Can't double post - so for those who recall the many informative posts(and longest running thread) on this forum by "The Prof" - see "Trailer Fire" in the 5th wheel forum.Got out OK - - but can't say the same for his 5th wheel..:(~

A good reminder that Li-ion battery is a fire hazard. I thought the longest running thread was on problems with certain popular Chinese generator, - forgot the name.

Here is what he said on another forum." Detail? No - all I can provide is conjecture based on some knowledge I have and research.My golf cart was powered by two 48 volt Li-Ion batteries bought on eBay. They were single units, not a full pack, from a wrecked 2013 Chevy Volt.The golf cart was parked under the front pin box area to keep it free of the heavy wet dew we have been having.The GC was not on a charger and the battery switch was turned off. I had charged it to 48.8 volts the previous day with a charger I had built that had both current and voltage limiting circuitry. It's peak DC output was 50 volts as controlled by an auto transformer, charging current was limited to 15 amps. There was also a timer that limited the charging time to a preset period. The temperature cut off circuit was built but not installed. I had previously charged the batteries many times and know the circuitry in the charger was rock solid and accurate. I also know my wiring was overkill and done to a level of perfection. I had driven the cart at about 6:30 pm and all seemed fine.Yet, the cart caught fire around 3:30 a.m. Fire may not be the best word as it apparently exploded.Knowing what and how everything was done and it was right I am inclined to believe there was a defect lurking within one of the batteries. They were from a wrecked car, meaning they were exposed to extreme shock. I just never stopped to think about that aspect. The problem is these batteries can overheat and catch fire or explode if there is an internal rupture between opposing polarity cells. The separation is paper thin. A small pinhole can go for months before a charging cycle, discharge or another shock causes a full rupture. If that happens everything goes boom.Please keep in mind I do not know this to be factual - it is my conjecture as to how the battery or batteries overheated and exploded. There could have been other causes.What is of the greatest significance to come out of this entire ordeal is how fast a fire can consume one of our fiver's. It is literally seconds, not minutes before all breathable oxygen is gone and the atmosphere is filled with toxic and extremely corrosive material from burning plastics. I now know a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher will be of little value unless you are awake and looking at the start of the fire. I repeat, due to the size of our trailers and the typical arrangement of a single escape window from the bedroom if the staircase and exit is blocked by fire requires a doable and practiced plan. A fire can start most anywhere from anything -from dryer lint, a faulty refrigerator, electrical appliances, propane stoves - you name it. If we are in bed asleep safe escape without injury may not be possible. It is enough to scare the bee-gees out of you! "

Thanx for that info,,I would never use battery from wrecked ev..Wonder if some automatic fire extingisher using Halon would have stoped the fire?

Thanks, Don. I like very much his "conjecture" about defect lurking within one of batteries - after wrecked car. All the Li-ion fires that I recall, were due to mechanical damage causing internal short. But I wonder how could anyone be sure that a new battery purchased from retailer was not dropped or shaken before you got it. UPS drivers, - you know...

Almot wrote:I thought the longest running thread was on problems with certain popular Chinese generator, - forgot the name.Correct! - although not necessarily "problems".(Started by "Professor95") - Clicky....."3000W Chinese Gensets Info"......which "evolved" into mainly Champion brand gens.;)

"Professor95" | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

Itinerant1
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
The link worked (yesterday) their site is down.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 18, 2018
The link does not work.

ol Bombero-JC wrote:
Regardless of the source and/or cause.......

Getting *OUT* is *THE* issue..:S

More photos

:E

~
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
Regardless of the source and/or cause.......

Getting *OUT* is *THE* issue..:S

More photos

:E

~
Almot
Explorer III
Mar 11, 2018
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

"Hey Claude! Shake it and see what it does"

I tinker with LiPo and by observation have learned the chemistry is hugely unforgiving.

Chemistry or physical/mechanical assembly?
I see fires caused by hit, not by charging/discharging.

Sophisticated monitoring system in a car, alright. You wreck battery in an accident, the system (if it's even alive) will register abrupt increase in battery temperature because it's glowing red under its enclosure, and in a calm pleasant voice will say something like "Sir, your car is about to blow up, please exit immediately, have a nice day" :)
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Mar 10, 2018
Lithium requires SUPERVISION period. Only single cell 3.7 volts are reliably simple to manage.

Take your laptop battery apart. See all those extra wires coming from the assembled pack? They are not for decoration. They are for monitoring and control.

From the smallest >3.7 volt light to the largest motor vehicle battery bank lithium DEMANDS supervision and management. Autos have a sophisticated processor unit and sensors up the gozinta that feed data to the onboard processor.

So wanna be gyro gearlooses who try and build lithium battery banks sans management are like people who would tease each other with a vial of nitroglycerin.

"Hey Claude! Shake it and see what it does"

I tinker with LiPo and by observation have learned the chemistry is hugely unforgiving. Dead Dog or Two Alarm Fire is not the wisest way to learn.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Mar 10, 2018
Almot wrote:
Mr Wiz, I never read the above thread on "Chinese Champion". Didn't need to, fortunately.
At this point it appears that mere reading it all would amount to substantial effort, if not a problem ;)

"Effort" is in the mind (eyes) of the reader, LOL!

Still lots of good info for those who still have 'em..:W

The thread "went away" (died a natural death) when Champion came out with their line of inverter gens - and "generated" a new topic..:C

~
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 10, 2018
I had a Kipor that lasted 10 years. Not full time--so not many hours.
MrWizard
Moderator
Mar 09, 2018
i think it started out about HF 3000w generator

it was NOT champion specific

but after the champions came on the market, they did become the most popular of the chinese generators
Almot
Explorer III
Mar 09, 2018
Mr Wiz, I never read the above thread on "Chinese Champion". Didn't need to, fortunately.
At this point it appears that mere reading it all would amount to substantial effort, if not a problem ;)
MrWizard
Moderator
Mar 09, 2018
Almot wrote:
A good reminder that Li-ion battery is a fire hazard.

I thought the longest running thread was on problems with certain popular Chinese generator, - forgot the name.

NOT about problems

just discussion on the use of, and caring, and moding
of ALL 3000w chinese mfg generators

that thread is around 10yrs old, very long running, with lots of info about changing outlets, rewiring mods, brushes, and regulators etc.

Forum Discussion

"Professor95"

17 Replies

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