Review
Review: Lp-Guard Lipo Charging Bag
By Paul Williams.
Article posted 20th March 2008.
There are numerous YouTube videos available showing idiots abusing lipo cells by extreme overcharging or other acts of utter stupidity designed to make a lipo pack catch fire or explode. Unfortunately, these clowns have planted the seed of doubt in the minds of many modellers about the "dangers" of lithium batteries.
To put things into perspective here, any type of cell can be dangerous, if severely mistreated. There is much anectdotal evidence to suggest that high-performance nimh cells are potential hand grenades at high rates of discharge, yet lipos are stuck with this stigma of "danger" when common sense and the available evidence shows that it's now nimhs that we should worry about.
Lp-Guard Lipo Sack
What's It For?
The perceived wisdom is that lipos should be charged in a fireproof bag or box to contain any possible combustion due to over-charging or failure of the pack. As it seems likely such measures will be a mandatory requirement for racing in the UK when lipos are finally allowed, I've bought an "LP-Guard" lipo charging bag from BRC Hobbies.
Lp-Guard Lipo Sack and Kokam Lipo Packs
Verdict
The LP-Guard charging bag is (hopefully) made from some kind of fireproof cloth, and the large size bag shown here is big enough to hold two, possibly three 4S lipo packs. The opening flap is velcro closed, and the bag seems well made, with double-stitched seams. Other than emulating the antics on YouTube and deliberately destroying a (quite expensive) lipo pack, I'm not sure how one can test this product. All you can do is use it and hope you'll never have to find out if it works as described.
© Copyright Paul Williams and www.fastelectrics.net, 2010.
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Last modified: 08th July 2010 @ 09:06
