Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris56
Thanks for the "heads-up". I agree blame or cause shouldn't really be debated here, simply that it happened and the consequences can be pretty bad.
Having witnessed a LIPO fire a week ago, I know tat LIPO bags will only contain the fire for 5 seconds max - long enough to grab it and throw it out of harms way but not long enough to prevent considerable damage being done.
I often charge LIPOs at home and never leave the house when I do so. Due to recent events im considering using an aluminium box to charge them in (with the bag also) so that I can at least leave the room in confidence.
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Do not grab a LiPo sack with a problem in it and throw it anywhere. This advice assumes that you can disconnect it from the charger, which is usually difficult, and that you have somewhere to throw it that is in any way 'safe'.
By the vast majority, LiPos are used indoors, so there is nowhere to throw them. Make sure that at every meeting there are at least two buckets of (preferably kiln dried) sand available in the pit area. If a LiPo gets a thermal runaway, douse it in sand immediately, and then leave it alone for at least 15 minutes.
This idea that you can pick up a sack with a LiPO in it undergoing thermal runaway and transport it anywhere has already badly burned one racer - don't do it. Make sure that your meeting has easy access to fire buckets filled at least 75% with sand and at the slightest sign of a LiPo in serious distress, dump the contents on it.
This is clearly what did not happen at the EOS meeting pictured in the thread, hence the large amount of damage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattW
Dave, I think you're absolutely correct about complacency having slipped in. The thread the other week about the BRCA rule update proves that for me. So it's good to just remind people that these things aren't 100% safe (and let's be honest, very few things are).
I'll be honest and say that I'm actually surprised there haven't been more "big problems" in the last couple of years.
LiPo fires WILL happen guys, lets just "do the right things" and hopefully the damage can be minimised.
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That last line is the key - LiPo fires are entirely predictable due to the inability of the industry to manage completely the manufacturing process. As the fires are inevitable, prepare for the inevitable.
A sack holds thing up for enough time to get the bucket of sand and douse the fire. Be prepared!