Charging lipos can be dangerous

[james_2k]

It wasn't the lipo that set on fire it was his power supply, same could happen to any nitro people charging their tx batteries even.

you need the same precautions for charging ANYTHING, even your phone. not a lipo only thing. hence i think thread title is misleading

[Planehazza]

My girlfriend and her mother are flapping now about these batteries, but then they don't understand them so they fear them. They don't want me keeping these batteries at all if we were to move in together. Quite frustrating, given the hours and money I have invested studying these batteries and buying reputable and suitable equipment to store and charge them in.

IMO a gas oven in the kitchen is dangerous if you don't handle it right. Even if you do, what's to stop a leak etc? LiPos are the same; understand them and treat them correctly and with respect, and you shouldn't have any issues. Like everything though, it's not a certainty. Things can happen, but LiPos aren't likely to just spontaneously combust on their own.

Most of the horror stories you hear about are user error unfortunately. IMO, if a pack is puffed you should be getting rid, even if it's a small 2S foamy battery.

[Grumpy]

You might remind them of a few facts.

Number of people in UK killed or seriously injured per annum (or ever) by RC LiPo batteries = Zero
Number of people in UK killed or seriously injured per annum by deep fat fryers = 4000

You could come up with similar statistics for many household items that people don't bat an eyelid at. The unfortunate thing is that fact don't seem to mean much to the fairer sex, perception is king