US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Electrical batteries have a non-empty interface with hang gliding.
This topic thread invites discussion about electrical batteries in hang gliding. The technical aspects of batteries are invited. Hacks? Testing? Planning? Backup? Cleaning? Inspection? Charging, if appropriate? Types? Specifications? Description of use? Pros and cons over types of batteries? Hazards of batteries? Recycling batteries? System design? eHG? Costs? Pollution? Fire hazard?

Com's batteries? Lights? Motive power? Camera? Survival? Tools? Instruments? Transportation to launch?

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Lithium-Air Battery Breakthrough May Mean Game Over For Gasoline

Most hang glider pilots are getting to HG launch sites by using a private car. Not all. Then some walking is often involved after parking a car. One day that popularity might change. Alternatives to the car may be considered. Suppose it was cost efficient to eHG to the launch arena instead of using a car? Battery progress may one day help change how hang glider pilots travel to a launch site; they just might use eHG instead of the car. Recharge the battery by having HG sail surfaced with solar cells (see advance on such: HERE)

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Edit add: lithium-air (Li-O2) battery
Edit add:
Distinguish between lithion-ion batteries and lithium-air (Li-02) batteries.

February 23, 2016
UN panel bans lithium-ion batteries from passenger plane cargo
http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/23/11099012/un-lithium-ion-battery-ban-cargo-passenger-plane
I like the idea of battery-powered hang gliding.
I hate the idea of falling out of the sky in flames like some of my deceased friends.    
Installing lithium-ion batteries at the cg and making them jettisonable might work until they are safer.
A lot of interesting work is being done on hardware right now.
I think it's the future.

February 29, 2016
ICAO clarifies on new lithium-ion battery restrictions
http://www.aircargonews.net/news/single-view/news/icao-clarifies-on-new-lithium-ion-battery-restrictions.html
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You'll need a couple of these:
12 Volt Lithium Battery
6.1 lbs/2.8 kg
6.8'' L x 3.4'' W x 6.0'' H
1152 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps
$1,499.99
http://www.jegs.com/i/Braille+Auto/147/ML20C/10002/-1?CAWELAID=230006180000151847&CAGPSPN=pla&gclid=COzD1vuDqMsCFYqDfgodCO0NoQ
Brother, can you spare a dime?
Or maybe wait a few years or forever for this:
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Cycling Li-O2 batteries via LiOH formation and decomposition
Science Magazine
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/350/6260/530

I've now owned four Zero electric motorcycles (2010 DS, 2012 DS, 2013 FX, & 2014 DS) and one electric dual-sport trike I built myself. I'm addicted to electric propulsion! Oh, and I've been flying electric freeflight models and electric RC gliders for many years.

The lithium batteries and rare earth magnets plus solid state drives have made huge advances in electric propulsion. Now Boeing is working on a VTOL electric UAV. I think we will be seeing an increasing number of electric powered ultralights in the next few years. Cost of the batteries is the big "holdback" for many. I'm presently riding the 2013 FX and 2014 DS which have about $5.6K & $11.2K battery cost in them respectively.

Frank

    I know of an electric auto propulsion hobbyist who lost his entire garage and part of his home to a fire that occurred during overnight charging. Investigators laid the blame on an amateurish charging device for the Suzuki - but were they correct?
http://gm-volt.com/2011/05/18/exclusive-chevrolet-volt-unofficially-cleared-in-connecticut-garage-fire/



    I also know of an motorcycle dealer who lost several motorcycles and suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to his shop and inventory when an electric motorcycle had its lithium ion battery short out.
http://insideevs.com/brammo-fire-sale-story-behind-story/
http://insideevs.com/brammo-blow-sale-brammo-saga-continues/

    As lithium-ion batteries degrade, dendrites, a crystal or crystalline mass with a branching, treelike structure, can form internally. One factor has been linked to vibration but the primary causes seems to be physical stress due to high-amp charging rates and microscopic contamination of internal components during manufacture, which provides a starting point for dendrite formation. Dendrites are conductive and act as the cause of shorting. It is virtually impossible to put out these fires.
http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/DCA13IA037-interim-factual-report.pdf

    The loss of MH 370 may have been due to a cargo hold fire of used lithium ion batteries releasing toxic gasses.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/15/the-deadly-cargo-inside-mh370-how-exploding-batteries-explain-the-mystery.html

    Degradation of lithium-ion batteries    http://epg.eng.ox.ac.uk/content/degradation-lithium-ion-batteries

    I use these batteries all the time in film work. I always charge them removed from equipment in a steel box where a fire cannot spread. (This was also the Dreamliner "fix.")
    Dendrites seem to form around contaminants so better quality control has reduced the problem somewhat in products from quality battery manufacturers.



    I think we are quickly approaching a time when an affordable lightweight electric propulsion module (electric Soarmaster) for hang gliders will allow flights to remote soaring venues. This will eliminate much of the landowner permission and insurance problems.

Oh dear! I guess I better stop having fun riding my electric motorcycles. Way too dangerous with those damn lithium batteries. Zero has produced a lot of bikes and so far no fires. The charging is very well controlled and also the top charge level is reduced. Cell balancing during charge is also very precise.

Oh, I forgot, there was a fire caused by a "Kill-O-Watt" meter, someone purchased from Home Depot, being used to measure total KwH charging a bike.

It would seem that many things we enjoy in life carry some risk, even low tech horseback riding. The fun to risk ratio is important to calculate and then decide. I did have some batteries recalled by Zero, one time, when there was a seal problem that could let moisture in. They called and told me to put the batteries outside in a open metal container, away from flammable materials, until someone could come by and pick them up.

My risk of burning my house down from Zero's batteries is low enough for me to fully enjoy riding.

Come to think about it I had a rocking chair break under me one time. Hit the floor hard!

Frank

I hope that's not the same kind of response you give to potential hang gliding problems.

All risk should be evaluated in terms of reward vs danger. That's why I don't fly paragliders. It's also why I only hang glide at Dockweiler, at age 81 years.

The fire danger is very low from the lithium batteries I use. In fact my cordless shaver or my electric tooth brush are more likely to catch fire during charging than my motorcycle batteries.

Now if I could just make my rocking chair safer.....................

Frank

fcolver wrote:All risk should be evaluated in terms of reward vs danger. That's why I don't fly paragliders. It's also why I only hang glide at Dockweiler, at age 81 years.

The fire danger is very low from the lithium batteries I use. In fact my cordless shaver or my electric tooth brush are more likely to catch fire during charging than my motorcycle batteries.

Now if I could just make my rocking chair safer.....................

Frank

Harry M. Get started on the safe rocking chair cartoon. (Soon I'll need one -- and a glider equipped with an IV drip bag and stuff.)

fcolver wrote:All risk should be evaluated in terms of reward vs danger.

That's really the only criteria that makes any sense. Our lives contain risk from beginning to end, and our brains are geared toward making that balance.

fcolver wrote:Now if I could just make my rocking chair safer.....................