The LipoSack - LiPo charging and storage solution

Mark Wood · May 05, 2006, 12:49 AM

RCGroups members and beyond:

Tomorrow I'll be bringing out a new product called the LipoSack. It is a soft 9"x12" bag with a hook and loop closure and made from treated fiberglass cloth. To date I've blown up eight different Lipo battery packs of 2s and 3s configuration up to and including TP Gen II 2100s which I believe are the great majority of the packs we use. To me the issue is not the smoke but the flames and flaming debris that gets ejected in a venting and the resulting unfortunate aftermath of those by-products. LipoSack contains the hot debris and flames while safely venting only the smoke to atmosphere. It works... every time. I had the idea two and a half years ago and pretty much everyone that has seen or heard about this has deemed it very worthy of the time and effort to actually go fully public with it. They believe in what I've done with the final product.

I'm taking it to RCX in Anaheim tomorrow for display and taking orders and it is also being sold and displayed this weekend at MWE in San Diego by Diversity Model Aircraft for the intro price of $24.95 for event attendees. The regular retail price will be $29.95. Sureflite also emailed me this evening and is placing an order.

My new website is www.LipoSack.com which will go active this weekend.You will not only see some of the UtahFlyers clips of Lipos openly venting but some of the tests that I put the LipoSack through and a way to order them if you like what you see. The phone line for orders will become active on Monday, AT&T willing. PayPal and email ordering are the easiest way to order.

Thanks to all for the concern and brainpower in this community to come up with ways to mitigate a viable safety concern in our hobby. My solution is simply a different approach to the same goal.

Thanks to Lee in the Lipo Fire Videos thread who gave me permission to use portions of the UtahFlyers vids that he's worked so hard on. Doing this kind of thing is a bit unnerving when these cells get unpredictable.
Thanks especially go to my wife and my flying buddies around San Diego and elsewhere who encouraged me to take a risk in the interest of mitigating a recognized safety hazard in our hobby and who believed in the viability of my idea. Their support is immeasurable.

VIDEO of LipoSack tests

mw

Doug Sipprell · May 05, 2006, 01:33 AM

Mark:

Congrats on your new enterprise, and best of luck with it.

Can the Lipo Sack be used again, after having contained a LiPo venting/destruction?

RD

Mark Wood · May 05, 2006, 02:15 AM

Thanks, Doug!

Reuse after an "event" is not recommended. The coating gets damaged. Besides...

If you DO have a pack go off in the LipoSack, return it to me with a note stating the circumstances and receive a new one FREE! It will be included in the "Survivor's Gallery" on the website.

How's THAT for a warrantee?

mw

GregG · May 05, 2006, 07:41 AM

Good going Mark! I remember seeing the first prototype at RCX when we were indoor flying there. Glad to see your idea finally come to market. It should help many people.

Hope you do well with it my friend, best of luck!

kusunokimasahige · May 05, 2006, 09:58 AM

how many lipo fires untill the sack itself will burn? ie what is the flashpoint of the bag?

KM

Mark Wood · May 05, 2006, 10:47 AM

The temperature rating of the fabric is 1000 degree F. or 540 C. continuous.
It contains the flash fire characteristics of a lipo quite well.
I've tested up to three cells at a time and believe that it willl easily take a total of six cells (6s or 3s2p). I'm working with other material that could take the larger packs of multiples (5s4p, etc) but that's in the future for now. I wanted to get a working solution to those that primarily use the 3s 2100 and smaller which comprise the majority of the users out there.

mw

Doug Sipprell · May 05, 2006, 12:33 PM

I definitely think I will be obtaining one of these LiPo sacks. It really makes charging at the flying site or in the field more convenient. Presently, I haul my Brinks Security Box (ala Wally World) to the site, but almost NEVER use it to contain the pack. I use the box as a carrying case for the charger and balancer. The pack being charged is laying out in the open. However at home, in the hobby room, the pack(s) are ALWAYS placed in the security box during charging or discharging. Why not at the field? No good reason. Stupid, I know. This LiPo sack could really fit the bill for "ease of containment". Sometimes the easiest and most efficient solutions are the last one's to be discovered.

RD

rob mueller · May 05, 2006, 03:07 PM

That is great Mark!

I will be ordering.

Fairbanks · May 05, 2006, 03:32 PM

Kudos on what looks like a great product. I think I need one - just have to get budget approval

.

