**BOOM!** Battery Failure

[Parmacrafter]

Hey guys check this out. For anyone who thinks this is just an isolated event.

ROAR of the Pelican (CR123 Explosion during use, firsthand account) - CandlePowerForums

 

[DaMulta]

Well he did have it on for 20mins without turning it off, but there was an explanation down a little in that.

I am very sorry this happened.

I am afraid that even though our battery had a $6000 upgrade almost two years ago and is UL rated, the shear numbers are working against us. We are going through almost 100,000 of them in a busy month now and it has become a numbers game more than a quality game. I can assure everyone that we have gone way overboard regarding safety. This is another reason we do not sell unprotected cells. Trouble waiting to happen.

I have spoken to people at several factories including domestic big names and they all have incidents similar to this. This is being caused by mixing batteries that are not exactly matched. I am not saying this is anyones fault or putting blame on any customer. You should not have to worry about things like this. This is a factory issue. You do of course not want to mix a discharged battery with a good one. Most people know this.

I would like to replace the light, batteries, and anything else necessary to make this right. I hope people understand this is a random freak thing that we have only limited ability to prevent. We are going to begin a program of testing every CR123A battery that goes in CPF orders and maybe every order. It is that one out of 10K or one out of 100K cells that may cause a potential problem. Please be advised that this is possible with any brand of battery. Please be careful.

I sincerely apologize for this and will take even further steps to hopefully prevent it from ever happening again. Our goal is to offer a quality product. We have never been a company to take shortcuts. There are cheaper batteries everywhere but we won't carry them.

Please give me a call with any questions or comments or ideas. We really want you to have the best.
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[kc0cmp]

Well he did have it on for 20mins without turning it off, but there was an explanation down a little in that.

True but it's a flashlight with primary batteries, not an ecig mod with rechargables stacked..which no one would run for 20 minutes LOL

I'm trying to think of how many times i've run a flashlight for 20 minutes even on rechargables..and certainly with primaries...I'd guess probably 80% of the time i exceeded that figure. sometimes hours during a power failure.

I detonated several flashlights this way..3 to be exact. All with 18650s (single) all due to excessive current demands and/or wire melt+short.

I use unprotected in all my mods save one, and have little worry about them exploding..but then theyre properly insulated (from the case) properly vented, and only single batteries used at a time. I charge only on regulated "smart" chargers, and I dont bat an eye when i press the button.

The most memorable 18650 detonation was due to running a flashlight i had rigged to use 5x q5 leds at once direct drive. I have no idea how much current i was pulling, but it's clear that an aging 18650 wasn't up to the task. Sure was bright for the 30 seconds or so that it lasted.

I was never injured, even though my flashlights were never vented in any way. Every single one forcefully removed the battery cap and made a muffled boom. that "boom" was always preceeded by a "hiss" although the duration of the hiss usually seemed to relate to how loose/sloppy the base cap fit. the hiss and the boom kinda run together...like "hisssssBOOM!"

I believe that with adequate venting, you'll never get the "boom" unless something melted/chunky flops over the vent hole(s)..which is a distinct possibility and should be planned on in venting design

One thing that guy said is quite accurate too..the smell is unlike anything else i can remember, kind of hard to describe, but once youve smelled it, you'll know it..its funky

 

[SmokinScott]

Thanks for the PSA and the pics Parma. Hows your lip doing?

 

[Parmacrafter]

The lip is just about healed up. Only one small strip of a bruise left. For those who say these batteries can't explode, I say bull!!!! I was there. I saw the bright red/orange flash with my own eyes. I also have the singed hair to prove it. It was a very fast flash and only lasted a second. But, definitely an explosion.

 

[VaporX]

mixing two lithium cells of different discharge states Will cause explosive battery failure on non protected cells.

if you use non protected cells make sure both are fully charged with a voltmeter.

in this case your charger is most likely a time based charger and only one of the cells has fully charged leaving the other to drain improperly and explode

even most primary lithiums have a temp based protection built in.