I'm starting to amass a fairly large collection of lithium batteries. 18650, 16340, and CR123 for flashlights, 26500 and IMR 18350 for some of my camera gimbals, and proprietary batteries for dozens of electronic gadgets.

Out of convenience, I keep all my batteries and their chargers all in one corner of my gear room. I use a nice surge protector and smart chargers for my batteries--they all have voltage cutoffs so that the batteries don't over charge.

Still, if one of the batteries goes runaway, there's a fair bit of stuff in that room--all my favorite stuff, at least. And lots of other batteries to catch fire. And camping fuel.

I don't ever leave batteries to charge when I'm not at home, but I do leave batteries to charge overnight and I'm definitely not keeping a watchful eye on the batteries the entire time they're charging. Smoke detectors right above the charging location, and a fire extinguisher just outside that room in the laundry room.

So, any ideas on super cheap, lightweight, not--too-ugly materials I can use to line a box to do my charging in? Maybe some of that lightweight refractory brick? Fiberglass batting?

You might check you local home centers for a product called Homasote. It's easy to work with and is fire-resistant without being extremely heavy.

In the radio control hobby, use of lithium based batteries is very widespread. There are many sources for bags that are fireproof for charging these types of batteries. Here is just one example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnYDvj3BDs

Just doing a little stream-of-consciousness thinking here.

Might look into cement board.

Seems like a lightly built (but attractive) wooden box lined with cement board would do. Line sides, back and bottom with cement board on ceramic standoffs so air can circulate behind it and it won't transmit heat by conduction.

Not sure I'd want it totally enclosed. I'd think you'd need ventilation due to the heat generated. Total enclosure for fire protection is pointless if you've got to have a fan to remove normal heat.

The electronics geek in me wonders how hard it would be to cobble up a way to interlock power to the chargers with the smoke detector. Smoke detector trips, power to the chargers is cut.

^ yeah, a cement board and/or skinny fire brick enclosure would provide a lot of protection and would definitely work. Maybe overkill, but surely effective.

A metal box enclosure lined with cement board, using stove rated adhesive (2000*), maybe. You could even vent it to the outside, using 4" stove pipe. Like a skinny StackOn box that's modified, you could get multiple shelves in a 1ft square x 3+ft tall box.

What about a junk oven? Run wires through old heating element pass through. Set battery chargers on racks. Set timer to remind you to check back.

Ammo can, cement board, lid partially propped open and rigged to shut if disturbed?

Run with it guys...

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Ammo can, cement board, lid partially propped open and rigged to shut if disturbed?

Run with it guys...

Sure, glued down with that 2000* adhesive, maybe the same gasket material that stove doors use. Fiberglass rope stuff, comes in different widths, grey, cuts easily w scissors, sold by linear foot at your local hardware store.

I can't accommodate all my charging needs but was worried about the heat some devices produced while charging. I made a small platform for tablets and phones out of some extra wire shelving I had. It folds out of sight when not being used. Maybe a bigger piece of shelving could work for you. Won't catch fire, good air flow.

Take a look at this video. It shows what a cave diver did to safely charge lithium batteries used for lights and scooters.

The video shows build a box to contain Lithium batteries explorations/fires. FWIW the batteries Jill is charging are most likely larger and more powerful they the ones most people have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsqFm4AdpCQ

Scoll down to "Battery Fires" on the next link. It's a short blurb about the above box containing a fire/explosion.

http://www.intotheplanet.com/c...ther-diving/page/13/

Right, so I'm not crazy to want to build a fire box for my batteries.

my various batteries & devices sit on a large square of porcelain floor tile.

Another necessity I never had a clue I needed...thanks, SF!

quote:

Originally posted by Archie Teuthis:
my various batteries & devices sit on a large square of porcelain floor tile.

That would be helpful in the case of overheating or a small fire but it could potentially be a source of very sharp and nasty shrapnel in the case of an explosion. Such incidents are rare, but when they occur, they can create some serious damage if no precautions have been taken.

A stainless stock pot or serving line (cafeteria) pan would be fine to contain a fire and shrapnel. And dont buy Chinese batteries to begin with. I saw somewhere that most of the "Fire" brand 18650's are just recycled old laptop batteries once you peel off the label.