[NSRCA-discussion] Li-Po Question -- SAFETY!!!!

[Phil Spelt]

You do NOT "just throw rechargeable batteries into the trash".

  Cadmium and lithium are heavy metals that cause harm to biological 
systems when ingested improperly -- i.e. from seeping into the water 
table from landfills.  Lithium is used in SMALL QUANTITIES to treat 
some kinds of mental disorders, but that is under rigid manufacturing 
and dosing conditions.  Lead is also a heavy metal, that is why there 
is an extra charge when one buys a car battery without a "trade-in".

I was in RadShack the other day, and we happened to start talking 
about recycling these batteries -- they will take ANY rechargeable 
battery except auto batteries, including our R/C NicCads and Lipos, 
with no charge, and send them to a proper recycling center.  You can 
also usually take them to local govt. recycling centers for no 
charge.  Here in Oak Ridge, TN, every Wed and one Saturday per month 
the center is open for all kinds of hazardous items -- old PCs and 
TVs, paint, florescent bulbs, and on, and on.

PLEASE recycle - not because of tree-hugging, but for human and 
animal safety...

At 10:16 AM 8/30/2009, you wrote:
>There are many ways to drain the battery down to safe levels.  I 
>have heard the lipos are 'safe' anywhere below 2V per cell, however, 
>I figure as long as I have something draining them, I just leave 
>them on the load until they are basically 'dead'.
>
>For anything up to 3 cells, I use an automobile tail light 
>bulb.  Just solder 2 leads onto the bulb at the 2 contact points and 
>clip the other ends onto the battery leads.  For a 5 cell pack, I 
>would use 2 bulbs in series.  Put them in a safe area, clip the 
>bulbs on and leave them for a couple days.  Check the voltage from 
>time to time and when it gets down to about zero, just throw the 
>battery in the trash.
>
>I tried the salt water bath approach and it didn't do anything for 
>me.  After a couple days, the voltage had declined very little so I 
>took the light bulb approach.  Actually anything that puts a load on 
>the batteries will work.  A large resistor, light bulb, old brushed motor, etc.
>
>Don
>
>In a message dated 8/30/2009 6:10:08 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, 
>Snaproll4 at aol.com writes:
>I have a Li-Po pack(5000) that needs to be thrown away.  It does not 
>appear to be physically damaged, but I need to know about the 
>voltage.  How low should I discharge it and I how do I do that?  My 
>TP charger would take it down to 3.3 volts/cell.
>
>TIA.
>
>Steve
>
>
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-->There are only two types of aircraft -- fighters and targets.

Phil Spelt, Webmaster & Past President, Knox County Radio Control Society, Inc.
        URL: http://www.kcrctn.com
AMA--1294,  Scientific Leader Member, SPA--177
       My URL: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/~chuenkan/
       (865) 435-1476 v  (865) 604-0541 c  
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