-Rob

Don Sims · May 05, 2006, 04:29 PM

Very cool idea MW! Doing that nuke work comes in handy once in a while!!

Basketcase · May 06, 2006, 01:11 PM

Excellent idea Mark. Glad you're bringing it to market. Doug asked the exact question I was going to after watching the video, and your answer seals the deal.

Best of luck with your new business. Hope you sell a million of 'em.

Wayne

flyingdoc · May 07, 2006, 09:35 AM

I'll echo what everyone else has said, Great Idea! Will you offer another closing solution rather than velcro? It seems like a violent enough explosion could rip it right open....especially after being worn in a little.

Buzz · May 07, 2006, 12:04 PM

Boy.... Mark, that's great! I'm glad to see something that looks fool proof on the market. Beats the heck out of garbage cans, cinder blocks and everything else I've seen so far. That's one helluva a warranty!

Nice job!

Buzz

flieslikeabeagle · May 07, 2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingdoc

I'll echo what everyone else has said, Great Idea! Will you offer another closing solution rather than velcro? It seems like a violent enough explosion could rip it right open....especially after being worn in a little.

Mark, one more "Great idea!" from me.

Doc, not to put words in Mark's mouth, but I don't think the fabric makes any attempt to restrain the pressure - it vents freely through the fabric. So there should not be any significant pressure on the velcro, I think.

I think this is basically a more elegant version of Buzz' coffe-can and hardware cloth setup, with the advantage of having a finer filter for particulates than the hardware cloth can provide.

-Flieslikeabeagle

Doug Sipprell · May 07, 2006, 02:27 PM

Mark:

Here's a little ditty you could put on your website in promoting the product:

"Is your LiPo safe?? "

"Sure, it's in the Bag!"

Speaking of websites, I tried to log onto www.LipoSack.com but didn't get very far. Am I too early?

RD

May 05, 2006, 12:49 AM	#1
Mark Wood characters welcome Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: San Diego, Calif. Posts: 18,146	The LipoSack - LiPo charging and storage solution RCGroups members and beyond: Tomorrow I'll be bringing out a new product called the LipoSack. It is a soft 9"x12" bag with a hook and loop closure and made from treated fiberglass cloth. To date I've blown up eight different Lipo battery packs of 2s and 3s configuration up to and including TP Gen II 2100s which I believe are the great majority of the packs we use. To me the issue is not the smoke but the flames and flaming debris that gets ejected in a venting and the resulting unfortunate aftermath of those by-products. LipoSack contains the hot debris and flames while safely venting only the smoke to atmosphere. It works... every time. I had the idea two and a half years ago and pretty much everyone that has seen or heard about this has deemed it very worthy of the time and effort to actually go fully public with it. They believe in what I've done with the final product. I'm taking it to RCX in Anaheim tomorrow for display and taking orders and it is also being sold and displayed this weekend at MWE in San Diego by Diversity Model Aircraft for the intro price of $24.95 for event attendees. The regular retail price will be $29.95. Sureflite also emailed me this evening and is placing an order. My new website is www.LipoSack.com which will go active this weekend.You will not only see some of the UtahFlyers clips of Lipos openly venting but some of the tests that I put the LipoSack through and a way to order them if you like what you see. The phone line for orders will become active on Monday, AT&T willing. PayPal and email ordering are the easiest way to order. Thanks to all for the concern and brainpower in this community to come up with ways to mitigate a viable safety concern in our hobby. My solution is simply a different approach to the same goal. Thanks to Lee in the Lipo Fire Videos thread who gave me permission to use portions of the UtahFlyers vids that he's worked so hard on. Doing this kind of thing is a bit unnerving when these cells get unpredictable. Thanks especially go to my wife and my flying buddies around San Diego and elsewhere who encouraged me to take a risk in the interest of mitigating a recognized safety hazard in our hobby and who believed in the viability of my idea. Their support is immeasurable. VIDEO of LipoSack tests mw Attached Thumbnails Pristine LipoSack 41.2 KB · Views: 484 Lock & load! 44.9 KB · Views: 638 Criticality 15.7 KB · Views: 684 Aftermath 51.8 KB · Views: 677 Last edited by Mark Wood; May 19, 2006 at 02:27 PM. Reason: added video

May 05, 2006, 02:15 AM	#3
Mark Wood characters welcome Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: San Diego, Calif. Posts: 18,146	Thanks, Doug! Reuse after an "event" is not recommended. The coating gets damaged. Besides... If you DO have a pack go off in the LipoSack, return it to me with a note stating the circumstances and receive a new one FREE! It will be included in the "Survivor's Gallery" on the website. How's THAT for a warrantee? mw Last edited by Mark Wood; May 05, 2006 at 02:20 AM.

