If you folks haven't seen the exploding LiPo demo videos on youtube.com. they'll open your eyes. Does anyone know the right class of fire extinquisher (A, B, C, etc.) to use on a LiPo fire that will extinguish it and not accelerate it? I don't plan on exploding LiPos, but just want to put safety first. Neall

I believe the AB or ABC ones are the most common and used in for both chemical and wood, paper ect. Go to a Home Depot or whatever and ask in there.
I don't know how many guys do this, but on all mine I remove them from the bracket about once a month and check the pressure guage. then turn it upside down and shake it to make sure the powder inside is not all packed to the bottom. If you feel no movement at all, you can use a rubber mallet and lightly hit the bottom of the extinguisher until you feel the powder dislodge and move around inside. Just my 2 cents worth............ I had a boat extinguisher fail on me because the powder was so tightly packed from sitting so long, and bouncing on the waves that I got about 5 seconds worth of powder, then straight air ( actually I think its nitrogen that is used to pressurize those) Luckily only lost a cushion and one set of swimming trunks and undies. I had to toss the burning cushion overboard and forbid smoking on my craft.


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Of all the things I ever lost........................................ I miss my mind the most!

Arrownaughtic, that's one wild boat party when your underwear goes up in flames Seriously, boat fires are horrifying, and I'm glad it wasn't worse.
Several of those youtube.com videos are put out by a vendor, advertising their flameproof "Lipo sacks" for charging. You stick the battery in there, and if it explodes, the fire is (hopefully) contained. I wonder if any folks on here pop their LiPos into one of those sacks before they charge. In another video, a guy whacks a LiPo with a stick and it explodes in fire and flames. Looks like he had a nail at the end, to pierce and short the cells. Still, pretty scary stuff. Neall

They are only as safe as the user. I've been using them for years with no problems at all. On the other hand my buddy almost burnt down his living room........why was he charging in the living room?

I'm not aware of any extinguisher that'll really put out the 2,500+ deg. fire of a Lipo. I've always had a bag of sand handy, as this is one of the best ways to starve the lipo from reacting with the oxygen. Some folks I know charge with a ziploc bag of sand suspended over the pack. If a fire starts, the bag melts and dumps the sand.

Get a ABC extinguisher..but dont plan on it actually putting out the lipo...But it can prevent other stuff around it from going up in flames.
Fire Extinguishers are powered by CO2 not nitrogen. Mainly because it starves fires of oxygen and is fairly inert.
Once you put out the initial fire....get that lipo somewhere safe....it can restart if it isnt fully consumed.

You need a Class D extinguisher, specifically made for Lithium fires(Lithex). A bucket of sand is a good alternative. An ABC won't do jack. All metals ending in 'ium' need special, metal specific extinguishers. Some burn more violently when exposed to water.

No extiguisher will work unfortunatly. As soon as fresh air reaches the pack it'll explode again, so it's better to spend more time preventing explosions than stocking up on items that won't extinguish them for long anyway. [&o]

I live in hot Arizona and currently charge the batteries on the cement floor in my garage. But I was wondering when summer roles around and we hit temps in the 116 range, if it's Ok to charge them in that type of heat? I thought I read somewhere not to charge them when it's over 113. I don't want to charge them in the cooler house. I want to avoid any burning living room incidents like the one mentioned above.

I charge mine in my shop on top of a lumber pile....I keep marshmallows and some nicely carved sticks next to it in case of a fire. Maybe I should get some hot dogs too? Only joking. I do charge them on a wooden bench though. I keep telling folks this......because it's true.......follow the directions exactly and you will be fine. I know there are bound to be a few mishaps even when following directions. It's always good to be prepared.....hence the marshmallows

UtahFlyers.org, also has a large selection of videos. Some showing possible precautions for safe charging.
Talk about scary stuff. Obviously, deliberate abuse of a lipo will result in a fire/explosion,
but there's always the chance of poking a hole in your lipo from installing or removing from your heli.

Please, be carefull. Wouldn't want to hear anyone got injured, or lost property from a lipo fire.

"Have a Safe Flight Day"
E J

Since I can't keep the battery around me for 2 hours when charging, I have a surplus Ammo box that I use. It has a 'detent' on the lid so that it stays open just enough for the power wire to pass through, but still needs a bit of a pull to open. I keep the opening pointing to open space and hope that if one does go, it wil mostly vent hamelessly through this space. And it is on a concrete floor.

Any thoughts?


j