A lithium battery being open

Jun 17, 2025 9:50 AM

Maroccan

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It's not safe to open a lithium battery at home. They contain reactive materials that can cause fires, explosions, or release toxic gases if mishandled. Professionals use specialized equipment and training in controlled settings to avoid these risks. Instead, follow manufacturer guidelines and recycle batteries at designated centers. For curiosity, watch expert demonstrations online rather than trying this yourself.

"...watch expert demonstrations online...". i.e., not this idiot.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Don't need gloves, just lick your fingers clean afterwards

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

this is the moment when I would say: " DEAR CHILDREN! DON'T IMITATE THIS!!! "

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 79 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

@op You may want to post some links about where to find recycling for Lithium batteries. Also, for those wondering, the vast majority of places WON'T accept a vape with a Li battery on the grounds that the vape oil within can be caustic to skin when opened.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Is it just me, or is it weirdly dry?

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I despise this trend to speed everything up. It's the next step in the active destruction of people's attention spans.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Opening a lithium battery in open air is possible if it's fully depleted. ie. take the voltage to zero. It's ruined of course, but not spicy

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

DONT EVER DO THIS.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Worst pass the parcel ever

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

wonder what happens when he washes his hands with water after that...

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Gosh my eyes are itchy *absentmindedly rubs eyes*

1 year ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

'This kills the idiot'

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Sadly, more often than not, it doesn't. Maiming is still a potential though.

Someone's gotta keep ER staff and burn unit people employed!

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

How is this recycled? Presumably the black stuff is Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, with the Lithium, Manganese, and Cobalt worth reclaiming...?

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Where is his explosive proof pie dish?! I don't think this guy is a pro.

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

He didn't even say he was going to take it to bits.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You mean the explosion containment pie dish?

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Let's get this out onto a tray.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As an electrician, I cannot stress enough, DO NOT DO THIS.

1 year ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

as someone who designed and built battery packs for about a decade, DO NOT DO THIS.

1 year ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

I was hoping he'd set the spicy pillow off

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

At the very least I would have worn gloves.

1 year ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

Pussy /s

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And filmed it outside. And cut it with a knife on the end of a very long stick. While wearing a respirator.

Honestly if people want to have this kind of fun blowing stuff up they should host a vacuum cleaner derby. Get well-cordoned off concrete/dirt lot with nothing flammable within 100m radius. Get a loooong extension cord, some plexiglass barriers, and a metal basin. Fill it with an inch or so of gasoline, place vacuum inside, hide behind barrier, goggles on, then plug it in.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yup! Except use polycarbonate, not plexiglass :-)

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Saying lithium "can cause fires" is the understatement of the decade. It can spontaneously burn hot enough to melt steel and there is no way to put it out. Luckily the lithium in most batteries will burn away in a matter of seconds, then you can put out secondary fires.

1 year ago | Likes 76 Dislikes 4

Right so drink lots of water to stay hydrated……check….

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The battery in my old phone started to swell up and Samsung said I had to pay them to dispose of it. So I just threw it in a neighbours bin instead (I didn't actually but I did want to)

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

There's no lithium metal in a rechargeable lithium battery. It's a thin layer of lithium oxide (which isn't flammable as it's already oxidized) on a substrate.

1 year ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 0

You can handle it with your bare hands. It’s not as reactive at you might think. Other alkaline metals on the other hand…

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

It is exactly as reactive as i think. I have purified lithium metal from batteries on multiple occasions. I have also intentionally and unintentionally reacted it for combustion purposes. But you're right, there are far more reactive and easier to store alkali metals.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The lithium in a lithium battery is lithium oxide, so it's correct to say it's not as reactive as you think, if you're thinking it's lithium metal.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The local AHRA folks started replacing their lead-acid batteries with smaller, lighter lithium batteries; the fires were fantastic, making me recall the natural selection forces that would be associated with nuclear-powered cars.

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Ass Hole Racing Association

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yeah this kinda put me off the idea of wall mounted batteries as a home backup generator alternative

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Those are often (usually) LiFePO4 chemistry. No reports of combusting LiFePO4 cells are known.

1 year ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Hmm that's a relief. Though probably won't be looking into that anytime soon since those or an in-ground Generac are in the 5-digit price range.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Depends on your requirements - I just had a look at aliexpress, 10 kWh can be had for something like 2200 Euros.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hmm not sure what it would take to keep an A/C running in 100F weather but that would be ideal... also I think getting it installed so kicks on automatically for the whole house in a power outage is a good chunk of the cost

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You can put it out with sand.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I've never tried this. Class delta fires are self oxidizing so I usually just clear the area and let them burn, but apparently this is a common practice. Thanks for the info.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Any fire can be put out if you cut off any one of the three aspects of the fire triangle. Fuel, air and temperature. Lower the temp of a self oxidizing fuel and it will go out.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Do not touch the forbidden foil.

