Check your batteries!

[AirRifleSport]

Hi All. Last night I was having problem switching the night vision add-on, thinking that the switch was faulty. It turns out that the problem was the battery itself.

This morning I inspected the device and noticed that the box cover was lifted on one end, by 5mm. This was due to a swelled up blue brick, Chinese lithium battery (4800 mAh). This is a 2 year old battery, I was expecting a longer life though.

The thing is... it still works fine! I am glad to have enclosed it into a plastic box as I could have possibly not seen the problem if it were enclosed in a alloy box.

A week ago, on opening the aluminum storage case, where I hold my NV stuff, I noticed a light chemical smell from it, tried investigate as it was unusual... Now it makes sense. So Do use your nose if you can, to help check the state of your lithium batteries.

How do you supposed to dispose lithium batteries?

Now need to replace with a new one... Is there a discount from any of the sellers linked to this forum?

Will need a 12V 2800mAh, possibly with a switch. I notice that elwirecraft do them for £22.50 incl. postage.

[Radagast]

Chinese blue box batteries tend to be around 45-60% of their stated capacity. Elwire are within 90%. So an 1800Mah Elwire battery will be a suitable replacement.

I'd get that battery out of your house or any attached building. Lithium Ion battery fires are no joke, they are sudden, fast and extremely hot. Li battery fires brought down one 747 and destroyed one submarine.

[AirRifleSport]

Cheers, mate. As you see it on the photo, it is outside and it will stay out.
I need to find out a proper way to safely dispose of it.

I was reading an article earlier that stated to put the battery, outside, inside a bucket with a mixture of salt and water... and to leave it in there for 2 weeks, after which it supposed to be fit to go in the normal waste bin.

[silent shooter]

Your local CA site (tip) should have a container to dispose of them
Geoff

[AirRifleSport]

Here is what the cells look like...



The cell in the forground seems to be still OK, this was located in the meddle of the other two.

Here you can see that each cell has its own protection PCB.

[AirRifleSport]

Your local CA site (tip) should have a container to dispose of them
Geoff

Now, that's a good "tip"!

[some bloke]

Your local CA site (tip) should have a container to dispose of them
Geoff

Now, that's a good "tip"!

Brilliant lol.

Although this is a very rare incident it brings the vague hint of risk out into our playground as it were.

It is for this very reason that I will not ever supply any of my builds with batteries. It took me a few years to pay for my house and I don't fancy losing it by being sued see.

[AirRifleSport]

Brilliant lol.

Although this is a very rare incident it brings the vague hint of risk out into our playground as it were.

It is for this very reason that I will not ever supply any of my builds with batteries. It took me a few years to pay for my house and I don't fancy losing it by being sued see.

You are a lucky man, Dave! It took me MANY years to pay for mine!

Yes, Lithium is a bugger to deal with... how and where do you store your own batteries? I hold my NV stuff (including batteries) inside an aluminum case purchased from Maplin.

Going back to the smell I was sensing... it smell like some sort of superglue, not too strong though. Hope this information may help someone, at some point.

I have had two previous occurrence of swelled up Lithium batteries, these where from a portable DVD player. Changed the first one after the buttons become inoperable, due to the plastic enclosure becoming distorted, I replace that battery with a new one, that only lasted 1 year. I have now decided to only yous the device from the mains adapter. The thing is... our telephones ALL use Lithium also!

From now on, I have to check the batteries from my spotter on a weekly basis as they are inside an aluminum enclosure and the batteries would give any sign of possible problem like the ones located in the plastic box. Maybe a good reason to use plastic project boxes.

[Radagast]

Aluminum will burn at the temps that batteries burn at. A steel case would be better. I keep mine on a shelf in my room that I use every day. Hard to miss something going wrong.

[AirRifleSport]

The aluminium case that I use, is for carrying the NV to and from, not specifically for safe storage.

I need to install a pressure sensing device with built in alarm inside the NV and spotter, so to warn of battery swell.