Would you mind sharing this story hank?
+1
Actually, Hank could clarify better. Pretty important stuff that is glossed over and not referenced. For example, series or parallel or both? And the why. Reference, don't shirk with "Go read on your own". We are building a google database, that will attract new members-but only if questions are answered in the thread of this forum.
Battery care reading is often very contradictory, usually very subjective, most posts lack any chemical explanation. Then, all our memories need to be refreshed at times. Not, "Go google your self"-which is often the only answer you can get by googling.
Things (mostly in this thread) that sound plausible:
1. buy protected cells. (protected contollers too)
2. buy named brand cells.
3. Stay away from chargers that charge above 4.2 volts.
4. Charge at .5 C seems optimal to keep cells healthy, never above 1 C.
5. Throw away cell if under 2.8 volt. No explanation. So total BS, just that going under could harm cell. However, we forget the protection of the cell will show lower voltage as it protects cell.
So, this rule is mostly b.s. that applies only to non protected cells.
6. Constantly check voltage of all cells. This is BS too since it is not at all practical in real world and would make going back to 3 AA format look maintenance free.
This could be done, however, with a smart controller.
7. Dont buy primary liions. Dangerous and not controllable.
8. Water, by common sense, could be very dangerous by liions.
9. 18650's, in series, could reverse charge--probably vent. I do not see problem with parallel (yes, could overdraw one cell and it will not take a future charge), or properly yolked series.
10. Probably, a good idea to have pressure release on liion tube (pressure build from flame venting could equal explosion).
11. A silicone or insulated metal firewall should be used between batteries and skin.
12."Rapid venting occurs during over charge, reverse charge, and as a result of using a damaged cell. Also driving a cell beyond its capabilities in either charge or discharge current can heat thing up to a point where the cell will rapidly vent."
"Damaged" cell is misleading. I think the original poster meant damaged insulator or protection--not overdrawn or old.
13. Some lights have a parasitic drain on the battery. It is not a good idea to leave a battery in those lights because it can lead to over discharge.
14. Praise be to AW, curses on the house of Ultrafire.
15. Redundant controller and protections, can still get her pregnant.
16. Is there a way to reduce the amount of explosion power ? Interesting question. (like temperature, orientation, running them down before shipping them? Packing in asbestos or silicone?
17. "Don't charge overnight" Seriously, how dumb of a charger and low quality of battery needed for this to be an issue. Needs clarity. Why aren't the chargers fireproof.
18. How redundant is the AW protection, and what sort of things does its protection prevent that others' don't?
19. The new 2900/3100s can be discharged safely down to 2.5V, but the older chemistries can only be discharged to around 2.75V 2900mah NCR is posted here. At 3.6V the cell still has more than 50% of its capacity so you shouldn't start charging at 3.6v.
http://industrial.panasonic.com/www-...A4000CE240.pdf
20. You would notice that the cell only reaches maximum capacity when it's above 60 degrees celsius (or 140 F).
21. Protection also good to avoid the inevitible reverse insertion into charger and light.
22. Although once the IC protection kicks in you would need a cold start charger to re-activate it.--This needs clarification. But I think I have experienced this with my panasonics: had to use the Fenix oem to charge a low cell, where the I4 refused to charge it.
23. xstar2 rules.
24. Never use unprotected LiCoO2 cells in multi cell lights.--Huh? The chemistry of the cells we buy is never told to the buyer. Maybe, I am wrong, and must revisit.
25. I have had NiMH AA's go thermal rundown, melting all plastic around it, at night, in bed, where I threw cell in tub. Probably more than once. Admittedly, this was in light that needed all the cell's insulation in order to not cause + to meet -.
I am now nervous with all batteries around the bed of family. But, how can we function without our booklights and androids? We could go back to hurricane lamps I suppose.
27. If explosions and venting were easy to reproduce, would not Youtube.com be loaded with videos of them going off?
