Lipo cell smells acetone

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May 20, 2010
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Location
Norway
Hello,

I've been pulling several 4s1p 5Ah hard case packs from hk apart. After soldering them in parallel groups I noticed one of the cells had a strange odour coming from it. Not very strong, but noticeable.
Is the cells gone bad? They where never hot, and hold capacity and voltage well.
They are already soldered together, I don't want to take them apart if not necessary :?
 
Investigate any smell of solvent in regard to RC Lipo. I've seen/smelled pouches ruptured from puffing and/or some form of internal corrosion which appeared to eat through the pouch.

Take no chances with these cells.

EDIT - Example of pouch corrosion:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=49900&p=737745&hilit=+corrosion#p737745

Picture's still working.
 
It's entirely possible there's no leak and perhaps only residual solvent odors left over from manufacture? Truly hard to say based on textual information.

As long as you stay on top of cell electrical condition and notice if/when one cell or group loses performance capacity that's about all you can do. But you're doing the right thing paying attention by using ALL your senses!
 
If they're from inside little plastic boxes that were glued shut, then you can perhaps expect them to smell collectively but not individually.

What you are doing anyway? If they're new they may loose the smell quite quickly now there out of there protective shells.
 
Everytime I've smelt acetone, I had leaked cell. Once from A123 20AH, and another one from a zippy compact at 1.3V. Please find that dead cell before using it.
 
You have a leaker, It's highly likely to set your house on fire. I keep all mine, puffers, leakers, etc, in an old microwave in the backyard. Good ones store in an old fridge in the backyard. If I open that fridge and smell it, I start hunting down that cell.

The leakers are all packs I dropped, or whatever. Like dropped before I put them in the protective boxes I go on and on about.
 
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