Nitroedge

Hey all,

My Lipo battery (1200mah 3S) has always been pretty much flat but last night when I went into the garage I saw it was totally inflated! (not plugged in even)...

I did one run with it inside my Tamiya TT-03 and it was really hot after.

Is it still safe to use it? Charge it? Or do I have to trash it and get another. Thanks!

Brandon

TenergyRep

Yup it's done for. Shell out for a new one.

Nitroedge

Dang Should I keep racing with it until it completely dies or would that be too risky? (ie. fire hazard!)

screaminglife

wow, its a goner, but it would be interesting to know why....

83gt

do NOT use that pack.

DaveG55

If you value your cars, house and appendages find out how to dispose of that battery properly and get a new one.

screaminglife

and if he doesnt, cavalcades of fun may be had!

jp, you should take care of that thing immediately

Nitroedge

Thanks all, I will safely dispose of it...

Maybe I left it on the charger too long, but my Smartbrain charger has trickle-mode once it is fully charged... Weird!

TenergyRep

Smartbrain? Never heard of it. SuperBrain yes Smartbrain no.

hands without shadows

1200 mah? Whats the discharge rate?

paperclip

Not to get off subject here but I have never heard that word before screaminglife cavalcades it is a very funny word. but yes I would definantly never use that lipo again ever unless you want ur rc to die a horrible death.

hands without shadows

It is a lipo charger right?

TenergyRep

That's what I was wondering.

IBrakeForNobody

My Feedback: (16)

I think why it did that is simply because that pack is too small. Li-poly batteries can be safely discharged at a rate of 10C, or 10 times the capacity of the battery, or in your case, 12 amps. Depending on your setup, your motor can pull 100 amps or more initially, then pull a constant 50 or more amps. I wouldn't run anything smaller then a 5000mAh li-poly (50 amp discharge), unless it specifically says that it can handle high discharge rates.

mattnin

Don't run it anymore, because this can happen inside your car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ0SNESIkWk

theradioflyer

I have a TP1320 that my balancer has deemed bad. I then noticed that the top cell was slightly puffy. Voltage check showed that the #1 cell was .3 volts higher than the other 2. I also assume that this batt is a goner. Damn, there goes some more $$$$[:@]

God Bless All!

RURC

Man that is a 1200 mAh battery. At best (and that is not one of them) it is good for 20C. That is 24 amps continuous drain. You are lucky it did not go BOOM in your car. You way surpassed the capability of that pack. Dont under buy lipos guys. Make sure that you buy more pack then you can run that will prevent this from happening.

Carefully cut of the wires and submerge that pack in a bucket of SALT water and leave it over night. OUTSIDE AWAY FROM ALL BUILDINGS AND FLAMMABLES. Than put that thing in the trash and thank God that it did not go off. Lipos create their own oxygen and burn almost white hot so once the chain reaction starts it is hard to stop.

A few years ago that pack would have blown up. The safety of these packs has come a long way. Also do not run a continuous trickle charge to lipos that will also cause this. Once charged a lipo will hold its charge for weeks. Also guys when storing your lipos only charge to 50% of the mAh.

Nitroedge

FIGURED IT OUT! Yes! I was rackin my brain to go over what R/C stuff I was working on and I remember exactly how it could have happened.

I was fixing my Flyzone Cessna plane and dicking around with the electronics and motor. I stuck in a 380 Brushless motor I had from my old foamy floatplane, had all the electronics hooked up then needed a battery to check everything.

I connected the Lipo battery to it, then realized the motor was brushless, stock ESC is a Nimh 6-7 cell max unit, and then tried to fire it up...

I think this has to be the reason as I run a Mamba brushless setup in my 18R and remember I had to replace the ESC to handle the new motor... DOH!!!

I didn't charge it last night I remember, and had no power when connecting the Lipo to the plane electronics, checked it out for a few throttle checks, etc... it must have fried then.

Oh well, I'll dispose of it safely and dang, gotta get a new one then

Brandon

Thanks for all yer help guys!