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

[John Pavlick]

Yup my local Radio Shack will take just about any rechargable battery I bring them. I just remove the connectors and tape up the leads to make sure they don't accidentally touch something. I keep a plastic box in the shop for old batteries and when it gets full I just bring them all down to the Shack. Easy.

John Pavlick
http://www.idseng.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Phil Spelt 
  To: General pattern discussion 
  Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 10:59 AM
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Li-Po Question -- SAFETY!!!!


  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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