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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2025 09:03pm
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A week or two ago I smelled an electric type burning scent in my shop, but couldn't locate it. Then last week I am away at my cabin and my wife accidentally brings up an old 40V lithium battery instead of the one I needed.
Turns out it was a good thing she did because the same electric scent I smell in her car. I check the battery and it is clearly the smell.
I put it in my firepit until I can figure out what to do with it, any advice on how to get rid of this battery?
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2025 09:51pm
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Home Depot recycles lithium batteries of all types as long as they don't weigh over 11 or 12 lbs or are over 300 watt-hours.
My county also has a recycle division at the landfill. They charge for some things. Maybe check with your county.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jul 2025 11:07pm
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I'll take a guess that it is not an LFP but another Lith chemistry
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2025 07:16am
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The battery is more likely to be Lithium Poly or LiIon NMC/NA chemistry if it's for a powertools like a DeWalt or similar. *LiPoly cells are Pouch Format unlike the others which are cylindrical like AA's.
Two possibilities, the battery itself will have a small PCB in it, essentially it's BMS board, these can fail and may make that "burnt electronics" smell but will not smell like Bakelite, which is still in wide use albeit few know that now. It's had a resurgence in the past few years.
The cells can leak and emit a smell which is best described as pungent (citrus like) and sour (bitter) and if you sniff it too long you an sort of taste it... ick. THAT IS DANGEROUS and toxic as well...
I don't know where you are because every country has it's own "disposal & processing" mechanisms and quite often various stores (larger ones) will take batteries back for disposal. I'd suggest contacting the store you purchased it from as start, failing that if you contact your town/village/city waste management dept. (check their website) they may have a depot or something setup.
* More & more communities are extending Battery Recovery from just Car Batteries to include all forms of batteries including the Lithium Variants and even the old Alkaline as well.
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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2025 08:56am
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Thanks for the advice, I am in rural Pennsylvania so my county isn't the best at recycling. They have a "recycling" event once a year which has just passed by unfortunately. I can certainly reach out and see if they have any options I'm not aware of.
I bought the battery from Home Depot I believe, it was for a weedwhacker/hedge trimmer/blower setup. I think it is regular lithium not LFP but I'm not that savvy in regards to battery chemistry. I will check with HD to see if they will take it.
Do you think it is potentially dangerous right now? My wife is afraid of it catching fire or something but I don't know if that is a legitimate concern or not.
Appreciate all the advice.
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2025 04:21pm
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Tool batteries are not LFP Chemistry, they were always NCM then NCA or LiPoly (lower density) because he they charge, hold it and ability to fump at a higher C-Rate when the tool demands it.
Home Despot should have the ability to take it and properly dispose of it. Up here (Canada) they take the Batteries if dead, defective or damaged. * This is by law and required, almost all companies who sell such batts here need to have a service for that, including even Ikea !
I would stay on the Safe Side of the equation as I personally cannot see/examine the tool batt so cannot render an "opinion" on it's safety status, so assume it is dangerous and potentially volatile. Do NOT allow it to get warm/hot in sunshine, do NOT allow it to get wet and for god's sake, do not smash it abuse it ! That WON'T end well.
TIP: Soem of these tools batteries (DeWalt for example) have casing that can be opened and are only held together with 4 screws. You need what's referred to as a "Security Screw Bit".
See this image, it will be one of the Two from the Left Side.
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jsahara24
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jul 2025 08:27am
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Understood and appreciate it....
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