Flashlight Explosion

[SintheticKarma]

This is absolutely need to know information... I am very glad I found this forum and this post as I was blissfully unaware of exactly how dangerous some of these batteries are. I now see just keeping an eye on them while they recharge is not near enough of a precaution. I will be throwing away my cheap rechargeable batteries and buying quality replacements and chargers immediately. Your health is the most precious thing a person has and its odd to think I have been unknowingly gambling with it to save a few dollars...

 

[JohnGribbin]

Why are single cell safer. Are 18650's just as dangerous as 123's.
And of course, continued recovery.

 

[Skimo]

Wow, in my ignorant bliss of all things batteries I'm glad that I've stuck with 'traditional' batteries, corroded lights are easier to fix or replace than a house/lives and lungs.

I've got kids, I know what I did to batteries when I was a kid... I also have a stupid dog and a cat that enjoys batting everything on the floor.

Prayers for your lungs.

Scary, JMHO but lights are supposed to be helpful or dead, possibility of explosion/fire/and /eek!/ lung damage is not what I want to think of when using or playing with them.

I'm safety conscious, the very real threat of chemical burns, I had no idea... Guess I'll be talking to friends and family and gathering more info.


Tapatalk

 

[Norm]

Wow, in my ignorant bliss of all things batteries I'm glad that I've stuck with 'traditional' batteries, corroded lights are easier to fix or replace than a house/lives and lungs.

Just as the fuel you put in your car can be dangerous, mishandled Li-ion batteries can be dangerous, properly handled they are quite safe.

Norm

 

[uk_caver]

I'd agree that now, when it comes to Li-Ion, with effective brand-name protected cells available, things should be pretty safe if handled sensibly even without much specialist knowledge, assuming protection circuits work, and the buyer is either aware of protected cells or is fortunate enough to do one-stop-shopping somewhere that only sells good protected cells.

In the events described this case, it was commercial CR123 primaries which were involved, both from the same packaging, by someone not doing anything obviously wrong - a situation a regular person could be in without ever considering they are a 'hobbyist', though it does seem events like this are fortunately rare.
Given how much many kids like taking things to pieces, and how some kids wouldn't react the way one might wish to 'never ever mix

 

[dc38]

In the followup of this thread...has anybody heard from JNieporte lately?

 

[JNieporte]

In the followup of this thread...has anybody heard from JNieporte lately?

Hi. How have I been doing? Not so good. I log in to reply to PMs and that's about it, as I just don't have the money for flashlights and I'd rather not be tempted. Same with knives, guns, multi-tools, EDC trinkets, etc.
It sucks, but my money has to go to medications (the pain killers and breathing meds are the most expensive) and doctor bills.

 

[Texflash]

Had one blow up last night on me !!!! grabbed a few old flashlights to mess with last night and laid them on my work bench I use for reloading . I was setting in my chair when all the sudden a load bang, the surefire 9P with the three titanium inovation batteries had blown one of the batteries. I could not figure what happened at first ! I thought I had ran my chair roller over a primer that was on the floor . then I looked at the flashlight and the body was still warm . the smell was kinda wierd like a chemical of some kind. I knew it was not good so I opened my door to let the building air out. Lucky I have no side affects yet. I just looked at the flashlight and pulled out the batteries put the batteries back in and turned the tailcap to see if it was working and it had a real low dim light so I turned it off and set it down and started messing with another light . about 20 minutes later it blew one battery. I am going through all my stuff and finding all those batteries and going to get rid of them all. Thanks! Mark

 

[Monocrom]

Had one blow up last night on me !!!! grabbed a few old flashlights to mess with last night and laid them on my work bench I use for reloading . I was setting in my chair when all the sudden a load bang, the surefire 9P with the three titanium inovation batteries had blown one of the batteries. I could not figure what happened at first ! I thought I had ran my chair roller over a primer that was on the floor . then I looked at the flashlight and the body was still warm . the smell was kinda wierd like a chemical of some kind. I knew it was not good so I opened my door to let the building air out. Lucky I have no side affects yet. I just looked at the flashlight and pulled out the batteries put the batteries back in and turned the tailcap to see if it was working and it had a real low dim light so I turned it off and set it down and started messing with another light . about 20 minutes later it blew one battery. I am going through all my stuff and finding all those batteries and going to get rid of them all. Thanks! Mark

Contact Battery Junction and make them aware of what took place. I know their brand of Titanium Inovation cells have a great reputation on CPF. As do 4Seven's brand of cells.

Just a personal thing with me, I don't use any Made in China primary CR123 cells. I just don't. Not bashing anyone, just saying I personally feel uneasy if the cells aren't made in America or Japan due to generally stricter Q.C. standards.

Also, get checked out by a doctor. The stuff inside CR123 cells is toxic. If you handle the cells after they vented like that ... yeah, DEFINITELY go get checked out by a doctor.

