how easily do Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries catch fire? 4. heat

7 months ago
28

DANGER - DO NOT TRY AT HOME - SAFETY FIRST
A safety video showing just how easily these common Lithium Polymer batteries catch fire and explode. I do this so you don't have to.
These batteries are in phones, drones, cameras, laptops etc etc they are the standard small grey packs ...these had puffed (due to incorrect storage) so although showing 4.2V carried far less actual current. (and due to puffing gaps between plates unable to deliver a high "C").
(this is 1 cell from a 3S 2000mAh drone battery pack)
As can be seen it doesn't take long for even a low charge puffed LiPo to catch and sustain fire when exposed to heat. This was a cheap, poor quality, low heat basic plumbers blow torch. The burnt plates were still hot enough to scorch my welding gloves even after 5 minues - this is also why fire departments don't like them much, they stay hot enough to re-ignite or cause serious skin burns for many minutes after the flames are controlled. (i'm not trying it, well maybe if i find a dead animal, on skin but i suspect it may be hot enough to reach bone, certainly muscle...you'd feel that!)

The magic rule with LiPo: low charge = lower risk.
Additional - keep them away from heat regardless.

Other observations - they really stink when burning/burnt and the smell lingers on everything it comes in contact with. The cold vented gasses smell slightly sweet.

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