recDNA
Flashaholic
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 8,761
I had an ultrafire rcr123 protected li ion battery begin to overheat after I took it out of a flashlight. The battery was charged but the flashlight did not light. When I took the battery out it was hot and kept getting hotter so I put it in a cup of water and ran outside and put it on the driveway away from everything. I then remembered (I think in error) that water can make things worse so using a long pair of tongs I moved the battery to a bucket and covered it with sand. I brought it to the fire station hours later and they took it off of my hands.
I did a search on the internet. Some sites say I SHOULD have left it in water because these. Batteries can ignite even if buried providing their own oxygen. Other sites said do NOT use water it makes them explode. Some sites said only use class d fire extinguishers. Others said water is fine, won't put out the fire but will prevent it spreading.
So what SHOULD I have done with that short circuited battery? I know I was lucky it didn't vent in my face while putting it in water or taking it out but it's hard to think that fast when confronted with an unexpected hazardous situation like that.
I did a search on the internet. Some sites say I SHOULD have left it in water because these. Batteries can ignite even if buried providing their own oxygen. Other sites said do NOT use water it makes them explode. Some sites said only use class d fire extinguishers. Others said water is fine, won't put out the fire but will prevent it spreading.
So what SHOULD I have done with that short circuited battery? I know I was lucky it didn't vent in my face while putting it in water or taking it out but it's hard to think that fast when confronted with an unexpected hazardous situation like that.