Yeah, I got like maybe 50 lipos. I need to build a bunker I guess!

More like a base.

First, obviously, condolences to OP. I've often thought about the fact that pretty much everything material that I really like is in my garage, and if something happened in there I'd likely lose it all. I'm not sure how to mitigate that though, the reason I like the garage so much is because all of my favorite things are there.

Anyway, I read the first couple pages, but haven't read the entire thread. Since it's become a discussion of lipo storage I thought I would share my bunker. Maybe it was already discussed.

I like my bunker because it will allow gasses to vent without creating a bomb. It also has many compartments to if one lipo lets loose I will not lose my entire collection. There were demonstrations on youtube several years ago proving it's effectiveness.

This picture is from a couple years ago. Since then I have doubled the size of it, and I think I am getting ready to add another set of blocks. Cinder blocks are around a dollar each, and the construction adhesive isn't too much either. Instead of the loose cinder block up top you can put ziplock bags full of sand and it will actually put out fires if they occur. I just went with the block though because it's more convenient.

-Jay

Well that's a charging station. Now what I am worried about. I am there and can use a fire extiguisher if something happens. I am worried about what happens while I am sleeping.

Like Jay I used cinder blocks but mine were the bigger ones.
Those are slick and stackable. Could glue them together and glue some ceramic tile on the open bottoms. The Restore store near me always has all kinds and shapes of tiles at pennies a piece.Lay a large tile over the top with a spacer to vent the gasses.

Originally Posted by shahram72

Well that's a charging station. Now what I am worried about. I am there and can use a fire extiguisher if something happens. I am worried about what happens while I am sleeping.

Just leave the batteries in there when you're not using them. It'll do the same job, which is contain the fire and vent gasses. But more blocks if you run outta space.

Oh, and of course, my condolences to the OP. I'm just glad nobody was in there. The loss of property sucks, but the loss if life is devastating.

Originally Posted by quitcherbitchen

I store mine in Lipo bags because someone warned me that the ammo boxes can explode like you mentioned. I guess Lipos are a class 3 or 4 fire if I remember my Navy fire training. Chemical and almost Ferris. Chemical can be extinguished stubbornly, but ferris for class 4 can only be contained. I am going ahead and ahead and installing a monitored alarm and will be buying more lipo bags. Multiple lipos in one bag is I am sure on an economy of scale a disaster waiting to happen

For folks concerned about ammo boxes for storage...
Underneath the lid, there is a black "O" ring.
Remove it. No more seal to worry about.

Notes:
Once ignited, lipo burn until consumed.
Burning Lipo generates it's own oxygen supply, cannot be smothered.
Sand in a zip lock bag confines the flames, doesn't put them out.
Smoke and gasses are toxic and caustic. Exposure will corrode electronics and ruin anything nearby. Breathing them is bad. Seek medical attention.

As some of you do, and some don't know. We have been building a new house and one of the rooms was going to be/is going to be the new hobby room. I thought I would be getting it set to become operational later this spring but now it has become a priority to house my new aircraft. So it looks like the first finished room in the new home will be in fact the hobby room.




Work from today.

Room is 20x36. The work table is 12x8.

Oh now that's nice! Nice and big. Talk about a clean slate, Of course I am blessed to have the little 6x6 niche in my garage as my shop.

Nice indeed. My shop is the same size as your table and I share with a water pump, bladder tank, water heater, tablesaw , various woodworking tools, a three tier tool box, a 12ft step ladder and yard tools including a gas weedeater/tiller and chainsaw. Shelves for starting seedlings too. Even so, I've managed to keep a 32"x96" MDF counter clean for minutes at a time to build on.
It seems that room is not on the ground floor, is that opening for an elevator?

No the 2rd floor or 3'rd if you count the basement LOL.. and that opening is a bannistered over look into the living room, when finished will have a sliding wood pannel door on it...... There is a elevator down the hall. more of a dumb waiter or service lift but will hold one person. The reason for the size of this house my husband and I were going to move our parents in with the both of us but his mom died in the summer and mine on Thanksgiving so we have a lot of empty room now. If I had known they were going to pass away we would have made it much smaller and it would be finished now. Such is life. It will be nice when it's done.
A view from one of the now gone planes back in the fall.

Originally Posted by KnifeEdge51

Just leave the batteries in there when you're not using them. It'll do the same job, which is contain the fire and vent gasses. But more blocks if you run outta space.

Oh, and of course, my condolences to the OP. I'm just glad nobody was in there. The loss of property sucks, but the loss if life is devastating.

Yep, just to be completely clear, my batteries are in those blocks 99% of the time. I do charge in there when I charge at home, but I also store in there. I have two small batteries in each of the small pockets. Then I have the larger block on the right (not in the first pic I posted) and that has two 5s5000s in each of the big holes. I also throw my UMX batteries and stuff like that in those big holes too.

I have many many aircraft, but with careful planning I only need 3s2200s, 5s5000s, and UMX batteries. My B-17 takes four 4s2200s, which I store in a separate bunker since I rarely fly it. And I just added a Blade 500 to the mix, so I need to add some 6s2650s, maybe 3 or 4. So I may expand the bunker with another set of blocks. Then the B-17 packs could have a permanent home and I'd have room for the new heli packs.

I've started being careful to destroy old batteries. When I started, and 3s2100 Thunder Powers were $80, I used to save the old ones to use for low discharge applications. Now that 3s2200s are $15, there's no reason to keep old ones around.

-Jay

I always wondered if that was your house, Spookeay. Nice to have land to fly on! I am thankful for microquads, which are nimble enough to fly in a neighborhood street.

So sorry to hear and see this.. and thanks for letting us all know of the dangers. I have a neighbor who's house burned last month. All rooms inside totally gutted due to toxic smoke, but luckily the house itself wasn't burned to the ground. The cause in his case was a cheap mains powered door bell. Sad to see.
Mark

Insurance agent just left. I'm covered for a total loss and the maximum payout of my policy.

God is Good.