Batteries...Who said Lithium Ion is safe?

[paul dudeck]

http://www.reelchicago.com/story.cfm?StoryID=1794

Need anyone say more??? Read at the bottom about the truck fire in Chicago a few years back also...........

 

[Harry Clark]

CSC in New York had this happen on 2 different shoots recently with batteries from a manufacturer who shall remain nameless. One burned up a bank in Connecticut.
I was with one of the sales guys at their garage-level equipment and expendables "cage" to look at a sales item, and I noticed a mountain of battery belts, blocks, and chargers. He said they were all going to the LiOn disposal service at great expense, but they were doing it because that equipment had become too big a liability.
They supposedly have ordered mass quantities of the new A/B blocks to have a safer option for those clients who want a LiOn battery. I think they were also instrumental in helping A/B design and test them.
So, yes, LiOn can be dangerous. I would assume that A/B, Red, and other serious manufacturers make a safe product. I'd be REALLY wary about smaller mom-and-pop outfits, some re-cell service companies, and especially no-name overseas companies.
Ordered up my Hytron 140s today. Abel Cinetech in NY gave me a VERY competitive price. Thanks guys! Now I can fly safe.
Cheers,
Harry

 

[Eric.T]

CSC in New York had this happen on 2 different shoots recently with batteries from a manufacturer who shall remain nameless.....

why should the manufacturer remain nameless ??? i think its the best if everybody knows wich company build these exploding batteries.

 

[Jaron Berman]

I wouldn't assume anything about RED's (or any cheap brand) batteries being in the same league. You're right that the majority of large manufacturers use quality cells - AB, IDX, Sony, PAG, but beyond that it's a pretty sketchy world. Cheap batteries mean cheap cells, and if people are reporting that they can charge any battery on the RED charger, and visa-versa...well that means RED has cheap chinese cells. I personally own a number of batteries that use cheap chinese lithiums, and have had great luck... but I would certainly never assume that RED used any different cells in their batteries simply because they're "RED." Doing so would increase the price more in-line with the reputable manufacturers. RED batts are a great bargain, as are many of the cheap lithiums on the market, and as long as you treat them carefully you should have no problems. Dropped, damaged, mis-charged, over-drawn and basically any misused battery should be inspected carefully and possibly even disposed of.

If one is concerned about safety and really needs lithiums, then PAG makes a system that's impossible to beat. Bar-none the fastest, safest and most complete chargers available, with top-notch cells. The charger itself is an analyzer-charger (many times more sophisticated than the excellent AB chargers) that knows every little detail about the condition of cells within your batteries, and can even recover them if aforementioned damage (minus physical damage) is done.

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

FWIW Sony recalled Batteries both V lock & laptop in the past.

Stephen

 

[Stuart English]

RED-BRICK batteries

RED-BRICK batteries

if people are reporting that they can charge any battery on the RED charger, and visa-versa...well that means RED has cheap chinese cells.

All I will say is that those are some very speculative assumptions to make - for raw cells, product pricing and battery charger capabilities. If we can sell a 4K camera for under $20K, why can't we work out how to sell a very high quality and performance battery / charger system for less than the competition as well?

 

[Nick Gardner]

if people are reporting that they can charge any battery on the RED charger, and visa-versa...well that means RED has cheap chinese cells.

Even most cheapie Chinese Batts have cells made in Japan. I suspect the red batteries are quite good. Although I would be interested to see how many cycles you can get out of them.

Nick

 

[Jaron Berman]

What cells are used?