Chris0516
Active Member
Where can I store them? When they are not in use or, being charged.
SDS100/SDS200: Re-chargeable Li-Ion batteries
- Thread starter Chris0516
- Start date
- Status
I use something like this
power.tenergy.com
Tenergy Lipo Bag, Fire Retardant Lipo Battery Bag for Charging and Storage, 7x9inches
Tenergy POWER, is our online store for TENERGY that brings our products and the same support directly to customers. Whether you just need basic rechargeable batteries for your HOME, business, school, or projects we're here to help!
power.tenergy.com
Long term storage I like to deplete the charge to about half. They say that’s the way they transport the larger ones on airplanes so even if it’s not necessary with the little ones, it may save me from swelling. As I don’t recall any instruction as to where to store them, I would look for a cool dry place.
As to where to charge these batteries, it all depends upon the type of Lithium battery chemistry you use. I suspect you are referring to the portable scanner and portable amateur radio batteries. I charge my SDS100 batteries outside the radio in the optional charger that was packaged with the spare battery I purchased. (I even bought a second external charger for my truck.) when one battery is getting low I simply swap them out. After the battery has completed its charge I remove it from the charger. You can also charge the battery while it’s inside the radio, your choice.
When talking about these consumer batteries, there is always a post that relates to the “proper proceedure” or what passes as proper proceedure. I’m talking strictly about the L-I batteries we use in handheld devices such as the SDS100 and portable amateur radio gear. And while there is nothing wrong about posting proper procedure, it doesn’t amount to much unless there is a serious risk of injury or fire. I haven’t heard of any such risk… only some swelling of the SDS100 batteries (which are far and few between). So, human nature being what it is we become complacent. There’s no serious risks involved and the batteries are all understood to be disposable at some point in time so we just replace it when it goes bad.
So I wouldn’t worry about where you should store them when not in use or being charged… normal room temperature and dry.
As to where to charge these batteries, it all depends upon the type of Lithium battery chemistry you use. I suspect you are referring to the portable scanner and portable amateur radio batteries. I charge my SDS100 batteries outside the radio in the optional charger that was packaged with the spare battery I purchased. (I even bought a second external charger for my truck.) when one battery is getting low I simply swap them out. After the battery has completed its charge I remove it from the charger. You can also charge the battery while it’s inside the radio, your choice.
When talking about these consumer batteries, there is always a post that relates to the “proper proceedure” or what passes as proper proceedure. I’m talking strictly about the L-I batteries we use in handheld devices such as the SDS100 and portable amateur radio gear. And while there is nothing wrong about posting proper procedure, it doesn’t amount to much unless there is a serious risk of injury or fire. I haven’t heard of any such risk… only some swelling of the SDS100 batteries (which are far and few between). So, human nature being what it is we become complacent. There’s no serious risks involved and the batteries are all understood to be disposable at some point in time so we just replace it when it goes bad.
So I wouldn’t worry about where you should store them when not in use or being charged… normal room temperature and dry.
True about not having seen a fire from the Uniden Batteries but I still do not take chances as I have seen and fought fires started from LIPO Batteries so I take no chances. $10 for a storage bag is cheap Insurance as I have Life Insurance and Car Insurance and do not plan on Dying or have a Car Wreck.
Good for you. I never advocated you NOT take precautions, just stated a well known fact about human nature. People being people tend to forget and slack off. The Belair California fires way back in the ‘60’s proved that. After the fires people rebuilt and kept the brush away… at least for the first few years. But they slacked off and the rest is history.
I believe the issue has to do with the chemistry of the lithium battery. Why some can explode and cause fires while others only get slightly warm and swell and others perform perfectly well determines how you care for the battery. Early-on, RC enthusiast's would charge up their airplane batteries in metal ammo cans because if the cells weren’t charged in a certain manner they would get hot, catch fire and/or explode. I imagine they’ve come a long way since then. There were also stories of hams (amateur radio) experimenting with Lithium. I never saw anything come of it. But that was early-on. Today’s batteries for the amateur gear are safe.
As long as the cost stays low, I don’t think people will be too upset over a swollen 2 year old battery. They will just get another and hope that one doesn’t swell.
While we are on the subject, how many recharges should be expected for the SDS100 battery before it reaches its end-of-life?
I believe the issue has to do with the chemistry of the lithium battery. Why some can explode and cause fires while others only get slightly warm and swell and others perform perfectly well determines how you care for the battery. Early-on, RC enthusiast's would charge up their airplane batteries in metal ammo cans because if the cells weren’t charged in a certain manner they would get hot, catch fire and/or explode. I imagine they’ve come a long way since then. There were also stories of hams (amateur radio) experimenting with Lithium. I never saw anything come of it. But that was early-on. Today’s batteries for the amateur gear are safe.
