghandi** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:15 am

The planets are not in proper alignment for you to complete your purchase at this time!

I would stick 2 "D" size batteries in it and be done with the whole thing!

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:31 pm

You guys aren't helping much.

Guess I'll have to work through this on my own.

I'm going to just keep the battery between sandbags, and keep telling myself Walmart wouldn't sell those little helis if they spontaneously combusted.

steelwoolghandi · Post by **steelwoolghandi** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:40 pm

crazydave wrote: I'm going to just keep the battery between sandbags, and keep telling myself Walmart wouldn't sell those little helis if they spontaneously combusted.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-norman ... 75026.html

evoraptor · Post by **evoraptor** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:51 pm

I don't think they are that dangerous. True, if used improperly (like majorly improper, sticking them into fire, etc) the could do some damage, but in any case, it's just a battery. I would think metal cased cylinders would case more damage. I've punctured one before, and it swelled, but my house is here. I charge them regularly, and it works, no fires here. Storing... I think discharging them to a safe level works. (no less than 3v mind you)

Then again, I'm also a nub with slightly more experience. Wait for ph2t or someone to show up... lol.

frizzen · Post by **frizzen** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:30 pm

Uh, dude. You grew up riding in the front seat of cars with metal dashboards, no airbags, and probably rarely if ever wore seatbelt, let alone a booster seat. Were put to sleep on your stomach in a baby crib covered with bright colored lead-based paints. No childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets. Never wore a helmet riding your bike. Talked to strangers, maybe even took candy from them. You're scared of a battery.

Either grow a pair, or get one of these. http://www.liposack.com/
I first heard about them from cheapbatterypacks.com

steelwoolghandi · Post by **steelwoolghandi** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:03 pm

frizzen wrote:Uh, dude. You grew up riding in the front seat of cars with metal dashboards, no airbags, and probably rarely if ever wore seatbelt, let alone a booster seat. Were put to sleep on your stomach in a baby crib covered with bright colored lead-based paints. No childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets. Never wore a helmet riding your bike. Talked to strangers, maybe even took candy from them. You're scared of a battery.

Today in the news man survives all of the above only to be set on fire, Burned with acid and finally blown up by a Battery. Details at 10:00

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:14 pm

frizzen wrote:Uh, dude. You grew up riding in the front seat of cars with metal dashboards, no airbags, and probably rarely if ever wore seatbelt, let alone a booster seat. Were put to sleep on your stomach in a baby crib covered with bright colored lead-based paints. No childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets. Never wore a helmet riding your bike. Talked to strangers, maybe even took candy from them. You're scared of a battery.

Either grow a pair, or get one of these. http://www.liposack.com/
I first heard about them from cheapbatterypacks.com

I've blown up batteries before, and I've heard lipos have a something like a 2000 degree flame. If that's correct, that's friggen damn hot.

That's the only thing that scares me. I've blown up lots of stuff, but I'm not sure I've ever played with anything that hot.

So I guess I'll probably get one of them liposacks. Thanks for the tip.

Check out this vid. That sack looks like a worthwhile investment to me.
http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com/liposackv.wmv

ibjamn · Post by **ibjamn** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:47 pm

Ok, I would have to think that your concerns are kinda warranted.

By the way, how's your home owner's or renter's insurance? Up to date?

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:52 am

all those warnings are just a product of the current litigious society.

just make sure you use a proper lipo charger, don't charge more than 1C, don't over discharge each cell below 3v.

i never leave a charging lipo unattended (like heading out of the house) and once charged i disconnect it from the charger.

basically just be more careful with it than you would with a nimh pack and you should be fine.

frizzen · Post by **frizzen** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:42 am

Yeah, they ARE horrible bad and scary.
I was just giving you a hard time because my thumb hurts from installing rock claws onto beadlocks (48 screws) then pissed when I realized I swapped tread direction and have to redo half, after the blister goes away.

