I have been flying electric since 1985, built my own Ni-Cd packs with balanced cells. Entered into the Li-Po world about 10 years ago. My ASTRO Charger didn't have "Balance" plugs and the Battery Packs didn't have Balance Plugs either. I built more and More Electric, Bigger an Bigger models and then came the "Brushless" age.

New batteries had those extra leads that didn't plug into anything, not on my charger anyway. Then, one day, without warning, while Charging a New 4s Li Po, it started smoking, I pulled the Charge plug apart and the Battery burst into FIRE. I threw it outside and it landed in the driveway, still burning until there was not much left but the wires.

Two weeks later another (used) Li Po caught fire while charging. Out it went into the driveway. (Now I have two (2) Burned Black spots in front of my garage. The Local Hobby Shop would not replace the New Burned up battery, he said it caught fire because I wasn't using the Balance Plug during charging. A new Charger (Actually 3 New chargers over time) and almost 5 years have gone by, and I haven't burned up any more batteries. I do put them in a big Clay Flower Pot with a Clay cover while charging, just to be on the safe side. I can afford Batteries and Chargers, But I Can't afford another House.

Just my 2 cents,

Ken AMA 1528