18650s hot while charging

[etc]

This is the first time I saw this. Got a bunch of 18650 cells from old laptop cell packs.

A pair got really hot (too hot to hold) while charging. I pulled them out and they were at 4.1V and 4.2V but did not terminate with Pila IBC charger, weird.

Anyway, I have never seen cells get this hot while charging, could it be something is wrong with them?

 

[csshih]

Got a bunch of 18650 cells from old laptop cell packs.
A pair got really hot (too hot to hold) while charging.

too high internal resistance. toss em.

 

[Ajay]

too high internal resistance. toss em.

I think you mean recycle them.:tinfoil:

 

[csshih]

oop! yeah! I mean toss em in the e-waste bin!

 

[45/70]

I totally agree with csshih. When cells are degraded, they'll get hot, and just a reminder, this is when "venting with flame" incidents can occur!

Dave

 

[etc]

Scary, thanks for the info.

 

[ichithekiller]

It IS scary just to imagine the batteries could explode when people are around

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

What sorts of places can I take my worn LiCo cells to for recycling?

I live in southern NY, and truly have no idea who would take them.

 

[gearhead1972]

What sorts of places can I take my worn LiCo cells to for recycling?

I live in southern NY, and truly have no idea who would take them.

Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes, all have battery bins

 

[Lightfoot98]

Look for a Hobby Shop in your area that specializes in Radio Control.
Most will have a Recycle bin for batterys.

 

[davec]

yeah get rid of em they are knackered. Don't see what the problem is with putting them in the bin....in the UK we put all sorts of things into our bins, stuff you wouldn't expect see link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-11068063

So really I can't see the problem with a simple Lithium cell.

 

[robertito]

Hi !!
Is there any way to measure the "internal resistance" using a multimeter (or voltimeter).
Txs!!

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

Measuring the battery's internal resistance is simple. All you need is a 4 ohm 5W power resistor or similar and a multimeter. Five common 1W 1 Ohm resistors in series would work. If you aren't measuring an 18650, choose a load resistance that will load the cell but not overload it. Capacity/3 should be ok.

1) First, measure the battery's voltage when charged. This is V1
2) Next, connect your multimeter leads to each side of the resistor and briefly connect the resistor across the battery. Note the voltage reading, this is V2.
3) Measure your resistor to get its precise resistance, this is R

4) The battery's internal resistance (Ri) is calculated with the formula:

Ri = (V1-V2)*R/V2

quoted from Dr. Lava from LPF

 

[robertito]

quoted from Dr. Lava from LPF

OH thank you man, I'm going to buy the resistor to perform the test!!! thanks a lot!!

But the step2 is quiete tricky, I should say connect the red multimeter lead to the POSSITIVE battery terminal and the black multimeter lead to the resistor and the other end of the resistor to the NEGATIVE battery terminal.

Is it fine?

Thanks!!

 

[ProstheticHead]

I don't know what the regulations are where you are, but in the UK (whole EU I think) anywhere that sells cells is required to accept them for recycling, but only the types they sell. Thre are recycling bins dead cells of any and all types in most supermarkets and electronics shops now.

Aside: this always worries me a bit - they are just big plastic tubs in to which any and all cells of all types and conditions are thrown. It must be very easy for short conditions to arise. I'm surprised not heard of any fires resulting yet.

 

[robertito]

Aside: this always worries me a bit - they are just big plastic tubs in to which any and all cells of all types and conditions are thrown. It must be very easy for short conditions to arise. I'm surprised not heard of any fires resulting yet.

Ohh man !! a lot of precautions to handle batteries we have.
And it is weird to find a big tube full of batteries with possible shorts!! An its coming from people that "knows" how to handle batteries!.
At least in your country you have a place to dispose used batteries ;-). Here I suspect that they go direct to the enviroment without the minimun recycling.

 

[CMAG]

Get a lipo charging bag or charge them in the oven, fireplace, fire safe, another trick is to put the lipo's in a good plastic bag and hang (or put them right in) a bowl/bucket of salt water, so If lipo burns it goes thru bag and hits water.

 

[ProstheticHead]

Of course most of the cells in the bins are highly discharged alkaline, zinc carbon or zinc chloride types and some NiMH and NiCds. It's when you start getting primary lithium AAs, CR123s and various secondary lithium cells mixed it that it starts making me nervous.

 

[ProstheticHead]

Get a lipo charging bag or charge them in the oven, fireplace, fire safe, another trick is to put the lipo's in a good plastic bag and hang (or put them right in) a bowl/bucket of salt water, so If lipo burns it goes thru bag and hits water.

I'm not sure I'd be comfortable about handling electronics around salt water - much simpler and safer just to use a fireproof location in my opinion.

 

[CMAG]

I'm not sure I'd be comfortable about handling electronics around salt water - much simpler and safer just to use a fireproof location in my opinion.

Agree, that is why I mentioned that one last. Old school trick from my RC heli days.