2,000 degrees is hotter than you can get with much other than a Kiln, Welder, or Oxy-Acetylene torch.

Get a good Lipo charger, none of this plug it into a wallwart or dumb powersupply.

As for putting out an actively venting Lipo, you'd need a Class D extinguisher, but they're really expensive and do nothing for A,B,C class fires. Bags of sand are good too. NO WATER!!!
So basically, since you only charge it on a fireproof surface, wait until it stops venting then hit anything it caught on fire with either a C or ABC extinguisher. CO2 type doesn't get that nasty powder over everything; although the powder type doesn't displace the oxygen, it's not good to breathe.

If you're not into the Liposack, you might want to look into a 30 or 50 cal ammo can from the MilSurp store (yank the waterproofing gasket) they should contain it too.

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:50 am

Yes, it's Losi Lipo Battery,
the toy sensation
that's sweeping the nation.
Only 34.95 at participating stores!

Get one Today

Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children should avoid
prolonged exposure to lipo batteries.

Caution: lipo may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds.

Lipo battery contains a liquid core, which if exposed due to rupture
should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at.

Do not use Lipo Batteries on concrete.

Discontinue use of your Lipo Battery if any of the following occurs:

* Itching

* Vertigo

* Dizziness

* Tingling in extremities

* Loss of balance or coordination

* Slurred speech

* Temporary blindness

* Profuse Sweating

or

* Heart palpitations

If the Lipo Battery begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter
and cover head.

The Lipo Battery may stick to certain types of skin.

When not in use, Lipo Batteries should be returned to their special container
and kept under refrigeration.

Failure to do so relieves Losi, RC Products
Incorporated, and its parent company, Global Chemical Unlimited, of
any and all liability.

Ingredients of the Lipo Battery include an unknown glowing substance which
fell to Earth, presumably from outer space.

The Lipo Battery has been shipped to our troops in Saudi Arabia and is
also being dropped by our warplanes on Iraq.

Do not taunt your Lipo Battery.
Your Lipo Battery comes with a lifetime guarantee, and is guaranteed to last its entire lifetime.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:56 am

ibjamn wrote:Ok, I would have to think that your concerns are kinda warranted.

By the way, how's your home owner's or renter's insurance? Up to date?

I have no insurance. The policies I looked into have like a thousand dollar deductible. I could replace most everything I own with that.

Your Lipo Battery comes with a lifetime guarantee, and is guaranteed to last its entire lifetime.

That's my beef. I don't trust mass manufacturing techniques. Either there's a hell of a lot of defective products out there, or I'm just lucky enough to get the defect nearly every time. So say the charger is defective or battery's voltage cutoff is defective, it burns my place down, I have nothing, and Losi says, "Well we're not liable for all that, but here's a replacement battery. " Then there I am sitting on a street corner trying to play the blues for money on my lipo battery. I'm not liking that scenario.

I know I'm paranoid, but I figure better safe than sorry. I think the extinguishers around here are ABC type, I'll have to look, but I had to use one once and it was the powder type.

Thanks guys, I'm thinking I'm about ready to go ahead and try this thing.

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:58 pm

I have one, Dave, and I barely ever read directions. No problems here. I charge it with the Losi wall wart charger it came with, use it, and either leave it in the car and disconnect the cable or take it out and throw it in my Micro-T box. Don't worry about it. If it really was super dangerous just in normal use, they wouldn't sell them. I charge mine while it sits on top of our washing machine lid. The only thing that was a little disconcerting about it is it barely fits in the car and you sort of have to cram it in there past those screw posts.

I realize lipos are more sensitive than normal batteries, but ask yourself this: how many NiCads or NiHMs have you blown up due to improper charging? I think the whole worry about lipos is there's lots of idiots running around that do stupid shit like plugging it in to any old wall wart, or charging it with a charger that isn't smart, and the price for doing that with a lipo is high. I think if you just take normal precautions you'll be fine.

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