Risk of using CR123 lithium batteries

[DO977]

Hi

I have a few water sensors which use CR123 batteries. These water sensors are placed in normally inaccessible areas, which may be prone to flooding (on floorboards beneath a pipe, behind a dishwasher, on top of a wardrobe etc), but could be beside flammable materials.

I have read a few articles suggesting that these lithium-based batteries could be prone to explosion in some circumstances - from what I've read, this is normally due to the battery being counterfeit (therefore potentially lower quality), overheating (due to being in a high-drain device, such as a torch), shorting, or mixing of batteries.

As an aside, there's a report purportedly by the FBI (I won't link it just in case it's viewed as spam, but you can search for it with "Counterfeit and Substandard Lithium (CR123A) Power Cell Batteries Pose Serious Health and Safety Risks to Law Enforcement Officers, Other Consumers") highlighting these risks.

Given that these detectors are very low-drain, and only account for 1 battery, do you think there's any risk here?

I'm probably just being over-cautious (or paranoid!), but I really don't want my house going up in flames!

Thanks

[DO977]

Hi

Does anyone have a view on this, or is it a really stupid question?

Thanks

[FireWizard]

Hi, @DO977

As we use to say "stupid questions do not exist".

Many equipment contains lithium-ion batteries, as the energy storage per kg is very high.
E.g. a lithium ion battery contains about 6 times the energy amount of a lead-acid battery with the same weight.

But, I would not say that the risk of cathing fire of a lithium-ion battery is higher than other type of battery.
The problem is that a lithium-ion battery keeps feeding itself. Therefore, if an electric car catch fire, the only way to extinguish that fire is to put the car in a water pool with a crane and leave it there for a number of days. This is also a reason of concern, if, in the future, a lot of households have home batteries.

But for smaller batteries, the risk is acceptable, as long as the battery is not damaged and is used in a correct way. I have 1 in my smoke alarm and do not worry about it.

If you google for "lithium ion battery" and "safety" you will get some interesting hits.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... 9Mzy59giNB

Or
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... AjG7U7pa8h

Any other view?

Regards

[lost]

But for smaller batteries, the risk is acceptable, as long as the battery is not damaged and is used in a correct way. I have 1 in my smoke alarm and do not worry about it.

For here-upper concern about flood detectors, having them on the floor (i.e. not remote sensing allowing to have device, with it's battery, located away from water that may surge) may be a concern.

On my side, I have some but with remote wired sensing used. I was a bit concerned of devices (one PIR & one fire-detector) located in the inhabited/non-isolated side under my roof (can reach 55/60°C in summer), but these batteries usually advertise 100°C as a limits and devices supposed OK in a -40/+70°C range. Never experienced any issue in 6 years.

I'm in fact more concerned by batteries when charging (smartphones, laptops...): Too many reports of issues (fortunately mostly not up to a fire, but overheating badly, distortion, smoke) from relatives, often my child's friends cheating to use/recharge them at night hidden under some fire prone material, some even in their bed... Bringing phones in their bedroom is just prohibited anytime, being too easy to hide. These device always remain on the 1st floor of the home and must be used from there if needed.

This does not means CR123A is not at risk. But in single battery/very low power devices, a few pitfalls are IMO avoided (heavy use, mixing old/new ones...):
https://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI ... teries.pdf