Airline Safe?

[Tim M]

I recently purchased two batteries for my Slash...a 2S 5000 Mah and 3S 5000 Mah LIPO.

I'm traveling on a commercial airline and taking my truck and hopefully the batteries with me on board.

Due to the safety issues on aircraft (laptop fires, etc)...FAA put out specific guidance. Only two spare batteries of LIPO nature.

They list the max weight as 25 grams of LIPO material.

An extended use battery for a laptop is acceptable (the one I'm typing on is Lithium Ion with nearly 9000 Mah rating).

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/..._batteries.pdf

So my question is: are these batteries safe for airline travel? How do I describe the size as being less than 25 grams of LIPO material...when obviously they weigh in their entirety nearly 400 grams?

Thanks

Tim

[Tim M]

Ok...I think I found my answer.

FAA allows up to 8 grams of lithium content...equals about 100 watt-hours. If you fall under this you can bring as many 'spare' batteries in checked or carry on luggage.

Equation: Mah/1000*voltage equals the watt-hours

So for the 3S: 5000/1000*11.1 equals 55.5 watt-hours...almost half the limit. The 2S is even less of course.

Couple of links:

http://safetravel.dot.gov/definitions.html

and

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/..._batteries.pdf

We will see tomorrow if this is success!

Tim

[Tim M]

Trip complete.

First leg the inspector wanted to take a look, but no issues once presented with the above paperwork.

Second leg was a non issue.

I now have LIPO power!