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Message started by JOG on 10/06/24 at 09:53:48

Title: About that fire..
Post by JOG on 10/06/24 at 09:53:48

I've been debating on whether or not to post this. Seems the older I get the more concerned I am about fire. Seeing how much trouble, cost and loss, I'm painfully aware of where they are. Coupla laptops that only get used once a year, maybe,, don't need to keep them around. Two Kindles. In the shop, an Ego weedeater, Biggo battery,, and a coupla old Craftsman batteries, for the 1/4" impact and drill. Now I'm kinda nervous about it. I know a guy who is super smart, and he told me to keep the Ego battery on the charger. It's sophisticated enough to not be damaged by overcharging.

What Caused that fire?

Title: Re: About that fire..
Post by bobert_FSO on 10/06/24 at 12:14:10

I know what you mean. 4 weedeater batteries, 4 power tool batteries. 6 laptops floating around the house. Luckily, they are all rather small capacity batteries packs, so these are not high-energy batteries. For all the tool batteries, when not being used, they are not plugged into their devices.

i think that there are a few other things that can be done to minimize the risk.

I keep seeing stories of fires resulting from things like electric bicycles. Don't buy cheap no-name Chinese battery-powered crap.

Use only the charger provided and designed to be used with your specific battery. All the latest chargers have electronics designed to (hopefully) safely work with your battery and not stress or overcharge them.

Re: getting more cautious as we age. Me too! I think it's common. Activities and equipment that I didn't think twice about when younger, now cause concern. I think that as we age, our "invincibility" gene leaves us. We know and have seen what flirting with disaster can do.

Title: Re: About that fire..
Post by Dave on 10/07/24 at 02:59:19

I never leave my batteries on a charger or tender.

My laptop, battery tools, helmet radio and other similar devices get charged when they need it - then removed from the charger and the charger is unplugged.

For my equipment that sits idle in the winter I hook up a tender for a day every couple of weeks - then remove it.

My cell phone gets plugged in every night and unplugged in the morning.

No charger stays plugged in permanently.

Title: Re: About that fire..
Post by JOG on 10/07/24 at 07:49:00

No charger stays plugged in permanently..

As much as I respect Gary's opinion,, I'm going with that.

So as long as a battery's not being charged, it's safe? Or less likely to burst into flames?
We've all heard about the batteries that lit up in a cargo hold, but they are being shaken and experiencing pressure changes. I've heard of a couple of incidents that happened in the passenger area..IDK if charging is even possible there. I suppose there might be a USB connection where the ashtray Used to be.

Title: Re: About that fire..
Post by Eegore on 10/08/24 at 10:45:59

Batteries typically ignite with active current. Similar to Dave I do not leave chargers powered unless I am charging batteries. I have over 130 Lithium batteries on shop grounds. None are charged without staff present.

The chargers remain plugged in, but they are on manually powered AC outlet strips that are hooked into the motion lights. No movement, no power, so if staff forget to power down a section, it will do it on it's own.

There is an exception for solar, however all of those batteries are in a separate structure with a suppression system. Incidentally nothing about Lithium warrants a class D extinguishing system.

So as long as a battery's not being charged, it's safe? Or less likely to burst into flames?

Yes, if it is not damaged. If there is damage these things are volatile, and I believe, and this is an opinion for anyone incapable of understanding what an opinion is, that damaged batteries are more of a culprit for fire than ones with just standard defects.

Cheap batteries are a quality issue and when it comes to Lithium a defect can be much more dangerous. I stay away from super-cheap batteries/chargers/panels etc. At the end of the day there are billions of lithium batteries out there, so from a percentage perspective they are safe. But from a brand perspective I am sure, and this is an opinion for anyone incapable of understanding what an opinion is, my opinion is certain brands or production runs will be more unsafe.

Main link:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/lithium-ion-batteries

Sub-links:
https://www.nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/lesson-plans/lithium-ion-battery-safety-mini-lesson-plan

https://www.nfpa.org/downloadable-resources/safety-tip-sheets/lithium-ion-battery-safety-for-consumers-tip-sheet

Also if you don't have smoke alarms I'd get some.

Title: Re: About that fire..
Post by JOG on 10/08/24 at 17:07:58

I have four Masterguard fire alarms. Heat melts solder,releasing a pin,A spring unwinds clanging a hammer on the housing. Uninstalled, so not valuable. If one was in the shop I'd never hear it. An outside station is sounding better and better.