Fire prevention when out of home

[Paul520]

Unfortunately, I'm paranoid. If the chances of 123a batteries venting with fire is 1 in 16,000 that's still to much for me. IMO, it just ain't worth having your home burned down cause of a flashlight. Still of course, taking the normal precautions like no mixing new/old, same brand only, etc. etc.

Anyway, do you think when leaving for a while or especially say a vacation, etc., (could take it along then only the rental car would go up), the flashlight and or batteries were put in a kitchen sink with a heavy cover of some type would be safe if the batteries did vent, burn, explode, etc.?

ps- I don't have any empty steel ammo cans.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Paul,

I believe that if you review the problems that people have had with the CR123 cells, you would find that the problems occurred when the cells were in use, or just after they had been in use.

If you can come up with a way to isolate new cells so that they can not complete a circuit you should not have any problems. If you are leaving flashlights at home, make sure to empty them and secure the cells. If you have partially used cells in some lights, you could increase your safety by simply disposing of them just before you go on vacation, or taking them with you to use in your lights while you are on vacation.

Keep in mind that stores and warehouses have thousands of these cells and don't have problems with them. Their cells are new and packaged so they can not complete a circuit.

Tom

 

[baterija]

Silverfox beat me to covering the biggest risks. Basically something bad happens to the cells (reverse charging, shorting, physical damage, etc) before the issues seen with them. I haven't heard of any fresh cells spontaneously combuting just sitting there. So the risk is probably much higher when you are home, moving around, and using your lights than when you are gone for a week. A lot of that risk can be managed by the things you are already doing and sensible all the time storage plans. Silverfox's ideas about removing cells from lights on vacations may reduce that risk further.

Ammo cans are cheap and not that hard to find on the internet or locally if you have a decent surplus/hunting oriented store. Metal tool boxes are also a convenient option for isolating cells in non-flammable container. With the metal container you need to look at some way to make sure they don't short though.

 

[Paul520]

OK, thanks guys. I'm less paranoid now. I do have metal tool boxes, thanks for that tip too.

 

[abvidledUK]

If it worries you that much, don't leave them in the home.

Perhaps ( inside a non metal container) in a metal box in the garden, buried if need be.

 

[Paul520]

lol - no, won't go that far.

 

[baterija]

Perhaps ( inside a non metal container) in a metal box in the garden, buried if need be.

Bury them by the new moon so nobody can see where your stash is located. Must hide your precious lights...PRECIOUSSSSSSS!