BAT-SAFE

Products that are Worth a Closer Look Product spotlight As seen in the November 2017 issue of Model Aviation.

If you have ever used a LiPo battery to power your model aircraft, it is likely that safety has crossed your mind. Although LiPo battery incidents can happen at any time, it is during the charging process that many pilots have the most concern. Having witnessed a LiPo fire at a recent event when another pilot was charging his battery and it suddenly burst into flames, had me thinking about the safest way to charge. Tom Mast, the inventor of BAT-SAFE, experienced a fire in his home that led him to design this product for peace of mind. BAT-SAFE is an insulated, double-wall steel box that contains fire and intense heat in case a LiPo battery ignites. In case of fire, the box filters the resulting smoke and soot through a flame arrestor covering the top of the box. Measuring 12 x 9 x 7 inches and weighing 4 pounds, the inside diameter is 9.5 x 6.5 x 4 inches. The difference between the two is the insulation needed to contain a fire. The BAT-SAFE is somewhat similar to a fireproof document safe in this regard; however, it is intended to keep the fire in instead of keeping the fire out.

BAT-SAFE includes a charger stand, allowing the charger to be easily accessed and for the charge and balancing leads to extend into the charging compartment through a seal. Velcro is included to connect the charger stand to the BAT-SAFE as well as to keep your charger in place on the stand. Also included is a product manual that can be downloaded from the company’s website (www.bat-safe.com). It is likely that you will need to extend your balancing wires, so a set of five long balance wires with JST-XH headers can also be purchased. After you have everything connected to your battery, a latch on the outside of the box keeps it sealed. Not wanting to destroy a LiPo battery and possibly damage the BAT-SAFE, I was confident in its abilities after watching the video on the BAT-SAFE website. Beyond using it for charging, BAT-SAFE can be used for storing LiPo batteries and the website states that you can charge and store up to two 6S 5,000 mAh equivalent (222 Wh) safely inside the BAT-SAFE. BAT-SAFE retails for $59.99 and is definitely worth the price for the safety and peace of mind, knowing that in the event a battery ignites, the flames will be contained. BAT-SAFE can be purchased directly from the company website or from several distributors that carry the product. A list of distributors can also be found on the company’s website. BAT-SAFE: Website: www.bat-safe.com