Flashlight Explosion

[jseyfert3]

Wow, that is crazy. I'm new to this, and just ordered a Klarus XT11, and planned to use 2x CR123 until I get myself an 18650. Now I'm a little leery of using the CR123 batteries, and instead just wait for a 18650 instead. I guess if I make sure they are matched though, the risk is small.

I had no clue lithium batteries released HF when they exploded. Is this related to primary lithium batteries, or rechargeable as well? If rechargeable, does it apply to both lithium-ion and lithium-polymer, or just one of them? I ask because I have used lithium polymer batteries in an RC heli and RC airplanes in the past, and while the RC forums are full of stories of people burning there houses down do to not having the battery in a fireproof bag while charging, not once did I ever see a mention of HF, and I would not have thought of that on my own. I haven't had time to do much with RC recently, but over winter break plan on building a quadcopter, who's power source is a 3 cell, 3300 mAh LiPo pack, and I bought a 3 cell, 2650 mAh LiPo pack for my transmitter. I have fireproof bags to charge them in, but again, if something had happened and they exploded, I would not have thought of HF.

 

[CouldUseALight]

Scary stuff!

I and most folks I know use ammo cans inside other metal containers, with the innovative plan of "throw it outside quick" if things get ugly.

Where do you get fireproof bags?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Jseyfert3,

Welcome to CPF.

The HF is a problem with primary lithium cells. Rechargeable Li-Ion and Li-Po cells do not have this concern.

Tom

 

[duro]

I hope you're doing ok. If it were me, at this point, I'd take legal action against the battery company.

 

[daddo1]

I am an industrial hygienist, chemical engineer, and hazmat technician. Do not attempt to clean this kind of incident up yourself. Most fire departments and rescue squads now have hazmat trained responders with the right equipment. HF is nothing to mess with as you can see from the unfortunate history here. Call 911 and tell them you had a Lithium Ion Battery explosion so the department comes prepared. Leave the room and clear the house. If it starts a fire that's why you have insurance. I am really going to have to reconsider my Quark 123 squared and Turbo use.

 

[daddo1]

A comment on the suggestion to use an acid mist respirator for this type of incident. I am trained in respirator application and use. Though the 3M Respirator Guide does suggest you could use this type of respirator, please use it only for escape. The nose mouth respirator is only rated for an exposure level 10 times the Occupational Exposure Level. That means for HF you are good only for 10 ppm if you have the HF respirator- not the AG acid gas one. For sulpher compounds which are also possible- see the MSDS info in the next topic in this subindex, the AG respirator will only protect in 5 ppm of H2S. The amount of injury in this incident indicates that the exposures were much higher than this- its very hard to predict unless someone has actually done the testing and analysis. The best advice, leave with your family and pets and call 911 from outside.

BTW- I am very grateful for the information contained in the forum. Like many of our activities there are hazards that must be controlled and now I know what to do.

 

[ToyTank]

I hope you are healing well. Your experience has made me realize how lucky I have been. I hope your able to get a few good lights this year-Happy Holidays!

 

[lensman]

This thread has been extremely informative and valuable to me. JNieporte, thank you so much for continuing to share your painful experience with me. My best wishes towards a speedier recovery. PM me your address. I'd like to send you one of my budget shelf queens for you to play with. It's a AA, btw!

BTW, can someone explain what might have happened to cause this? Is it unbalanced CR123s? Does the driver play a contributing role? What can I do to avoid this? Let me list what I've learned so far:
1. Only install balanced cells in a two cell flashlight.
2. Check cell voltages before loading.
3. Check cell voltages after unusual discharge/temperature.
4. Bias against primary Lithium CR123. But is Li-ion any better? I use LiFePO4 instead of primary Lithium whenever I can.
5. Charge in a bag to minimize the risk of burning the house down.
6. Charging in a bag will not eliminate toxic fumes. Throw the bag out the window and leave the house.

 

[awyeah]

With primary lithiums, the voltages don't tell the whole story. You'll need something like a ZTS tester that tests the batteries under load.

 

[thelonewolf1124]

I knew about the dangers of exploding lithium cells from my r/c racing career but I had never heard of the hf gas. Scary stuff, I wish you the best in your recovery. I was going to give Mt old light to my moms boyfriend but after reading this ill just get him a AA light instead and keep the risk my own. On another note all rechargeable batteries, including nicd/nimh can explode. Ive seen nimh cells shoot off like a shogun shell exploding at the racetrack while charging. Always monitor batteries, even if its not lithium doesn't mean your home free safe.

