BRAIN ALERT!!!!

Thanks Bill for the "warning" about Li-Po batteries. Let us all recall our history in this hobby re: new technology of any kind. It is easy to separate "us" - the hobbyists into 3 groups:

  1. The "INTENTENIONALLY ILLITERATE" -Yep , fellas -it seems that no matter how hard manufacturers try - some of us really believe we are smarter than the instructions ("huh- not ME..?) In other words - refusing of the oportunity of self-education (i.e. -not reading the instructions, and -actually doing as they say, and THEN something BAD happens) DOES NOT equate with a bad, faulty, shoddy or even dangerous product. However- it may give rise to others questioning our genetics
  2. The "CHICKEN LITTLES"-Unfortunaley, for many of us, we are quick to really believe that the sky*IS* falling. (For those of you who have actually witnessed MY flying - well.. SOMETHING usually is falling - but it is FROM the sky- and more importantly, it is ALWAYS because of MY actions, or lack thereof. It does no good to blame the plane - right?) in other words, before we all start running for cover -THINK!!!! Lithium poly batteries have been in use SUCESSFULLY, AND SAFELY FOR YEARS in cell phones, and many other consumer oriented applications. The ONLY scary failures have occured due to incorrect charging, or abuse. PERIOD. I wonder how many times a perfectly good product has been "evicted" from this hobby due to gossip and rumor. Have house and garages burned? Possibly. And let us assume that they have. Damn shame, really - I sincerely am sorry for those folks, and I hope there were no injuries or worse. However, can we get THE FACTS as to WHY it happened????? Would be nice to know if it was REALLY the fault of an inanimate object, that cannot self-destruct without SOME HUMAN IN -PUT- it requires us to take action in order fail, or to charge correctly.

3.The "THE EARTH IS STILL FLAT" gang. You know who you are... Probably still fly with a wide band AM radio, and complain all the time about "those @%$*)$ floppy flyers" ( those are 3-D capable profile airplanes for the rest of you that are younger and not using servos the size of bricks, that you time with a sun-dial ).

Look guys - the bottm line to all this is;

  1. Read! And don't short cut on the instructions for safe charge rates. Please do not take this as a negative commentary on Bill Fulmer's warning post. Rather, use reasonable caution as outlined. Just understand that these that the most energy dense, lightest weight batteries we have had yet. BUT THEY ARE NOT Ni CADS!!! That means you WILL NOT get away with abusing Li -Polys by charging them in-correctly, as we ALL do with Ni CADS.
  2. Don't rumor mongor - it always amazes me when I hear someone proudly salivating over the failure of a product, or fellow hobbyist. It ain't pretty.Get the facts. The REAL facts, not gossip. And then make an intelligent descision that not based on " Well, so-an-so said he heard..."
3.Be willing to expose yourself to new technologies. Might make your life better.This is a "learning curve" hobby. All of the time. Otherwise, why not just go back to the old reed, single channel, brick servo radios, in your Quaker? Do not be afraid, be smart about learning new technologies. These new batteries ARE a technological marvel if used correctly. Not used correctly - they are dangerous... Gee, sounds like our automobiles, right? Anybody here believe that their cars are too dangerous, or scary, or complex to get in them and drive their airplanes to the field...? Didn't think so...! T
Reply to
TJ TUCKER
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Hey, does that mean my EK Logitrol with the 27-oz/in monsters isn't any good?

Seriously, you make good points. I am reminded of a Lamaze class. Part of the instructions were "after the water has broken, do not attempt to have intercourse with the mother".

SOMEONE HAD TO HAVE TRIED IT.

Sometimes, we need to be protected from ourselves. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!"

Reply to
Dr1Driver

| Lithium poly batteries have been in use SUCESSFULLY, AND SAFELY FOR YEARS in | cell phones, and many other consumer oriented applications. | The ONLY scary failures have occured due to incorrect charging, or abuse. | PERIOD.

While I do generally agree with what you're saying, even though I don't really agree with how you've said it, this particular passage is wrong.

