Best Way To Dispose of a lipo battery

[r/c basher]

I have a puffed lipo that has been puffed for a while its not showing a sign of getting any bigger but I don't want to take the chance of it going ka-boom. A $20 battery isn't worth the chance of my house catching on fire.

Anyway I was researching on the best way to dispose of it and it seems that the saltwater bath has some controversy, some say it works, some say it doesn't.

So what method do you guys use?

[akent]

Your battery will not explode or catch on fire, if you don't cut it open or otherwise abuse it.

These batteries are sealed. I never understood why anyone would say to put them in salt water, other than the salt water is slightly conductive. That would eventually drain the battery in theory. But if the battery was to get a leak, then the lithium metal will react with the water and start a FIRE!
I do not recommend doing a salt water or any kind of water bath.

The best way to dispose of a Lipo is to take it to your local Radio Shack. They will recycle them.
Kent

[Dave]

I have to agree with akent on this one, take it to Radio Shack and they will get rid of it for you. I don't know about the one that akent uses but ours take them for free.

Of course you could always send it to Raygun........

[Raygun]

I hit them with a shovel and they turn into a smoke bomb when it is done it is no longer dangerous I then ship it down to Dave neighbor and he buries it in Daves Garden

[akphill]

OH No not another battery controversial debate

[Solitaire]

Aug 24, 2011 19:24:27 GMT -6 Raygun said:

I hit them with a shovel and they turn into a smoke bomb when it is done it is no longer dangerous I then ship it down to Dave neighbor and he buries it in Daves Garden

Those crazy Alabamans. Don't they know you can't grow LiPo's?

[19000rpm]

I don't think there's much of a debate here. Take them to a battery disposal site or send it to Dave.

The salt water thing is bogus. I tried that once and saw absolutely nothing to indicate the lipo changed in any way over a period of a month.

And in my experience, a puffed lipo, not directly involved in a wreck, lets say, will not explode and catch fire. Much puffing is trapped air in the wrapping that has expanded from heat; not necessarily the cell itself.

The only things that I know of that cause a lipo fire are: 1) Compression or puncture (like Ray's shovel or a nail) 2) Over charging or over discharging 3) Excessive heat.

[akphill]

Yep here it comes LOL

[r/c basher]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll take it to Radioshack.

Last time I used the salt water method and it seemed to work, atleast I didn't hear of any garbage trucks catching on fire. I've always wondered though how bad these blow up though...

Its like when your a little kid and your parents tell you don't do something cause this will happen, but you just have to find out for yourself.

Also I wonder if this lipo bag that I got from Hobbypartz really works or not... And I might be going to a bonfire this weekend and I'm sure they would love to see an explosion...


Also I wonder if this battery is really bad it puffed up a while ago when I flew my Exi 450. I think it was drawing to much current. I did use it a few times on my planks and it didn't puff up anymore, but I took it easy on it and only flew for half the time I usually do.

[Raygun]

If you want to see what kind of energy that can be released go hit one with a shovel and pierce the case they don't blow up but they put on quite a show as long as you don't have them around any water. If the lithium strip comes in contact with water I have seen that as well a piece 3/8" X 11/2" in a five gallon pail of water produces a white hot flame 2' in Dia. and 12' high it will really make you appreciate what they can do.. Ray

[akphill]

I tried a 6s 3000 mah battery one time to see what would happen when punctured was I dissapointed in the result's all that happened was a whole lot of smoke what I figured out was no flame source no fire
I also took video if someone wants to see let me know

[Raygun]

Aug 25, 2011 0:03:48 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

Aug 24, 2011 19:24:27 GMT -6 Raygun said:

I hit them with a shovel and they turn into a smoke bomb when it is done it is no longer dangerous I then ship it down to Dave neighbor and he buries it in Daves Garden

Those crazy Alabamans. Don't they know you can't grow LiPo's?

With all that lithium in the ground Daves tomatoes grow up to be calm and non-combative

[19000rpm]

Must be why Dave is so mellow.

[r/c basher]

Im really curious what will happen to the lipo if I blow it up. I'm really bored right now and that tends to lead to me doing dangerous things. Whats the best way to blow it up? BB gun? Nail? Short the wire together? I'm thinking BB gun cause I don't want to be next to it. Also what should I set it on? I don't want my grass catching on fire. If you see on the news about a forest fire in Michigan suspect the worst...

[Raygun]

It will just smoke a lot and get really hot no explosion I suppose on dry grass it could start a fire or if you shoot it and it falls into a pail of water then there might be some excitement.. Ray