m20m00a1
Member
After hearing about a local RC enthusiast whose home burned down due to a Lipo battery fire, I started thinking about a better way to store mine. I had been keeping them in fire resistant bags inside the top storage compartment of a rolling tool cart in my basement, where I didn't have any smoke detectors. I came up with the following from stuff I had, a free rolling toolcart, and some Amazon purchases.
There are two smoke detectors, one above the chargers, and one below where the batteries will be stored.
Its wired so if the big red switch is pushed down, only the smoke detectors have power. When the switch is up, power is available to the chargers. In the event of smoke, the smoke detectors send a signal to an interconnect relay that will drop out the load relay which kills power to the chargers. I also mounted a fire extinguisher to the side. The whole setup is probably overkill, but it's been a lousy winter and I needed a break from cutting foamboard.
Now I feel a little better about having packs charging while I'm flying (I'm in my backyard about 30 yards away). I'll definitely hear the alarms going off. I figure worst case scenario I can roll the whole thing outside to the driveway.
*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed electrician so if you replicate this you do so at your own risk.
There are two smoke detectors, one above the chargers, and one below where the batteries will be stored.
Its wired so if the big red switch is pushed down, only the smoke detectors have power. When the switch is up, power is available to the chargers. In the event of smoke, the smoke detectors send a signal to an interconnect relay that will drop out the load relay which kills power to the chargers. I also mounted a fire extinguisher to the side. The whole setup is probably overkill, but it's been a lousy winter and I needed a break from cutting foamboard.
Now I feel a little better about having packs charging while I'm flying (I'm in my backyard about 30 yards away). I'll definitely hear the alarms going off. I figure worst case scenario I can roll the whole thing outside to the driveway.
*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed electrician so if you replicate this you do so at your own risk.
