Be careful of electrical components on your ebike....

[ki11a]

Netherlands

The battery fire occurred while changing a broken controller. After connecting the battery to the system it caught on fire and was unstoppable. Cooling it down with water was the only option. That’s how I kept the damage to a minimum.

 

[Dallant]

Wow...you were lucky that you were there, outside, and had quick access to a hose. Imagine this happening in your house/garage near flammable items. This is why I’m getting this kind of fire blanket for general storage. Won’t prevent a fire but might contain it. A larger ammo box would be even better.

 

[Marci jo]

Netherlands

The battery fire occurred while changing a broken controller. After connecting the battery to the system it caught on fire and was unstoppable. Cooling it down with water was the only option. That’s how I kept the damage to a minimum.

Holy crap, that is one scary video! You were very fortunate to be outside. And it seemed to take forever to douse the flames.
I sometimes think I’m being over cautious by charging outside but after watching the video I will continue to do so.
Thanks for sharing. Sorry your bike looks destroyed.

 

[tomjasz]

A UPP battery and the owner shorted the pack.

 

[tomjasz]

Retrofit ammo can for safer charging.



Jul 25, 2019

• Add bookmark
• #31

CSH said:
I got myself all loaded up with anxiety over battery safety

I did too until I found using ammo cans as safety devices. Two 20Ah triangles fit with room to spare.

Attachments

• 
  IMG_1634 copy.JPG
  198.3 KBViews: 64
• 
  Screen Shot 2019-05-08 at 12.3

 

[FlatSix911]

Netherlands

The battery fire occurred while changing a broken controller. After connecting the battery to the system it caught on fire and was unstoppable. Cooling it down with water was the only option. That’s how I kept the damage to a minimum.

What type of battery and controller? Ebike type?

 

[tomjasz]

A Hailong cased battery from UPP. And a rear hub drive. A story run down and confirmed many months ago. USER ERROR with a marginal quality battery.

 

[Taylor57]

Probably a random incident, but also probably a good case to buy from a reputable dealer/importer with a track record of limited fires...

 

[Latitude]

Not to criticize an unfortunate accident at all. But would a fire extinguisher be less likely to induce further electrical shorts and provide surer fire control than water?

 

[FlatSix911]

Not to criticize an unfortunate accident at all. But would a fire extinguisher be less likely to induce further electrical shorts and provide surer fire control than water?

The local fire department recommends submerging the entire battery in water after the fire is out.

 

[tomjasz]

with a track record of limited fires...

And how do we find that information?

 

[tomjasz]

Not to criticize an unfortunate accident at all. But would a fire extinguisher be less likely to induce further electrical shorts and provide surer fire control than water?

Fire extinguishers are useless with battery fires.

 

[Latitude]

Fire extinguishers are useless with battery fires.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[harryS]

For UPP, and anyone else who ships with a UN3481 label, I believe they have to prove their packs will pass a external short circuit test.

Hooking a controller backwards may not always be a good short circuit, but I recall a guy posting about his two batteries. One had its connectors flipped, but when he mounted it, and turned it on, nothing happened.

I have not had the courage to deliberately do a short circuit test to test my packs safety circuits, but I have mistakenly wired an extension cord backwards. Touched the connectors together. KABOOM. It didn't shut down the BMS. It melted the pin in the plug, Man. I've done this twice,|

 

[Taylor57]

Fire extinguishers are useless with battery fires.

So what do you do if you encounter a battery fire?

 

[Dallant]

So what do you do if you encounter a battery fire?

Again, they do make these but not sure how they work with a large ebike battery.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

The original poster has not chimed in to set the record straight, but he is from Florida and the video was taken in the Netherlands; for what it's worth. Interesting video nonetheless and I admire the cool demeanor of the ebike owner, who calmly got his garden hose and did the only thing he could do with an out of control fire like a lithium battery fire: keeping it cool. Though I do have to wonder about what shock hazard is there, sprinkling water onto that exploding chaos.

Curious though that no neighbors bothered to check out what the giant smoke plume right next door to them was all about!

 

[Dallant]

Yeah, I can’t imagine it helped the bike to be hosed but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Bosch and other battery makers should be required to offer a fireproof carry/charge container for each li-ion battery they manufacture until they can produce batteries that don’t explode!

 

[Gionnirocket]

And yet when I recommend using proper inline fuses...
Fuses

 

[Marci jo]

Here’s a YouTube video showing the importance of using the correct charger.