 

[P_A_S_1]

Question on Li Ions. I only have one light, a Malkoff HD, where I run two 18500s together. The batteries are new and have only been charged/discharged a few times but I've noticed one charges up to 4.20 while the other 4.18. While using the light and checking the voltage one battery will have a slightly lower voltage (ex. 3.92 to 3.94). I understand that using two batteries of varying voltage can be dangerous but would that apply when the variation is slight like in this case?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello P A S 1,

You should be OK. I start getting concerned when the difference exceeds 2%.

Tom

 

[P_A_S_1]

Hello P A S 1,

You should be OK. I start getting concerned when the difference exceeds 2%.

Tom

Thanks.

 

[Goon]

Unbelievable. What a crazy thing to happen from using a torch. I used to run around with a torch when I was a kid, my young bloke when he was in cadets used an led torch too, except with safer AAA alkalines. I now know its called a zoomie. Its frightening to think I could have been told about lithium torches, where to buy batteries etc, and just handed him a great torch. We spent $100 on his pocket knife because I do like to buy him better quality items so its entirely possible, luckily no one told me about lithium led torches.

To the OP, I have no idea what to say except good luck mate.

OMG man! You hammer nails in them!? I thought the insides could permanently blind you if it squirted in your eye or something. I'm going to put some nails in mine now...

JK

I just bought my first high power battery torch, it runs a 26650, and I shall follow your advice in disposing of them when they deplete with a nail. Or was this advice only for the 123's? < this needs to be bigger.

 

[Rosoku Chikara]

...I think all the bad reputation that lithium cells have comes form primary lithium cells, used in series. Secondary lithium cells of any chemistry (LiCo,LiMn,LiPo) are very safe even if you take them past the limits. This is especially true if you use cells from reputable manufacturers like Sanyo, Panasonic etc, or use them with protection circuits...<snip>

Anyone care to comment on this observation? Can someone rate a variety of cells and cell chemistries (if possible, "all" of them) on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 = most dangerous)? And perhaps go on to weight that number with another factor that takes into account the number of cells being used? (Based on my understanding that usually one cell is far safer than multiple cells?)

Sorry, I know this is a rather big request, but I am curious to know whether there is much consensus about such things on this forum.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

We see lots of battery tests for run times and capacity, but we don't get to see many tests on the 'safety' and 'longevity' of these cells. It's just not practical to run 1000 cells of Brand A, or Brand X and see what we see.

It's a bummer, but it is what it is.

Stick with the Panasonic made labels, or the Sanyos, if what I can advise and use a DMM to match them up as best we can.

I have an ADT wireless alarm system that uses sensors that use CR123As and they initially provided cells that I've not heard of, made in China and things have been fine, but 'cells are now my responsibility and I'm using quality cells going forward.

This topic only enforces that concern.

Chris

 

[degarb]

Stick with the Panasonic made labels, or the Sanyos, if what I can advise and use a DMM to match them up as best we can.

Chris

Generic (and *fire) are scary.

Also: Keep away from heat, store in crush proof container (to avoid any short, esp via crushing force), keep away from water, test voltages off charger and before, be aware of risk of multi cell light (chain reaction thermal runaway), buy a reputable good charger, charge in a fire proof tin. <In short: heat, charge, & short risk.> I also think a well designed light should have under and over charge circuit protection, and be designed to handle an explosion (even if operator error).

I know a damaged protection circuit could cause short; however, I feel in real world, it is more likely they will save my butt from an overcharge/undercharge/or short (esp. short in the light).

It would not be a bad idea to keep a respirator around (work, garage, or the house) where you charge. Though, in secondary cells, I am not sure if the metal concentration as important as other chemical (at this point in my knowledge).

 

[CounterAttack]

Hi JNieporte, you have be deepest regards and sympathies. I hope you get better to your original state. I think it is very commendable to you that you don't want to sue anyone in your ordeal.

Any new updates?

-Best wishes Kevin

 

[tonijedi]

First of all I wish the best and fast recovery to JNieporte. Thanks for this report, it is quite an eye opener.

Although I have some quality flashlights I'm quite new to Lithium batteries. So far I just had a small Nextorch that I use for diving which runs on CR123 and a "budget" dive light (it drawned at 20 meters...) that used a 18650 (the battery that came with the light was an ultrafire, blue).
Recently I bought a PD35 and P12 and as I'm still waiting for 18650 batteries to arrive I tried the PD35 with 2twoCR123. When I get home I'm going to take them off of the light and wait for the proper batteries to arrive.

Again, best wishes to JNieporte.

 

[CounterAttack]

CR123's are proper batteries. Sometimes things just happen, like with JNieporte (which was terrible). But CR123s can be dangerous along with 18650 and any other lithium batteries or any batteries in general. I would say using 1 cell is a bit safer especially with a protection circuit but I use two primary cells in my light and I like the output and runtime but it's too costly for me to run it that way so I bought some rechargeable IMR 18350's for my 18650 light. It gives me a bit more power, a lot less run time, and a lot more heat. But is it worth the extra danger and heat and loss of output?... Well to me yes.

 

[shine brighter]

And here I've been thinking about using those batteries in the project I'm working on. Call me a coward, but I prefer a light I'm not wondering if it'll take my hand off in the back of my mind. I'll be using regular AA or AAA batteries if at all possible. Thank you JNieporte for being willing to share.