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<font size=5 color="#FF0000"><b>You do NOT "just throw rechargeable
batteries into the trash".</b></font><font size=3> <br><br>
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". <br><br>
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.<br><br>
PLEASE recycle - not because of tree-hugging, but for human and animal
safety...<br><br>
At 10:16 AM 8/30/2009, you wrote:<br>
</font><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=2>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'.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Don<br>
<br>
In a message dated 8/30/2009 6:10:08 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
Snaproll4@aol.com writes:<br>
</font>
<dl>
<dd><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>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.<br>
<dd> <br>
<dd>TIA.<br>
<dd> <br>
<dd>Steve<br><br>
<hr>
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