Lipo charging bag for batteries - yay or nay

[chellie]

I've read through the older posts here on ecf and am curious what folks think of now. I used to have a bag and never used it.

Is it a good idea?

Is there an increased fire risk because of heat buildup inside the bag?

Any recommended places to get a good, legitimate one?

Has anyone had a fire while using the lipo bag and what were the results? Specifically, did it work as intended?

 

[93gc40]

the purpose of the bag is so that if the batteries vent.... the fire if present is contained....

No I haven't used a bag... I just use a stand alone charger placed in a safe spot and only used when can be monitored.

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[r77r7r]

I remember looking at them and there was only like one that was good. The rest were crappy clones.
Most people felt that they trapped heat, but I imagine if you set the charger on 0.5A it might be fine or just for occasional use.
Most newer lipos charge much quicker so I charge while using or setting next to me.
Chargers for li-ons I wouldn't bother, they seem safe enough.
Really tho, same batts that are in many devices and most wouldn't bother.

 

[AngeNZ]

I only charge while monitoring as well - so don't use a bag.

Did see a brilliant pic on here somewhere by @Katdarling of her 'charging station' - a pressure cooker pot

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Absolutely not.

Heat is an enemy of Li ion cells. Always and everywhere, forever and ever, AMEN.

The bag retains the heat generated during charging and concentrates it. If a cell is in bad shape, additional heat retention is exactly the opposite of what it needs. Even with cells that are in good shape, the probability of an accident goes up.

LiPo bags are for LIPo cells.

There's a lot of old stuff on ECF that is either outdated or just wrong. Place needs a house cleanin'.

 

[puffon]

I use a metal file card box that is vented.
I believe @Baditude gave me the idea.
Only charge at .5amp and it never heats up inside.
With @hittman 's recent charging issue, I feel safer charging this way.

 

[Mark Spivey]

I charge mine on a slab of granite away from anything that would burn at 0.7A


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[Beamslider]

I have the charger on a ceramic pad with metal feet on it. You could also just put it on a ceramic tile or metal or other non flammable material. I have never had a problem or even had batteries that heated up. I also do not charge batteries when I am not around.

 

[Anise]

Guess I've been charging mine wrong. I'll start charging them on a flat surface that can't catch fire. I've been charging them on the carpet next to my bed. Bad Anise!! Bad bad!!

 

[Beamslider]

I usually charge the batteries once at 2 A to see if they get warm or hot while I monitor them. Normally I charge them at 1 A. Takes longer but may be a bit safer to charge at lower amp.

 

[somdcomputerguy]

I have a LiPo bag but I don't use it anymore. Now a brick sits on top of it with my external charger on top of the brick. I still have the unnecessary bag because I have difficulty throwing things away that aren't damaged at all, and it keeps scratches off my hardwood floor.

 

[Katdarling]

I only charge while monitoring as well - so don't use a bag.

Did see a brilliant pic on here somewhere by @Katdarling of her 'charging station' - a pressure cooker pot

Thanks, Ange!

Here tiz, it all his glory.

 

[Ryedan]

I've read through the older posts here on ecf and am curious what folks think of now. I used to have a bag and never used it.

Is it a good idea?

Is there an increased fire risk because of heat buildup inside the bag?

Any recommended places to get a good, legitimate one?

Has anyone had a fire while using the lipo bag and what were the results? Specifically, did it work as intended?

I used to fly model airplanes and am getting back into it this year. I have a Lipo charge bag similar to the first one on this HobbyKing page. I use it when I charge model airplane battery packs on the garage floor while I'm in the house but not in the garage. I never use it for charging 18650s in a Xtar or similar charger. I typically charge those beside me on the desk while I'm on the computer, or at least in the house and awake.

The charge bags are really quite simple. They are made of inflammable non-flammable materials and designed to contain the initial heat of a burning li-ion battery so the area around the battery doesn't catch fire. IMO one from any reputable model airplane or vape supplier will do that just fine, but I have never felt the need to do any research on it so that's just my opinion. I just did a Google search for 'do lipo bags work' and found this video. The results he got are what I expected. Keep in mind the smoke and fumes from the burning battery are not safe to inhale, but you don't want to try to contain that stuff in the bag or it would become an explosive device and limit its benefit.

 

[chellie]

Absolutely not.

Heat is an enemy of Li ion cells. Always and everywhere, forever and ever, AMEN.

The bag retains the heat generated during charging and concentrates it. If a cell is in bad shape, additional heat retention is exactly the opposite of what it needs. Even with cells that are in good shape, the probability of an accident goes up.

LiPo bags are for LIPo cells.

There's a lot of old stuff on ECF that is either outdated or just wrong. Place needs a house cleanin'.

Thanks. I never used the bag because from what I knew that is exactly in line with what I thought. I monitor mine and I had purchased a brick at home depot way back that I place the charger on.

 

[chellie]

I have a LiPo bag but I don't use it anymore. Now a brick sits on top of it with my external charger on top of the brick. I still have the unnecessary bag because I have difficulty throwing things away that aren't damaged at all, and it keeps scratches off my hardwood floor.

I use a brick too

 

[chellie]

Guess I've been charging mine wrong. I'll start charging them on a flat surface that can't catch fire. I've been charging them on the carpet next to my bed. Bad Anise!! Bad bad!!

Bad bad - do not do that! Get a brick or 2 at home depot.

 

[untar]

They are made of inflammable materials

 

[r77r7r]

They actually sell single bricks, lol?

 

[Anise]

Bad bad - do not do that! Get a brick or 2 at home depot.

Going today to get a couple bricks now that I know it's important

 

[puffon]

Going today to get a couple bricks now that I know it's important

A 12"x12" floor tile will also work.