Various Li cells react with salt water?

Buck · Jun 4, 2008

I do a lot of recreating in and around sea water. If a light containing LiCo rechargeables floods, how ugly is that going to be? If the answer is "vent with flame" or something else fairly nasty, that's really going to reduce my enthusiasm for all those AW cells I just ordered. :mecry:

There are several small dive lights that use Li primaries. What will these do when (not if) they flood?

Are LiFePO4 safe even in sea water?

mudman cj · Jun 4, 2008

I am thinking that the problem with salt water is that it conducts electricity. If that is the extent of the problem, then protected cells would shut down if the current draw exceeds the pcb limit. Unprotected LiCo cells would probably vent with flame. LiFePO4 seems like it could go either way depending upon the resistance of the sea water and the cooling effect on the cell. They can certainly tolerate higher currents than LiCo though.

2xTrinity · Jun 4, 2008

Hmm... someone should probably get an old LiIon cell they don't really care about, overcharge it or do something else abusive to it, then throw it in a bucket of saturated salt water and see what happens.

Also, if you're tihnking of using this in a metal dive light, check to see if your light has something to serve as a sacrificial anode, such as a chunk of zinc. I once read a review on here where one poster ended up turning on his light, and it corroded shut permanently.

Buck · Jun 4, 2008

2xTrinity said:
Also, if you're tihnking of using this in a metal dive light, check to see if your light has something to serve as a sacrificial anode, such as a chunk of zinc.

Yep, I was considering attaching a chunk of zinc to the body with a zip tie. It *might* help.

SilverFox answered the original question here:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/199438

DM51 · Jun 5, 2008

The matter is discussed quite extensively in that other thread, so to avoid cross-posting I will close this one.

Various Li cells react with salt water?

Buck

Newly Enlightened

mudman cj

Flashlight Enthusiast

2xTrinity

Flashlight Enthusiast

Buck

Newly Enlightened

DM51

Flashaholic

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