There HAVE been scary failures with Li-ion and Li-poly cells in consumer applications.

| Lithium poly batteries have been in use SUCESSFULLY, AND SAFELY FOR YEARS in | cell phones, and many other consumer oriented applications. | The ONLY scary failures have occured due to incorrect charging, or abuse. | PERIOD.

While I do generally agree with what you're saying, even though I don't really agree with how you've said it, this particular passage is wrong.

There HAVE been scary failures with Li-ion and Li-poly cells in consumer applications.

Want some specific examples?

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Now, it's not always clear whether these are li-ion or li-poly cells, but either way, it can happen to either kind -- it's just more likely to happen to the older cells.

Reply to
Doug McLaren

Where they have protection circuitry, that is inappropiate weight and power loss wise, for our uses, incorporated to self balance and prevent overcharging.

Not quite. One or two just 'happened'. Obviously something caused it, but the cause is unknown. Otherwise agreeed.

Not often.

Read the ezone and find out.

I almost agree, except these cells burn really fiercely when they go. By all means use them, but the bottom line is one day a pack is going to catch fire on you.

Make sure its in a safe place when it does, thats all.

99 times out of a hundred it will ONLY catch fire when in a crash, or being charged.

But the car that went up was a crashed pack that was taken out of a model wreck and tossed on the seat. I think. It took several minutes to go up, and took out the whole car.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

(snip) In my rc car days, we usually responded by telling guys to RTFM!

(snip) one might defend the Chicken littles by saying "better safe than sorry". And the cell-phone is a bad example. They WILL give you cancer though....

(snip) Good people, but useless for advice on what brushless to put in your slowstick....

(snip)

Oy vey. I got enough to learn yet. Leave the experimenting to guys who know how to fly....

Ever drive a '99 chevy blazer?

8)
Reply to
MikeF

How do you that?

New phones operate at many different frequencies and at vastly reduced power levels, compared to the 1980's versions.

Barry

Reply to
B a r r y

Please name a form of chemical or petroleum based energy that is not inherently dangerous, especially if mishandled. The sad fact is, the only reason Li-Po will not be banned is because it is in wide spread use throughout the electronics industry. If it were a hobby specific technology, in our society that falsely believes we can be regulated into a state of perfect safety (which is why it's so darned hard to innovate these days), it would be gone now.

Reply to
Frank

It would be interesting to see a comparison to how often Litium fires occur in comparison to: Natural Gas appliances, Propane appliances, gasoline run equipment, etc. etc. etc. None of these objects are stored in fireproof containers, they are left in garages, sheds, and sit in our kitchens.

There was >

Reply to
Frank

Seems the easier answer was to ban smoking!

Reply to
Six_O'Clock_High

Frank,

Most of those were brain dead welders with bic lighters in their pockets. --

Jim L.

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Using - Virtual Access(OLR), ZAP 4.5, & WinXP Pro w/SP1

Reply to
Jim Lilly

Ever drive a 90 Pontiac AWD 6000........it will make you a beliver that there is such a creature as a "gremlin"

Mike

Reply to
Mike R.

The Gremlin was made by AMC, just after the Hornet if I recall correctly.

Reply to
Six_O'Clock_High

I think he means it in the literal sense, a mythical creature that lives in and wreaks havoc with machinery. Also one of the only WB characters that got the best of Bugs Bunny, lol.

Reply to
Frank

Lies. Its all a conspiracy. Bush's administration is in bed with the phamaceutical companies. Its all lies.

hehe....

Reply to
MikeF

Thats what I mean......they are everywere...in yor cars, in your R/C planes, in your homes, ect, ect...they are hard to see and hide in the shadows, but I think I caught a glimpse of the little devil....it was the last night of league bowling for my wife and I on Sunday. Going into the 10th frame only needing a strike to break over

200, I steped up on the aproach executed a timed and perfect release of the ball stright down the 8th board, good snap on the backends, solid in the pocket.......would you belive it.... a solid ten pin standing. And right behind that pin was a the little SOB....holding it up.....giving me an evil grin and a hand gesture.... :-)
Reply to
Mike R.

Probably the same guy they put the instructions on Preparation H for "NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY."

Gekko (Keep It Clean)

Reply to
gordongekko49-rctalk

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