LiPo battery present danger if charged/discharged incorrectly

Lithium-ion polymer, or LiPo batteries offer an advanced charging and power storage solution for people looking to increase the life span of their charged batteries over more traditional nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride cells. LiPo batteries are often preferred in electric remote control models for their longer life. Unlike other rechargeable batteries, LiPo batteries present serious and imminent dangers if charged or discharged incorrectly.

 

Overcharging a LiPo battery will first damage the battery itself. A LiPo battery will swell noticeably if overcharged, rendering it useless because of damage caused by the swelling. The heat generated from an overcharged LiPo battery will also damage its charger and may cause harmonics to resonate through the electric circuit and damage other electronic devices in the home.

 

If left unattended, an overcharged LiPo battery will continue to swell until it explodes. To prevent overcharging, these batteries should never be connected to any charger that isn't specifically designed for LiPo batteries. All safety instructions for the charger should be followed to the letter, and avoid any battery displaying signs of overcharging.

 

Ruptured LiPo batteries will ignite anything flammable nearby. When LiPo batteries are charged in the home, the flames from an exploding battery could cause curtains, furniture, carpet and other common household items to catch fire. If allowed to burn, the fire caused by this could consume the entire house or building in which the battery exploded, leading to catastrophic levels of fire damage, property loss and injury or death. As a safety precaution, LiPo batteries should never be charged indoors, and fast access to a fire extinguisher should be available.

 

When a LiPo battery explodes, superheated pieces of both the housing and internal components are torn from it and thrown into the air. Any shrapnel from the LiPo battery explosion will cause serious burns on the skin of anyone hit by it. The intense heat and trajectory of debris from a LiPo battery explosion can cause injuries by burning through clothing, or by igniting clothing which then burns the wearer over more extensive parts of the body. Anyone charging LiPo batteries should have easy access to a first aid kit and should remove any pieces of battery from her skin immediately on contact, then treat the wounds quickly to avoid more severe injuries.