As long as the cost stays low, I don’t think people will be too upset over a swollen 2 year old battery. They will just get another and hope that one doesn’t swell.
While we are on the subject, how many recharges should be expected for the SDS100 battery before it reaches its end-of-life?
The biggest problem is with LIPO batteries. They don't use metal electrodes, they use "liquid" Polymer electrodes. They can outgas during charging and/or use. That's why they aren't in hard plastic or metal "covers" because the out gassing can/will cause swelling and a hard cover could explode.
All batteries can swell and/or outgas, especially under high load or charge. It's just the way chemistry works.
All batteries can swell and/or outgas, especially under high load or charge. It's just the way chemistry works.
👍
Glad I saw this thread. Lots of interesting and helpful information. I’ve got a few unused Baofeng UV82 batteries just sitting haphazardly around my desk. Looks like this thread will be the end of that! Thank goodness.
Chris0516
Active Member
This: Crash investigators trace UPS plane fire to batteries
-is why I asked. The root cause of the UPS plane crash was due to Li-Ion being tightly packed. Which caused a fire. Granted I don't have anywhere near that number of Li-Ion batteries, I know about the heat they can generate.
-is why I asked. The root cause of the UPS plane crash was due to Li-Ion being tightly packed. Which caused a fire. Granted I don't have anywhere near that number of Li-Ion batteries, I know about the heat they can generate.
Chris0516
Active Member
I bought the EBC100 from Uniden, for their BPS100. So, No mixing of 'brands'.
@Chris0516 - Hey, you are over-thinking the situation. Enjoy your new scanner. Yes, there are a very very few folks who have experienced the swollen battery problem, but most haven't.
Regarding the battery, the most likely problem you will have is breaking the clip that holds the battery onto the scanner. Frequently releasing the clip to swap the battery out will speed up the process of breaking the clip. The best way to handle removing the battery is ->> Put pressure on the back center of the battery BEFORE you release the clip to remove the battery AND when putting another battery on the scanner, again put pressure on the back center of the battery before closing the clip.
Regarding the battery, the most likely problem you will have is breaking the clip that holds the battery onto the scanner. Frequently releasing the clip to swap the battery out will speed up the process of breaking the clip. The best way to handle removing the battery is ->> Put pressure on the back center of the battery BEFORE you release the clip to remove the battery AND when putting another battery on the scanner, again put pressure on the back center of the battery before closing the clip.
Chris0516
Active Member
Thanks
I am.I also understand UPS packed the batteries in the front of the aircraft, in close proximity to critical flight control equipment, under the flight deck (cockpit) or very close to it. The placing of the batteries wasn’t the cause of the fire but it did greatly shorten the amount of time the flight crew had to take alternative measures… such as ditching at sea if they couldn’t get to a land base. The Smithsonian cable TV channel has a show called “Air Disasters”. One of the episodes was an in-depth study that dealt with the UPS flight you refer to.
The investigative report also noted the cockpit filled with smoke which made the windshield/instruments impossible to see… if I remember correctly the “Air Disasters” program also suggested a clear plastic air bag that would inflate between the windshield/instrument panel and the pilots would have helped. The pilots could simply press their faces against the air bag and have a clear view. I don’t remember if this was ever mandated…
I don’t believe it has been mandated unfortunately. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been recommending this, and similar options since the in-flight fire and successful emergency landing of UPS Flight 1307 at Philadelphia in 2006. This was attributed to Li-ion batteries.
Despite the recommendations from the NTSB regarding this incident and UPS 6, it has not been mandated. Although the NTSB is a federal agency, they can only provide recommendations to the industry based on analysis. They don’t have the authority to make these changes.
I think most people who use the batteries now realize that it's the nature of the beast. When it occurs, they replace the battery and move on.
A fire bag is a CYA measure and is used to satisfy that ever-present guy: Justin Case.
Yup. You can never be too safe!
Chris0516
Active Member
That is exactly the cable channel, program, and episode. I am referring to. But the pallets of Li-Ion batteries were in the entire plane(747). Not just under the cockpit.
I can neither confirm or deny the entire plane was filled with batteries. My recollection of that episode didn’t include the possibility the entire plane was full of batteries, but I’d have to review the episode or read the official cause report from whatever agency handled the investigation… not saying you are incorrect. It may be that I discounted it… because the reason for the crash, the primary cause of the accident, was the inability to see the instrument panels and outside the windshield due to smoke in the cockpit. The pilots were blind, like wearing blacked out face masks I remember using during fire dept self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) training sessions. So, in my mind, regardless of how many batteries were on board, what mattered was there were at least enough to cause an amount of smoke, which created a zero visibility condition
Chris0516
Active Member
The investigation was handled by the U.S. Government's NTSB(National Transportation Safety Board).
USA Today
Wikipedia
FLYING Magazine
- Status
