Lithium ion battery safety info

Lithium Ion Battery Charging & Handling Safety Information
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Lithium Ion battery technology is rapidly gaining acceptance in the radio control community because of the cells hefty capacity and low weight which make them ideal power sources for our models.

Be forewarned though - once you've experienced the dramatic improvements in power and flight time with lithium cells, you'll be hooked too!

These batteries have specific charging requirements and ONLY chargers rated for lithium cells may be used. See lithium ion battery charger to find out which charger I recommend and...why.

Please read and adhere to the following guidelines for proper use:

The maximum permissible charge voltage per cell is 4.25V. The maximum charge rate for Lithium Ion/Polymer cells is 1C. Please do not charge your battery at any rate higher than 1C. Doing so may reduce the capacity and life cycle of the cells, with very little savings in charge time.

These lithium ion battery cells offer a tremendous advance in battery technology for RC flight. However, due to the chemistry of lithium cells, there is a possibility of fire if charging is not properly done. It is unavoidable due to the nature of lithium itself but they can be used very safely by adhering to the following simple rules and precautions.

Charging Safety Tips:

Be absolutely sure that the Lithium battery charger settings are correct for the battery pack being charged if yours is not an automatic charger.
Care should be taken to charge on a fireproof surface, such as brick.
Do not charge batteries near flammable items or liquids
Keep a dry fire extinguisher nearby - or a large bucket of dry sand, which is a cheap and effective extinguisher.
Do not charge inside an automobile, especially while driving
A lithium ion battery should NEVER be left unattended while charging

Handling Precautions:

New cells may have a high initial charge, and care must always be taken to insure that loose cells are not short circuited.
Do not put the loose cells in a pocket, bag, or drawer where they could short-circuit against other items, or the battery tabs could be pressed against each other.
Do not place the loose cells on any conductive surface, such as a metal-topped table.
Keep loose lithium ion battery cells and battery packs WELL out of reach of children!
Take care that the cells are not punctured, especially by metallic objects like hobby knives.
If the electrolyte in the cells should get on your skin, thoroughly wash with soap and water. If in the eyes, rinse thoroughly with cool water. Immediately seek medical attention.
Although environmentally friendly, a lithium ion battery must be FULLY discharged before disposal. Buy a battery discharger to accomplish this and to avoid the possibility of a short-induced fire after disposal.

I hope you found this information helpful and you have my permission to forward it to anyone on your mailing list who you think could benefit!