Lithium Ion Batteries on Planes!

[jshell]

I've just been sent a photo of a single or double Li Ion cell (1 or 2 of 60) exploding on an offshore vessel working for BP and nearly killing 4 guys with resultant shrapnel. I'll try to post a piccie later tonight, but FECK ME! That would take a plane down no problem!!!

[Testaburger]

They've taken down a couple on recent years, unfortunately.

So, to make it better, they've created regulations as to what type of battery/packaging can go on what deck/compartment of passenger aircraft, and what can be loaded on board cargo aircraft.

Flying out of Hong Kong, we carry plenty of crates of the horrid things, in transit from the Chinese factories. Always makes me uneasy, considering the polar routings we tend to be carrying them on.

[scorp]

jshell said:

I've just been sent a photo of a single or double Li Ion cell (1 or 2 of 60) exploding on an offshore vessel working for BP and nearly killing 4 guys with resultant shrapnel. I'll try to post a piccie later tonight, but FECK ME! That would take a plane down no problem!!!

Were they sealed in a metal box or something? We use a lot of large LiPo (20k mAH) cells here at the office which are packaged in plastic to allow for expansion when gas builds up. These tend to shoot out 20cm flames for about 10 seconds if the cells are pierced (Yup, we had an 'experiment').

[Fishtigua]

We looked at fitting just 6 on a cruising boat. They say that they are the safest on the market but at 4800 Euros each, we turned that idea away.

http://www.mastervolt.com/marine/products/li-ion/m...

[jshell]

scorp said:

Were they sealed in a metal box or something? We use a lot of large LiPo (20k mAH) cells here at the office which are packaged in plastic to allow for expansion when gas builds up. These tend to shoot out 20cm flames for about 10 seconds if the cells are pierced (Yup, we had an 'experiment').

Yes, for underwater use. One of the guys was luckily wearing a hard-hat or would likely have died.