LiPo

[Mouldy]

Thats right Dave...

the metal box for charging is redundant, those rules were drafted up before lipo sacks were easy to get hold of... get a lipo sack. There cheap enough on Ebay these days.

At tech check for people using lipos i check for the following;

2mm+ METAL base plate under the lipo + security of the lipo (I.E. It isnt cable tied to the pneumatic cylinder *cough* Mr Lear *cough*)
Secure well insulated connections within the robot + the connectors being used are sufficient to cope with the maximum current draw.
Sufficiently rated fuse on the positive side of the lipo, thats rated below the maximum discharge of the lipo.
The visual state of there lipo
The charger + balancer combo the competitor is using is suitable
The competence of the person using the equipment.

Im a bit more strict then some tech checkers when it comes to lipo's, but most of the people using them so far have enough common sense to think of all that them self.

[chompalot]

I see that the type of metal hasn't been specified, is aluminium OK for the under LiPo plate?

[maddox10]

7.8 LiPo
Lithium Polymer batteries have specific limitations and extra precautions which must be adhered to.
7.8.1 Balancers
Appropriate balancers must be provided if not part of the charger. They will be inspected during the
Technical Check. LiPo batteries should be properly balanced to prevent damage occurring to the cells.
7.8.2 Voltage Cut-out (Advisory)
The robot should be fitted with an under voltage cut-out or alarm set at or higher than the battery
manufacturer€Ÿs recommendation to prevent the batteries from becoming damaged by over discharge.
7.8.3 Fusing
A fuse rated below the maximum burst discharge of the battery must be fitted.
7.8.4 Extra Equipment
Roboteers using LiPo batteries must provide a LiPo sack.
7.8.5 Inspection
LiPo batteries must be removed from the robot, inspected and placed into a LiPo sack prior to and during
the charging process.
7.8.6 Charging
Lithium batteries must not be left unattended at any time during the charging process. Leaving batteries
unattended while charging will be considered a serious breach of pit safety and may result in you and
your robot being removed from the event.
7.8.7 Damage
LiPo batteries showing any evidence of damage or swelling must immediately be placed a LiPo sack and
removed to a safe, well-ventilated area such as outdoors.

Don't see any remarks on metal battery-baseplates.

[Danjr1]

How set in stone is the metal plate rule?

[razerdave]

Well according to the rules it's not there at all. However with Mr Moulds experience with lipo's, the metal plate and/or box is well advised.

[maddox10]

Oh well, I have a piece of foamed magnesium that will fit fine below the 5S 5000mAh 30C Turnegy pack.

Also, using a fitting LiPo bag in the robot, isn't that a better solution? It's light, and made to contain LiPo problems.

[Eventorizon]

Would a 1/2mm (I am not sure of the thickness) sheet of Titanium be sufficient to protect the rest of the robot? I think I have just enough space to get a box around each pack (I am using two packs to get different voltages). What about other fireproof/heat proof materials like ceramics, will they comply with the unofficial 2mm plate rule?

[maddox10]

I'm thinking about combining 2 capacities in the unofficial 2mm guideline. Foam for shockprotection, and metal because its asked for.

I'm wondering if I can compress steel wool into foamy metal sheets.

[Danjr1]

ive now had to bond some 5mm aluminium plates to the 5mm polycarb armour above and below the lipo but the plates have small gaps in to allow wires to pass through. thats the best i can do!

[typhoon_driver]

I wouldn't want to put steel wool near a lipo even if it is compressed. Worst case and your lipo does go up then it doesn't take much for steel wool to go up.

Gents to be fair, your machine should have a 2mm plate underneath to protect the other parts of your machines.

Just get a small plate of ti off ebay and job's done.