If a lithium ion battery exploded in a flashlight would it blow the light apart?

[nottawhackjob]

I’m thinking if a flash is gonna go Bikini Atoll at least it can turn into a rocket first then explode harmlessly in the atmosphere. That’s why I’m open to drilling a hole in the tail.

[raccoon]

If you just get single cell lithium ion flashlights, the risk is pretty low.

Or, you could just stick to Eneloops.

[Geoduck]

I remember a post on cpf many years ago where a guys light,(probably a Surefire) running 2 cr123 started making a whining noise and he pulled it out of it’s holster and it was extremely hot. He no sooner set the light down on the counter when it exploded blowing out the end and sending the light flying through the air like a missile where it hit a sliding glass door shattering the glass and putting a huge dent in the frame of the door. So a light might not blow up like a pipe bomb but fly through the air like a missile.

[nottawhackjob]

@CRC

Imagine an explosion with a headlamp

I can’t get my head around it.

[Oli]

On any car with an automatic transmission built within the last few decades and beyond you can turn the key off (while driving) and the steering wheel is not going to lock unless you put the transmission in park and then turn the switch even further to the position where you can remove the key. If you’re on a highway you can steer to the side without issue without power steering fairly easily with two hands. You can get a couple of pumps of the brakes. But don’t pump them, just step on it and don’t let go. You can also just pop it in neutral and the computer is not going to let the engine rev beyond a very safe level. Some cars today won’t go much over 3,000 RPM in neutral. With push button starters you often need to hold the button down for three seconds or press it 3 times on some vehicles if you are in Drive. You should experiment with all of these methods with your foot to the floor at various speeds. Again the steering wheel will not lock. You won’t hurt anything with any of the above. And you can restart the car while still rolling in neutral at any speed if you want to bail out of any of your experiments.

[nottawhackjob]

@Oli

On any car with an automatic transmission built within the last few decades you can turn the key off and the steering wheel is not going to lock unless you put the transmission in park and then turn the switch even further to the position where you can remove the key. If you’re on a highway you can steer to the side without issue without power steering fairly easily with two hands. You can get a couple of pumps of the brakes. But don’t pump them, just step on it and don’t let go. You can also just pop it in neutral and the computer is not going to let the engine rev beyond a very safe level. Some cars today won’t go much over 3,000 RPM in neutral. With push button starters you often need to hold the button down for three seconds or press it 3 times on some vehicles if you are in Drive. You should experiment with all of these methods with your foot to the floor at various speeds. Again the steering wheel will not lock. You won’t hurt anything with any of the above.

Good to know. :+1:

Also don’t forget your emergency brake in case you’re outta pedal brake from panic pumping it too much. :laughing:

[raccoon]

@CRC

Im just gonna stick to single cell lithium-ion rechargeable flashlights that come with their own battery and charging system and hope for the best.

Yep, that's what I do.

I like to get high quality cells and chargers to reduce the risk.

[raccoon]

@CRC

Those are two opposing statements lmao.

Im trying to avoid having to know about all that.

That is going beyond my abilities.

Oops.

I obviously misread your earlier post.

So, we have different strategies for acquiring cells and chargers.

[Lightbringer]

I had a 14500 just leak in my GTmicro. No kaboom. No earth-shattering kaboom. Just clear ook leaking out from the beastie.

Must’ve caught it fairly quickly, ’cause no permanent staining of the battery-tube or anything, not even the springs or driver.

[PiercingTheDarkness]

Does anyone else remember a thread on here years ago of a Skyray King literally exploding?

This guy was using cheap bundled cells, so obviously junk Chinese crap that were unstable

Turned it on for a few minutes on Turbo, heard popping sounds
Turned it off, placed it down and left the room
BOOM!
The shrapnel blew out his apartment window

He had photos of the aftermath. I’ve search in the past for hours and can’t find the thread maybe it was on candlepower

[raccoon]

I don't remember seeing photos of the aftermath, so I'm guessing that wasn't on BLF.

[PiercingTheDarkness]

@raccoon city

I don’t remember seeing photos of the aftermath, so I’m guessing that wasn’t on BLF.

I found the thread on candlepower, it’s different to what I thought it was, but still an explosion

TK Monster Explosion

Ah, I see it was already posted

Just a case of using dangerous batteries though

[Bort]

@gchart

Clearly a case of mishandling here, but it was quite the explosion:

C8 went boom!

Dear god! Those look more like grenade fragments

@alpg88

yes it can and it has, there are several thread with pics on cpf, iirc, in one instance, the light destroyed a balcony glass panel, and made the owner bleed. but it is very unlikely scenario, especially if you do not use crappy cells,

I think i remember that one, lived in an apartment, insurance did cover it iirc.

@MtnDon

I believe that if something happens tocause a cell in a flashlight to “have an event” the cell will most likely catch fire rather than explode like a bomb. That would, I believe blow out, melt, the tail switch if there is one, or/and blow out, melt the reflector or optics in the front, or/and even theside switch aperature would also vent. No shrapnel flying about, but a “road flare” that could start a fire.