 

[ToyTank]

BTW, can someone explain what might have happened to cause this? Is it unbalanced CR123s? Does the driver play a contributing role? What can I do to avoid this? Let me list what I've learned so far:

Silverfox does an excellent analysis in this post on the first page

I have had the privilege of reading some of silverfox's threads on this forum, and anyone reading this should take at look at it.

I for one am done with multiple cells except with NIMH and Lifepo4. Lithium phosphate would be a hard habit to break. Quick count 7 lifepo4 packs 4S-8S-12S not counting the small ones for lights and RC....

 

[Onthelightside]

If my light gets real hot and I see other signs I am chucking it (away from people) and calling for help. This was my plan before I saw this article, but after seeing all of this I have renewed respect for these high power lights and cells. I don't use stacked 123's I use an AW 17650 which makes things not 100% safe but better than before. It eliminates one cell getting hot by the emitter and having the second push current. If a light can't take a one piece Li I'm out... I hope you can get your condition at least stabilized soon.

 

[Felco]

JNieporte, I hope you are exploring your legal options, buddy. I know some lawyers who'd love this case.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

^^
And this is what is wrong with the world today. Ambulance chasers trying to make a dime off of someone else's misfortune. :thumbsdow

 

[Monocrom]

^^
And this is what is wrong with the world today. Ambulance chasers trying to make a dime off of someone else's misfortune. :thumbsdow

Used to feel the same way. But when it's a situation where an individual has mounting hospital bills, is getting harassed by creditors and collection companies, perhaps ends up having to sell his car and even his house . . . Plus, due to very real health issues, can't even get a 2nd job to pay off those mounting bills; it paints a very different picture compared to someone who went through a minor inconvenience, suffered no long lasting issues, and is simply grabbing a sleazy attorney to get a windfall of cash based solely on greed.

 

[xevious]

JNieporte, I'm stunned to read this thread and so sorry for what has happened to you. I very much appreciate your sharing this experience. And here I thought all of the dangers were in the rechargeable cell arena. But here you have just your everyday CR123 primary cells bought on good faith, and they EXPLODE?

Honestly, Titanium Innovations is at fault here. Something was seriously wrong with that battery (I'm assuming the damage done from the 1st cell caused the 2nd one to explode). Not only do they need to know about such an incident, with sufficient documentation and photographic evidence so that they understand that their product was really at fault here, but perhaps compensate you for your medical expenses. As Monocrom pointed out, there are plenty of people who file frivolous and misleading claims, but ones like this are certainly quite valid. THIS is what lawyers are really meant for.


Well, I don't think I'll be completely deterred from using CR123/RCR123 cells but I will certainly make an effort to invest in high quality ones. It's financially attractive to buy budget batteries, but when things go wrong like this it's apparent how the bargain is not worth the risk. Yikes...

 

[lightcycle1]

This is a horrible story and I hope the OP gets well soon.
My Fenix pd32 UE came with 2 CR 123 primaries. I'll damned if they ever go in that flashlight. As a matter of fact I'm throwing them away today brand new or not.
I am fairly new to all this and I am becoming more convinced that multiple cell hi output batteries configurations are asking for trouble and just not worth the risk.
I had no idea gas venting from a lithium ion explosion could be so dangerous.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[Helmut.G]

This is a horrible story and I hope the OP gets well soon.
My Fenix pd32 UE came with 2 CR 123 primaries. I'll damned if they ever go in that flashlight. As a matter of fact I'm throwing them away today brand new or not.

What brand are they?
As far as I know, nobody ever reported an incident involving US- or Japan-made CR123s (like panasonic, surefire, sanyo, energizer) - even though some lights of another era push the batteries insanely (like the Surefire M6 with the high output lamp assembly installed).

 

[lightcycle1]

They are green and black labeled EdisonBright CR123's. The only thing I've had to date that used CR123's is a small point and shoot camera that used 1 of them.
I may keep them just for that camera, nothing else. I won't be feeding any high-drain flashlights with them for sure.

I've heard one too many scare stories about using hi-cap batteries in series. I was reluctant to try an 18650 for the first time, but decided to try anyway and the
Fenix PD32UE was just too much of a temptation.

I won't be using or getting any more multiple cell lights in anything other than AA. My Fenix PD32UE now has a single protected Eagletac 3100 18650.
I'm pretty confident that should be a fairly safe battery.

 

[Helmut.G]

They are green and black labeled EdisonBright CR123's.

Never heard of that - probably a good idea to not use them in a multi-cell application.

Back in 2007 or so I had a 3-cell very-high-powered incan light delivered with free "PW Powerstation" Batteries from a german dealer - a brand that was known to be unsafe and unable to deliver high currents.
Many online flashlight dealers simply don't seem to be aware that there is a danger.