[DrPaul]

If the lipos are in hard cases then they all come out of four or five different factories in China/Taiwan and there is NO direct safety issues with them, its how they are charged that causes the problems.
If the BRCA want to control anything it should be how LIPOS are charged, at what current rate and what voltage depending on the LIPO and with what sort of charger and thats not going to happen is it.

Ive been an electronics design engineer for more years than I care to remember and its the current, rate and voltage you charge at that damages LIPOs not to mention the poorly designed electronics that is used to charge them. Dont be fooled by cheap verses expensive chargers either, some of the better chargers are not anywhere near the most expensive, its all about the accuracy of the charger and it delivering the current and voltage it says it is, how the lipo is stored and so on.

The safety aspect of lipos is totally un-policable due to the above reasons so lets not cloud the waters with statements about cheap lipos blowing up. Ive seen more BRCA approved cells go up in smoke this year due to a number of reasons than the so called cheap (Hobbyking) lipos used by so many club racers charged on "cheaper" chargers.

Back in the days of NiCads etc these also went bang from time to time and there was no governance for club and regional events of what brand had to be used. A no branded stick pack could be bought at any model shop and used and be charged correctly or incorrectly, so no different today, other than we realise charging in a safe LIPO sack is the right and safe thing to do.

People need to be encouraged to come racing, people have less disposable income, lets get back to making racing fun and affordable. Enforcing BRCA lipo and motor rules at club and regional level is not helping the hobby.