Could you use a CR123 to start a fire in a survival situation?

[Thejoyofdriving]

This sounds crazy....but if you were in a pinch, and you have some spare CR123s left could you start a controlled fire providing the appropriate tinder was used? I know there are videos of people puncturing Li-polymer battery's and getting a huge fireball. Obviously this is dangerous and what not, but in a do or die situation im curious, would it work? Maybe mash it with a rock and put a few drops of water on it? :candle:

 

[daf3m]

I think it is easier if you use a thin wire and short circuit her..+ you can use it more than 1 time.

 

[Larbo]

I guess it would be worth beating one with a rock if you had a few extra with you, perhaps a better idea is if you could find a thin piece of wire to short out and make glow to start a flame.

 

[Ray_of_Light]

Not a good idea to make a battery explode to start a fire.

The only recognised method of starting a fire with a battery is through the use of dry steel wool.
Few hundred mA through the DRY steel wool make it burn, even in presence of strong winds. From there, you can use dry paper and/or wood flakes to continue the ignition process.
It works better with a 9 V battery.

Anthony

 

[alpg88]

what is your goal???
start a fire , or blow up the battery??

if first , yes you can,
if second, no you wont get nearly as big of a fire ball as ppl get with shorting charged li poly cells,

 

[Kestrel]

+1 on the steel wool idea.

 

[Thejoyofdriving]

Using a wire is a good idea. I actually tried it but i didnt get a nice glowing element. Maybe i used the wrong wire, or maybe the battery was dead

I did some some research and it looks like people are just opening up these CR123s without having any sort of explosion or fire. As far as i can tell the lithium just tarnishes very quickly. However, i am seeing some people actually take the lithium out and throwing it in water and getting a lot of smoke and possibly some flames. So maybe smashing the battery with a rock isnt such a bad idea as it would be with a li-poly which can readily explode in your face. Im thinking, you smash up the 123 real good to get ride of the protective wrapping around the lithium inside and then add water and stand back. Maybe ill bring out that safety gear and try it.


Steel wool with a 9v battery is great, i agree. However I never really find myself carrying it in the back country. Im talking about a really last ditch effort for making a fire, besides a bow/drill or fire plow etc

 

[cottonpickers]

Blimey - personally I wouldn't rip open a lithium battery to test it. Highly dangerous surely?? (but let us know how it goes )

 

[Ray_of_Light]

CR123 batteries have a PTC device, which limits the short circuit current to 5 - 8 AMps, and then disconnect the battery. It is a device intended to avoid the explosion of the battery in case of prolonged short circuit.
You will not make a copper wire glow with a CR123 battery. You need a nickel-chromium wire of specified lenght and diameter to have it glow red.

Exposing metallic lithium to the atmosphere, and even worse to water in uncontrolled environment - is one of the easiest way to achieve a Darwin Award.

Lithium heats up rapidly, while emitting large quantity of hydrogen, which explodes - without generating any real flame.

I seriously urge you to find better use of lithium battery, your time and your health.

Anthony

 

[DM51]

This has gone quite far enough. It is an extremely foolish, irresponsible and dangerous idea.

Ray_of_Light's very sensible warning is a good way to close this thread.