Stinky LIFEPO4 prismatic cells

[sshibly]

I bought a 48v battery made of 27ah prismatic LIFEPO4 cells,

I opened up the metal case and this sucker is stinky, pungent.
I looked for leaks and I don't see any.
I have a bunch of other prismatic cells and none of them are stinky.

what gives?

 

[Short_Shot]

Why did you open it?

Can't diagnose smells online. If it hasn't leaked then put it back together and capacity test it.

 

[John Frum]

I bought a 48v battery made of 27ah prismatic LIFEPO4 cells,

I opened up the metal case and this sucker is stinky, pungent.
I looked for leaks and I don't see any.
I have a bunch of other prismatic cells and none of them are stinky.

what gives?

Do you think you are smelling electrolyte?
Does it smell like acetone?

 

[sshibly]

Why did you open it?

Can't diagnose smells online. If it hasn't leaked then put it back together and capacity test it.

it was one of those "try to recover with low cells" pack from BH
The smell is very pungent, it does make my nose irritate

 

[sshibly]

Do you think you are smelling electrolyte?
Does it smell like acetone?

probably, but I don't have any past experience, so I am guessing it is electrolyte. I don't see any.
bunch of cells were at 1.x volts I am trying to charge them back up,

 

[John Frum]

Nail polish remover smells like acetone.
If the insides of the battery case smell like nail polish remover you want to get it out of your living space.
@Will Prowse has a video on this.

 

[sshibly]

Nail polish remover smells like acetone.
If the insides of the battery case smell like nail polish remover you want to get it out of your living space.
@Will Prowse has a video on this.

nope, much much more pungent, sharp like acid,
not like acetone,

 

[John Frum]

nope, much much more pungent, sharp like acid,
not like acetone,

Is there foam insulation in the case?
Sometimes the fixing agents for that smell pretty noxious.

 

[John Frum]

Anyways if there is any doubt, I suggest you treat the battery as if it is toxic.

 

[A.Justice]

Is there foam insulation in the case?
Sometimes the fixing agents for that smell pretty noxious.

Seconded for the foam or internal adhesives stinking.

If the case @sshibly opened was more or less airtight, and they glued or sprayed some sort of foam inside of the case, then closed it before it cured 100%; then some solvents could still be trapped inside. I've opened air sealed stuff before and it smelled like straight PVC primer. Nasty.

 

[John Frum]

I've opened air sealed stuff before and it smelled like straight PVC primer.

I would characterize the smell of PVC primer as "acidic" and "sharp".

 

[sshibly]

no adhesives, just prismatic cells with plastic jacket, wait, maybe something is underneath them, hmm,
I will take pics and post,

what is PVC primer?

 

[John Frum]

no adhesives, just prismatic cells with plastic jacket, wait, maybe something is underneath them, hmm,
I will take picks and post,

what is PVC primer?

Do I Need to Use PVC Primer?

Some will tell you that primer is not necessary to create strong PVC joints. Others swear by it and slather it on like their lives depend on it. While you...

www.commercial-industrial-supply.com

 

[sshibly]

Do I Need to Use PVC Primer?

Some will tell you that primer is not necessary to create strong PVC joints. Others swear by it and slather it on like their lives depend on it. While you...

www.commercial-industrial-supply.com

gotcha,
I don't think there is any PVC primer in this batt as the case if all metal like BB.

 

[A.Justice]

gotcha,
I don't think there is any PVC primer in this batt as the case if all metal like BB.

PVC primer is just a kind of solvent, they use similar smelling chemicals in industrial adhesives and glue. I do see a big dollop of industrial looking glue on the top of the battery.

 

[sshibly]

PVC primer is just a kind of solvent, they use similar smelling chemicals in industrial adhesives and glue. I do see a big dollop of industrial looking glue on the top of the battery.

ok, I sniffed that yellow glob and tried to sniff other parts as baseline,
yes, it seems those globs could be the source of the stink.
I have it in a well vented room with the door open to the outside,
[I might pick up a canary today ;-)]

Phew, such little amount of the stuff can stink so bad, wow, amazing.

 

[A.Justice]

ok, I sniffed that yellow glob and tried to sniff other parts as baseline,
yes, it seems those globs could be the source of the stink.
I have it in a well vented room with the door open to the outside,
[I might pick up a canary today ;-)]

Phew, such little amount of the stuff can stink so bad, wow, amazing.

Yeah, I use E6000 adhesive sometimes, that stuff stinks so bad I wouldn't DARE use it inside without negative pressure ventilation.

I would leave it open for a little while outside, and see if the smell dissipates for lingers. If it goes away it's probably the adhesive, if it continues to stink it might be one of the cells.

I know @Will Prowse had a leaky cell a while back, maybe he could chime in on if it had an odor. I haven't smelled a leaky cell yet.

 

[sshibly]

Definitely it was that glue, you guys are on the glue
I have left it open for couple of weeks now and it smell has subsided.