[NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!!

Wed Mar 22 07:52:21 AKST 2006

This is all hindsight.

It's an emotive joke to say that I and everyone else should have read every post on a forum somewhere. My responsibility is to read and use the manual. The people selling the products did not warn me in their literature about topping-up a fully charged battery. (12 days since its last charge.)

Just you wait, your complacency takes a huge nose five when the flames appear. You think you are doing it right and that other folks must be screwing-up then BOOM! it's you!

I did what Jim says should be done. It said 3-cell is was then turned up to 2 Amps. What I did not do was wait until stage-2 actually had kicked in. Even then I don't know if I would have seen anything wrong. If they have to be charged as individual cells then take the other stuff off the market NOW!

This is like exploding gas tanks all over again....

Eric. (Admittedly very spooked right now by this experience)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Woodward 
  To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 10:02 AM
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!!

  I thought that with the Astro 109, if you were unsure of the charge state of the battery, you should begin the charge with the little nob turned down all the way to zero??

  Jim w.

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  From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of DaveL322 at comcast.net
  Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 9:53 AM
  To: NSRCA Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!!

  For some people, sticking with glow might be the best solution.

  Some have noted specific "No No's" with regard to charging lipos - there are a number of universally agreed "Rules" that would have prevented this situation (if followed), and there are a number of theories/approaches/practices for safe charging, care, and handling of lipos that also would have prevented this situation (if followed).  And in particular, there are rules/practices specific to the 109 charger.  All of these things are discussed in detail in many forums on RCU and RCGroups.  From everything I've read, it is extremely rare to see a lipo flame when good practices are being followed - but - the potential always exists, no matter how small (keeping in mind potential hazards/situations are everywhere in our daily lives).

  Dave

    -------------- Original message -------------- 
    From: "Glenn Hatfield" <randy10926 at COMTEKMAIL.COM> 

    > I would never hear anything from the back of the pea-cup truck. Maybe the 1st 
    > rule is stick with glow. 
    > Randy 
    > 
    > --- seefo at san.rr.com wrote: 
    > 
    > From: "Doug Cronkhite" 
    > To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" 
    > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!! 
    > Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 21:08:56 -0800 
    > 
    > Actually.. 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > 1st rule of Li-po charging is.. Never charge unattended. 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > 2nd rule is never charge in your car. 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > Eric got really lucky and I suspect won't be doing either 1 or 2 again. 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > -Doug 
    > 
    > ! 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > _____ 
    > 
    > From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org 
    > [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Dean Pappas 
    > Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 8:51 PM 
    > To: NSRCA Mailing List 
    > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!! 
    > 
    > 
    > 
    > Hey Evil, 
    > 
    > I'd rather be lucky than good: any day! 
    > 
    > And that's why you use a charger that looks at each tap, before charging, in 
    > order to determine the number of cells. The same problem exists when 
    > dis-charging packs. That's how I trashed one cell in one of my 5Ses. 
    > 
    > Dean 
    > 
    > -----Original Message----- 
    > From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org on behalf of Grow Pattern 
    > Sent: Tue 3/21/2006 6:04 PM 
    > To: NSRCA Mailing List 
    > Cc: 
    > Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Dodged a Bullet Today!!!! > 
    > 
    > http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4056141/an chors_4064428/mpage_1/key_/ancho 
    > r/tm.htm#4064428See picture on RCU.I had a bit of a set back today with my 
    > winter fun 40 sized glow to electricconversion. I had wanted to try the 
    > Thunderpower 4200 instead of the Tanic3600. I set off to the field with a 
    > borrowed Thunderpower 4200 mAh pack. Iset the Astroflight 109 to 2 Amps. It 
    > ent to stage 1 and was calibrating toa 3 cell pack and was well on its way 
    > to charging the pack, or at least so Ithought . I have done this 
    > topping-it-up many times before. I set it on a 2Amp charge rate.I never made 
    > it to the field. I heard a light "Phuttt!" about ten minutesinto the 
    > journey. I stopped the van and ran back to the back doors. Thebattery was 
    > bloated and looking bad. I grabbed the Deans connectors andunplugged it. 
    > Dangling it by the lead and as far away from my face aspossible I lowered it 
    > to the curbside.I then personally backed ! up and was about to move my van 
    > forward a bit . (Ihad just put 3! 
    > 5 gallons in it!). Seemed like a good idea to get clear. Neverhad the 
    > chance. The pack blew up in a ball of flame about a cubic yard insize and 
    > proceeded to burn fiercely. I had grabbed the fire extinguisher butdecided 
    > not to use it.The local police joined me for a while and seemed more 
    > interested in theplanes in the back of the van than the charred remains. I 
    > scraped all of thebits up to keep the country side pretty. Estimated that 
    > the grass would growback soon, and went home.Fortunately I was able to get 
    > it out of the van before it blew up intoflames etc.Long and the short of it 
    > is. "Do not charge a fully charged battery with anautomatic charger"Dodged a 
    > BIG bullet today.....Regards,Eric.P.S. If 3 fully charged cells = 12 V plus, 
    > and 4 discharged cells = 12 Vplus, then how does the charger know which ! is 
    > which? 
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