Will it burst ?

[Vbeez]

I was collecting my AA recharge to recondition them (just bought Sanyo refresh quick charger), when I saw this used Nokia BL 5C batt (don't remember if this original or clone).

The shape was normal when I retired this battery. The reason I kept this batt because I wanted to use the protecion circuit for other application.
Yesterday, I found out the cell already expanded wider about 3x normal.

So I took it outside, put it in a can and make sure nobody come close.
The question :
-Will it burst ?
-Then ? Fire ?
-What make it expand ?

Still have few used cell batts, but they look OK. Hopefully...

 

[DM51]

Amazing. I haven't seen a Li-Po cell with so much of a bulge before. I don't know what it will do (someone else, please?) but it looks very nasty and you should certainly leave it in a container outside. If it blows, don't breathe in the smoke.

 

[Vbeez]

It's Li Ion not Li Po. Most Nokia use Li Ion, few models do use Li Po.

 

[DM51]

Wow. I assumed Li-po because of the size of the bulge! Is it still expanding? Leave it outside in the container anyway, until someone else here can tell you it is safe to move it and have it recycled.

 

[Steelwolf]

That is interesting. Where did you keep it? What sort of conditions (temperature, humidity)? It certainly looks like what happens when the battery is shorted or heavily overcharged.

I have a similar cell sitting in one of my old Nokias. Been in there for almost 4yrs now. I recharged it occasionally. There were a few times when it looked like it had completely discharged, but it hasn't bulged yet.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Vbeez,

Please use extreme caution with that cell.

It puffed up because there is a chemical reaction going on inside the cell. The electrolyte is flammable and may burst into flame when it comes into contact with Oxygen in the air.

The usual cause of this is the development of micro shorts due to separator failure. These micro shorts cause gassing which causes the cell to expand. Some Li-Ion Prismatic cells have vents that are supposed to release the pressure, but the prismatic shape makes it difficult to contain pressure without deforming.

Don't use it. Don't store it inside, nor near any combustible material.

To stop the reaction, you need to completely discharge it. If you can hook up lamp or around a 50 ohm resistor to it, you should be able to drain it. Care must be taken not to create any sparks nor to short it out. You are looking for a open circuit resting voltage of 1.0 volts or lower. Then it will be safe and you can recycle it.

The most often cause of this is rough handling. If you drop the pack (or the phone) you can do damage that will cause the cell to puff or vent.

Tom

 

[Vbeez]

DM51 : Thank you for your concern. I took it outside and contained it carefully far from flammable things.

Steelwolf : I kept it in room temperature (27-29C, with 60-80% humidity). Last February we had a big flood for a week where humidity reached around 90%, do you think i is related ? Never charge nor recharge that batt since I retired it. The rest of my old cell look normal.

Silverfox : Thank you for your useful information. Too bad there is no place to recycle battery in this country. Any alternative way to dispose it ?

Thanked God, I found that batt "just in time". If it vented & catched fire inside my drawer things will be different. Big thanks to CPF and respectful members , you just save my day.

 

[koala]

I would puncture it if I were you . Of course you need to find a safe method to do so. It will be better to puncture it than binning the time bomb. The garbage collector will be very pissed if it happens to explode near him. Otherwise, just bury it, somewhere in your neighbours backyard .

So now you go the pictures you know what to do? Post it all over the internet to show that original manufacturer Lithium Ion is no safer than the ones you bought from ebay. I am not surprise that the manufacturers blame aftermarket batteries for exploding mobile handsets. It's actually NOT the truth.

 

[jrmcferren]

I would puncture it if I were you . Of course you need to find a safe method to do so. It will be better to puncture it than binning the time bomb. The garbage collector will be very pissed if it happens to explode near him. Otherwise, just bury it, somewhere in your neighbours backyard .

So now you go the pictures you know what to do? Post it all over the internet to show that original manufacturer Lithium Ion is no safer than the ones you bought from ebay. I am not surprise that the manufacturers blame aftermarket batteries for exploding mobile handsets. It's actually NOT the truth.

Koala is right, I think you should cause a vent with flames incident then to cause it in the trash or in your house somewhere.

 

[nifreaky]

Koala is right, I think you should cause a vent with flames incident then to cause it in the trash or in your house somewhere.

Yup, do it!!!! We want videos and photos!

 

[LuxLuthor]

The disgusting thing about batteries like this is the difficulty even disposing of it. You know the average consumer is going to throw it in the trash, or bury in their back yard. Personally, I would not want to get near it to hook it up to any device, or take it in my car even to Rat Shack.

I'm 99.999% sure I would dig a hole in the back yard and bury it for my own protection.

 

[Vbeez]

Agree with LuxLuthor, it is difficult to dispose batteries properly if we do care to our environment.

I guess I'll bury it in my backyard and see what kind of tree can grow near it in the future. A mutated Lithium plant, maybe.....just wired a Lux Rebel, there goes a TRULY garden LIGHT.

So, what it the best way to keep our Li Ion batteries ? Temp ? Humidity ? Fireproof container ?

 

[LuxLuthor]

There is lots of good information on storing them...basically normal human environment to slightly cooler. Fire box would be of limited value if one actually explodes/flames. It would likely blow the box apart, spew dangerous fumes all over, and set off adjacent batteries in a cascade which has been documented in videos once the first was intentionally triggered by high voltage.

Almost all of the issues that I have heard about regarding flames/explosions are during charging...and usually from charging with higher voltage and/or current. I don't think a Li-Ion cell just sitting is likely to pose a danger. I look at mine at least once a week just to check their voltage and obvious physical condition.

 

[Vbeez]

Almost all of the issues that I have heard about regarding flames/explosions are during charging...and usually from charging with higher voltage and/or current. I don't think a Li-Ion cell just sitting is likely to pose a danger. I look at mine at least once a week just to check their voltage and obvious physical condition.

Yup, never ever leave Li Ion during RE-CHARGING ! CY started a good thread about it. I think I should check my all my Lithium batts regularly from now on.
Thanks for good advice.