[RE-wrenches] Known residential/commercial fires from LI batteries

[Starlight Solar Power Systems]

Hello Bruce,

I think my experience may be helpful to you. The only Lithium battery chemistry that we sell is LFP or LFMP, both use Li Iron Phosphate for the cathode. We have sold many hundreds of Li battery systems since 2013 and there have been no fires reported to us. Our customers include off grid, marine and RV use, industrial such as pipeline SCADA controls, law enforcement agencies and more. So we have a broad range of customers and applications. 

This chemistry is considered “safer” than others for a number of reasons. I recommend you study the report from "The Fire Protection Research Foundation" here: https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Hazardous-materials/rflithiumionbatterieshazard.ashx
I'm in no way saying that LFP is always safe but with a well designed management system, I believe they are safer than any flooded LA battery and the least likely to cause a fire.

A few years ago, I was privy to see destructive tests performed on 2 of the 3 brands that we offer. In the tests, battery cells (with no BMS or EMS) were charged far over recommended voltage, stabbed with spikes at low speed and by high speed impact, crushed in a press, and in one case shot with 12 gauge shotgun. The results were always an exothermic release of heat and steam or smoke but no flames. The results are similar to this comparison video showing NMC cells (extreme thermal event) and LFP cells heating up. https://youtu.be/bnzxrnS0JkE

ANY Li battery being sold without charge protection below freezing is potentially dangerous. There are batteries being sold with only a brief warning message or mention in the manual. Instead they should all have active charge protection. What if the user accidentally charged a frozen Li battery? Depending on current and temperature, Li plating leading to dendrite formation will occur. This is a dangerous condition that can continue growth and lead to thermal runaway at any time, even long after the damage occurred. Some of you are installing these batteries. Don’t ask me to name a brand, just study the product you use…for everyones good.

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar Power Systems


On Apr 9, 2020, at 4:07 PM, Bruce Leininger <bjleininger at gmail.com> wrote:

Hi.  I was wondering if there are any known instances of fires from residential or commercial storage systems.  I'm specifically interested in lithium ion batteries, but would welcome knowledge about lead acid fires as well.

Thanks!

Bruce

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