Experience with StarkPower LIFEPo4 Batteries?

On 4/30/2013 9:40 AM, son_of_flubber wrote:
In the era of same-branded batteries sourced in batches from the
lowest bidder in different countries, is it still valid to trust a
battery based on the reputation of a long-standing brand name? I
think not.

I think Sony or Panasonic, for example, have a big incentive to ensure
the batteries that carry their name will not harm their reputation. They
also have the resources to recall and replace defective products. Not so
likely for small, newly created companies.

Reputation and history aren't perfect markers for quality, but what else
do we have to go on? Well, there are the data sheets I can get from the
big companies, but not from the new little ones.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013 12:04:29 AM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:

Reputation and history aren't perfect markers for quality, but what else
do we have to go on?

I'll buy that an established source with reputation and history is better than fly-by-night commodity producers.

As to alternatives, look to the small innovative companies that are betting the company on building a safer high energy density battery. For example
http://www.allcelltech.com/technolog...hermal-runaway

What do the smart guys here think of this technology? Does it have merit or is it a marketing gimmick?

From "Gliding International", May-June 2013, page 57, paragraph 3

"It is not commonly known that there have been three known Lithium batteries (sic) fires within an airborne sailplane producing two fatalities."

On Monday, May 6, 2013 6:53:10 PM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
From "Gliding International", May-June 2013, page 57, paragraph 3



"It is not commonly known that there have been three known Lithium batteries (sic) fires within an airborne sailplane producing two fatalities."

That statement requires specific citations of national safety board accident reports to be believable. AFAIK, all national aviation safety boards require investigations of in-flight fires so there should be reports on file.

The only reports of in-flight battery fires I can find involve lead-acid or Ni-cad packs.

On Monday, May 6, 2013 8:53:10 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
From "Gliding International", May-June 2013, page 57, paragraph 3
"It is not commonly known"...

"Not commonly known" because it is bunkum...

On Monday, May 6, 2013 8:53:10 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
From "Gliding International", May-June 2013, page 57, paragraph 3



"It is not commonly known that there have been three known Lithium batteries (sic) fires within an airborne sailplane producing two fatalities."

And a couple of pages later there's a brief article extolling the virtues of helium for restoring old gelcoat attributed, of all people, to Tom Knauff.. Oh, and a full page ad for that idiotic VTOL electric pipe dream from Joby. Was this to be a special April 1 issue?

Okay, so no one bats 1000. But the unsourced FUD on batteries is particularly annoying.

T8

On 5/7/2013 4:38 AM, Evan Ludeman wrote:
On Monday, May 6, 2013 8:53:10 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
From "Gliding International", May-June 2013, page 57, paragraph 3



"It is not commonly known that there have been three known Lithium
batteries (sic) fires within an airborne sailplane producing two
fatalities."

And a couple of pages later there's a brief article extolling the
virtues of helium for restoring old gelcoat attributed, of all
people, to Tom Knauff. Oh, and a full page ad for that idiotic VTOL
electric pipe dream from Joby. Was this to be a special April 1
issue?

Okay, so no one bats 1000. But the unsourced FUD on batteries is
particularly annoying.

My Google search for "lithium battery fire sailplane or glider" found
only references to model sailplanes. I'd expect any fire in a glider to
show up on the internet somewhere, especially with a fatality as a result.

So, still unreferenced.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)