Thread: Under Bonnet Lithium Batteries

I forgot to add that after I had lodged the insurance claim I rang SSB and told them what had happened, they immediately within the hour, without any evidence from me like pictures etc refunded the cost of the battery and the shipping to my account.
If that doesn't indicate that it's happened before!
The firies and the insurance company also have full details of the purchase and refund and the firies will definitely follow it up wiith the relevant govt departments as they are sick of attending fires caused by lithium batteries.
Apparently some of the recent truck fires have been caused by the lithium batteries that supply power for the sleeper HVAC systems firing up while travelling down the highway when they aren't even being used but are probably being charged.

It was sold as a Lithium Starting battery, roughly 60ah in physical size and 1400 CCA, weighed 7.5kg.
The company that supplied it refunded the purchase price and shipping costs within an hour of my informing them of what it had done, if that isn't an admission that it's happened before!
They don't appear to have any more stock now!
I won't name it here on the forum for the usual reasons.

burnt lithium starting battery-800x600.jpg

Originally Posted by oka374

It was sold as a Lithium Starting battery, roughly 60ah in physical size and 1400 CCA, weighed 7.5kg.
The company that supplied it refunded the purchase price and shipping costs within an hour of my informing them of what it had done, if that isn't an admission that it's happened before!
They don't appear to have any more stock now!
I won't name it here on the forum for the usual reasons.

burnt lithium starting battery-800x600.jpg

Lucky, that could have been a real disaster. Did it cause much damage ?

I've seen the car. Had it been anything other than an OKA it would be kaput. Well, I guess most trucks really. The batteries are mounted in an external carrier. Under the bonnet, or inside the vehicle and it would probably have taken out the house. Any idea I might have had for fitting lithium to mine went up with Peter's car.

Been watching a series of vids on a brand of batt in the US. Not saying which brand. But I'd already made up my mind, I think. Certainly never getting one from a startup mob, based on what I've seen. Reputable battery brands, maybe one day.

We'd been planning for years to put some in the boat. Keep a bank of N27 x 4 Lead Acid for starting, but replace a bank with Lithiums for house. To quote Jake Blues when being asked to go and see the Penguin "No ****ing Way".

Best we've come up with is to keep the 2 banks of N27's, and put 2 12V lithiums in carry battery boxes in the cockpit on a big Anderson so we can remove them from the boat when not on-board. I sure as **** wouldn't leave them somewhere concealed where we couldn't chuck them over the side if they went up.

Originally Posted by BradC

I sure as **** wouldn't leave them somewhere concealed where we couldn't chuck them over the side if they went up.

Provided you could get near enough to the things to disconnect them and heave. As you know, even ONE 18650 can turn into a rocket.

Originally Posted by Tins

Provided you could get near enough to the things to disconnect them and heave. As you know, even ONE 18650 can turn into a rocket.

That's true, and I've done it accidentally. Not something I'm keen to repeat. On the other hand, in theory Lifepo4 cells don't auto-combust. I've read they emit a strong stream of hydrogen when under thermal runaway. Of course that's highly combustible, but when in an open air location with 3 fire extinguishers and a hose handy I'd hope it's a bit easier to manage. The problem with the old 18650 is they provide both the fuel and the oxidiser. Apparently the lifepo4 cells only provide the fuel, allowing you to remove that other part of the fire triangle.

I could be wrong. I have been before, and it wouldn't be the first time.

On the other hand, if those batteries were in a confined space, then it wouldn't be hard to reach an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and really bad things could happen.

Theories are fine until facts inconveniently come along. Peter's auto combust was quite the conflagration. I am too suspicious now to differentiate between types of lithium cells. Bloody things are dangerous. But, no, i'm not ditching my cordless tools..... but I do take care when charging them. I figure I can throw them away in the event of a fire if I am holding them at the time