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Or stab it with a pencil!

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

where's the kaboom

1 year ago | Likes 100 Dislikes 2

The batteri was clearly empty, I did not see any energi in there

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

No short = no heat = no kaboom

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Could be LiFePo4 or some other technology. Not all lithium batteries are alike.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

I was expecting an earthshattering kaboom

1 year ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 0

I get that reference

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

It comes later when he gets the hospital bill due to pulmonary edema. Dude's not wearing gloves while handling corrosive material, I GUARANTEE the dude's not wearing breathing protection.

1 year ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

He probably doesn't even have his safety squints on.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Here you go

1 year ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 0

spicy!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Bonus

1 year ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 0

Nile! I'll recognise his voice in every little bit of video

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

v

1 year ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

I still have to take my shoes off at the airport and all someone has to do is stab their phone on an airplane and nobody's gonna be able to have a phone on a plane!

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

See? There's nothing in there! I _knew_ electricity was just a big scam!

1 year ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 1

Yeah, it's just some lthin paper.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

And I get charged every month by them. I tried to argue with Big Electron, telling them that I did not get any electrons, that they all flew back. But no, they would still bill me.

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

He is doing this without gloves so his skin can really soak up the chemicals.

1 year ago | Likes 437 Dislikes 2

Look, skin is just nature's glove! Don't believe me? Google "degloving"!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I was told lithium is good for our mental health.

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Not sure about Lithium Ion but LiPo cells contain a caustic solution which turns your skin to soap which is nice.

1 year ago | Likes 25 Dislikes 1

Bleach does that...

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Anything alkaline will do that to a greater or lesser extent, and not all LiPo batteries use anything nasty as the electrolyte.
The lithium is always a concern though. In addition to being flammable, it can mess you up.

1 year ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Just catching a little cancer, Stan.

1 year ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 1

BUFFALO SOLDJAH! IN THE HEART OF AMERICA!

1 year ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

1 year ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

I know lithium car batteries contain hydrofluoric acid that can cause a chain reaction in your bones that turns em to sludge. Just picks up some calcium throws it away then picks up another calcium. Yum

1 year ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

Fluorine, the cuddliest chemical on the periodic table.

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

that's like describing fusion as slightly warm...

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Could be worse, could be a few fluorine’s hanging out with a chlorine buddy. ClF3 is hypergolic with pretty much everything, including rocket engineers!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

John Clark's description of that one is a classic, including the recommendation for a good pair of running shoes.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A terrifying thing, HF kills you rather quickly (ie. hours) by arresting the calcium ion release waves of your heart, so you die from an arrhythmia as it eats your bones. Like, it is a fairly eldritch thing. Low concentrations will "burn" you, but not show effect until like a day later, higher concentrations "burn" very quickly and straight up stop your heart in hours. Chemically, super interesting, medically, horrific.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My local dump/recycling center has a special stall near the entrance. Giant sign, "Electronics & Rechargeable Battery Disposal". Stopped by before I moved to drop off a few dead tablets and other electronics. Free, super easy, and ease of mind knowing any lithium batteries aren't getting mixed with the regular trash. I recommend looking to see if anything in your area has the same.

1 year ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

How in TF does that make electricity and who TF figured it out? Tell me. TELL ME!

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Luigi Galvani, Alessandro Volta, 1780-1790 - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_cell. If you want a deeper explanation, be prepared for a dive into electrochemistry shortly before sinking into the abyss of quantum chemistry and drowning in atomic physics.

1 year ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

My name is not Sheldon...lol

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Don't ask if you don't wnana know

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I drilled into a lithium battery once. The resulting jet of flame and destruction was beyond impressive.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Yep. By carefully unwrapping the pouch, he (I think a woman would have worn gloves) surreptitously avoided shorting the two electrodes (which you managed to do with drilling) and thereby also avoided triggering the thermal runaway.

1 year ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 4

What does gender have to do with it?

1 year ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Wearing gloves when handling chemicals? Guess I couldn't avoid a jab at the "This is why women live longer than men" meme.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 4

I'm a man and like to use nitrile gloves with pretty much any chemicals.

1 year ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0