RCU Forums - View Single Post - Is the so-called "smart battery" really safe enough?
Old 08-21-2019, 01:40 AM
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Chamberlainr
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Default Is the so-called "smart battery" really safe enough?

We have read many news about fire caused by drone battery. Some of them are due to battery overcharing, when a LiPo battery is overcharged, the anode of the battery becomes plated with lithium metal and the cathode produces carbon dioxide. The pressure inside the battery rises as more gas is produced until the outer skin of the LiPo bursts and vents gas. LiPo venting is usually accompanied by flames which leads to the entire battery destroying itself. Overcharging can be prevented by charging LiPo batteries to a maximum of 4.2 volts per cell (or 4.35V for lithium high voltage packs) and charging at a safe current setting.

Some due to over discharging. When quickly discharged in situations such as a drone race, a LiPo battery will heat up. If excess current is drawn from the battery causing it to overheat, gasses will form inside the battery. Like overcharging, if enough gas forms and the LiPo bursts, it will commonly vent with flames. If a LiPo is discharged below its stated C-rating, there should not usually be a safety issue (unless, as happens occasionally, LiPo manufacturers lie about the C-rating of their batteries).

I found some smart battery claiming it can prevent over-charging and over-discharging automatically, so does this mean it is really safe enough that we don't have to take precautions?