Interesting theory.

@JamesB

There is one case of death caused by an Olight flashlight exploding while the poor user was holding it in his mouth, there has been quite a few documented cases in the past on CPF of catastrophic flashlight explosions, these were mostly used with CR123 in series , also some intances of loud but harmless popped tail switch rubber.

I only use single cell lights, so hopefully that cuts the risk substantially

@xevious

@max

@ Bort, you need to get a refill on your non-paranoia meds ASAP.

I’m really curious to know how bright is a proverbial flashlight…

The proverbial flashlight is between 100 and 4000 lumens (Olight I3e to Convoy M3C).

@kennybobby

Yes, If a lithium cell exploded in a flashlight, then indeed it would blow the light apart. It would be a Bad Day.

Most quality cells have over pressure vents that will open if the internal temperature goes up due to any of the various failure scenarios; venting should prevent an explosion.

Thats good.

The Simpsons- Homer's first day at work at Home!/

@SIGShooter

@ShyOne

Yes, a flashlight powered by a LiIon battery “could” indeed turn into a pipe bomb.

I DO NOT know the odds of this happening… BUT, I WOULD THINK THEY ARE EXTREMELY SLIM.

It would be an EXTREMELY RARE occurance.

@alpg88

yes it can and it has, there are several thread with pics on cpf, iirc, in one instance, the light destroyed a balcony glass panel, and made the owner bleed. but it is very unlikely scenario, especially if you do not use crappy cells,

I recall reading the post about the incident alpg88 mentioned above.
I have searched for the thread about the incident but cannot find it.

It was an eye opener for sure….

Another CPF post

HF poisoning :person_facepalming:

@Geoduck

I remember a post on cpf many years ago where a guys light,(probably a Surefire) running 2 cr123 started making a whining noise and he pulled it out of it’s holster and it was extremely hot. He no sooner set the light down on the counter when it exploded blowing out the end and sending the light flying through the air like a missile where it hit a sliding glass door shattering the glass and putting a huge dent in the frame of the door. So a light might not blow up like a pipe bomb but fly through the air like a missile.

Thats insane.
Funny how i got many mocking replies in this thread for even asking the question.

[raccoon]

@Bort

Funny how i got many mocking replies in this thread for even asking the question.

It's a good thread.

I think some people just don't want to think about the remote chance that lithium ion batteries can be dangerous.

[PiercingTheDarkness]

It’s extremely unlikely IF

- You care for your batteries and know all the safety precautions

- Don’t use budget, cheap, old batteries

• Don’t be an idiot

[raccoon]

@Funtastic

It’s extremely unlikely IF

- You care for your batteries and know all the safety precautions
- Don’t use budget, cheap, old batteries
- Don’t be an idiot

Yep, it helps to have a safe high quality charger as well.

[PiercingTheDarkness]

@raccoon city

@Funtastic

It’s extremely unlikely IF

- You care for your batteries and know all the safety precautions
- Don’t use budget, cheap, old batteries
- Don’t be an idiot

Yep, it helps to have a safe high quality charger as well.

Ah, yes, I knew I had missed something, but that kind of falls into caring for them correctly

[Bort]

@raccoon city

@Bort

Funny how i got many mocking replies in this thread for even asking the question.

It’s a good thread.

I think some people just don’t want to think about the remote chance that lithium ion batteries can be dangerous.

Thanks

I was just thinking that you and i are old BLFers, back in the old days we were at the basics, while today who knows where the batteries are even coming from, i had to make a thread and ask where Sofirn’s included batteries come from (and apparently its not a first tier supplier)

[PiercingTheDarkness]

Sofirn’s 21700 batteries are now from Lishen which aren’t half bad.

The 26650’s are excellent being from PLB who were used by Shocli.

14500’s are questionable and I’ve received many in the past with rust under the wrap. Reported to Sofirn and was ignored. I purchased in bulk 200+

Not sure what the 18650’s are, but tested okay. No idea on how they age though

Sofirn’s 14500 cells with rust

[Bort]

@Funtastic

Sofirn’s 21700 batteries are now from Lishen which aren’t half bad.

The 26650’s are excellent being from PLB who were used by Shocli.

14500’s are questionable and I’ve received many in the past with rust under the wrap. Reported to Sofirn and was ignored. I purchased in bulk 200+

Not sure what the 18650’s are, but tested okay. No idea on how they age though

Sofirn’s 14500 cells with rust

Very interesting.
I try to stick to name brand, My 18650s are Sanyo and Samsung. If i replace them (they are getting close to 10 years old) and get some 21700s as well i plan to go with name brand again. The HF thread is more worrying then the explosion risk.

BTW I actually like your posts becasue as a business you have a lot of experiences none of the rest of us have.
Which reminds me you had mentioned in another thread that Convoy are certified lights, what certification do they have?
Also i noticed CE and ROHS on my new Wurkkos WK30, was surprised to see that.