May 07, 2006, 02:27 PM	#15
Doug Sipprell Elfi Flyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 3,751	Marketing Ditty... Mark: Here's a little ditty you could put on your website in promoting the product: "Is your LiPo safe?? " "Sure, it's in the Bag!" Speaking of websites, I tried to log onto www.LipoSack.com but didn't get very far. Am I too early? RD

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May 05, 2006, 01:33 AM	#2
Doug Sipprell Elfi Flyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 3,751	Mark: Congrats on your new enterprise, and best of luck with it. Can the Lipo Sack be used again, after having contained a LiPo venting/destruction? RD

May 05, 2006, 07:41 AM	#4
GregG Speed Demon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Antioch,CA,USA Posts: 11,390	Good going Mark! I remember seeing the first prototype at RCX when we were indoor flying there. Glad to see your idea finally come to market. It should help many people. Hope you do well with it my friend, best of luck!

May 05, 2006, 09:58 AM	#5
kusunokimasahige Tally Ho! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Leiden, Netherlands Posts: 660	how many lipo fires untill the sack itself will burn? ie what is the flashpoint of the bag? KM

May 05, 2006, 10:47 AM	#6
Mark Wood characters welcome Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: San Diego, Calif. Posts: 18,146	The temperature rating of the fabric is 1000 degree F. or 540 C. continuous. It contains the flash fire characteristics of a lipo quite well. I've tested up to three cells at a time and believe that it willl easily take a total of six cells (6s or 3s2p). I'm working with other material that could take the larger packs of multiples (5s4p, etc) but that's in the future for now. I wanted to get a working solution to those that primarily use the 3s 2100 and smaller which comprise the majority of the users out there. mw

May 05, 2006, 12:33 PM	#7
Doug Sipprell Elfi Flyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 3,751	I definitely think I will be obtaining one of these LiPo sacks. It really makes charging at the flying site or in the field more convenient. Presently, I haul my Brinks Security Box (ala Wally World) to the site, but almost NEVER use it to contain the pack. I use the box as a carrying case for the charger and balancer. The pack being charged is laying out in the open. However at home, in the hobby room, the pack(s) are ALWAYS placed in the security box during charging or discharging. Why not at the field? No good reason. Stupid, I know. This LiPo sack could really fit the bill for "ease of containment". Sometimes the easiest and most efficient solutions are the last one's to be discovered. RD

May 05, 2006, 03:07 PM	#8
rob mueller ok, maybe it is a toy Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,470	That is great Mark! I will be ordering.

May 05, 2006, 03:32 PM	#9
Fairbanks Certified Plane Crasher Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 88	Kudos on what looks like a great product. I think I need one - just have to get budget approval . -Rob

May 05, 2006, 04:29 PM	#10
Don Sims Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Outside of Dyer, Tn. USA Posts: 7,135	Very cool idea MW! Doing that nuke work comes in handy once in a while!!

May 06, 2006, 01:11 PM	#11
Basketcase an earth bound misfit, I Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: St. Pete, Florida Posts: 9,410	Excellent idea Mark. Glad you're bringing it to market. Doug asked the exact question I was going to after watching the video, and your answer seals the deal. Best of luck with your new business. Hope you sell a million of 'em. Wayne

May 07, 2006, 09:35 AM	#12
flyingdoc Gig 'em Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 407	I'll echo what everyone else has said, Great Idea! Will you offer another closing solution rather than velcro? It seems like a violent enough explosion could rip it right open....especially after being worn in a little.

May 07, 2006, 12:04 PM	#13
Buzz Noise+Speed= I'll race it! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Daytona Beach, Florida, United States Posts: 5,177	Boy.... Mark, that's great! I'm glad to see something that looks fool proof on the market. Beats the heck out of garbage cans, cinder blocks and everything else I've seen so far. That's one helluva a warranty! Nice job! Buzz