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They changed the rule.
I ran NHRA, IHRA points series and they didn't say jack.

As posted, mine is on the floor passenger side.

Look in the book, it says something about battery types now being allowed in cockpit/cabin.


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Is this in a new version of the book? I have an older version and took the guy's word for it, but I will get a new book if it is in there in writing somewhere

 

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This is my 3rd year with lithium battery on the floor.
6 different tracks, zero issues.

IIRC, it's in the book. No more venting, just mount securely and go racing.


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Thanks. I will have to get a new book and find it in there. Nice setup that you have. Looking to do something similar with my prolite. Should save a bunch of weight with shorter battery cables, etc.

 

Do you or anyone else have a copy or section number where it says that you can? I've just gone through the 2021 rule book online and it didnt really state that a battery in the drivers compartment was allowed under the general regulations. Or is it in a newer version than that one?

 

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I bought them in 2019 I believe.
Like I said, it said something about non venting batteries can be mounted in cockpit or cabin??

There has been multiple threads on this, because a bunch of us wanted to make sure before we spent $1000+ on these things.
Maybe one of the threads has a page number??
Maybe look under Pro-Mod instead of general.

It was definitely in the book or the updates??
I'm old, can't remember all these damn rule changes.


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Out of 2023 rule book, general regs. Top sportsman rule references the below.

8:1 BATTERIES
All batteries must be securely mounted; must be of sufficient capacity to start vehicle at any time. Batteries may not be relocated into the driver or passenger compartments. Rear firewall of .024-inch steel or .032-inch aluminum (including package tray) required when battery is relocated in trunk. In
lieu of rear firewall, battery may be located in a sealed .024- inch steel, .032-inch aluminum, or NHRA-accepted poly box.
If sealed box is used in lieu of rear firewall, box may not be
used to secure battery and must be vented outside of body. Relocated battery(s) must be fastened to frame or frame structure with a minimum of two 3/8-inch-diameter bolts. OEM located batteries without complete OEM hold-down hardware must be secured to OEM battery box/tray using the same 3/8-inch-diameter bolt hold-down method described in previous sentence. (“J” hooks prohibited or must have open end welded shut.) Metal battery hold-down straps mandatory. Strapping tape prohibited. A maximum of two automobile batteries, or 150 pounds combined maximum weight (unless otherwise specified in Class Requirements), is permitted. Maximums may vary according to Class Requirements.

 

Pro mod rule on batteries:

BATTERIES
Maximum total weight wet, fully charged, including battery box: 100 pounds. If mounted inside driver compartment, battery must be located in a sealed .024-inch steel or titanium, or .032- inch aluminum box. See General Regulations 8:1.

 

I’d like to better understand the rule and how so many run them inside the car as well. I would also move mine for the weight savings if I felt like it was legal.

 

My buddy has his in the damn dash,

 

Q

 

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I know it was posted, because I moved mine and so did a ton of people.
If there are no fumes, gases, leakage etc etc it is now legal to have lithium batteries in the cockpit in the open.

I sure and hell wouldn't tow all the way to a points race if I didn't see it with my own eyes.
I might be wrong about the exact wording, but damn I thought nhra said since these things do not give off fumes or gases it can be in the cockpit??
Why would 1000's of us build an open holder when we could have just built a sealed one like the old style!!!


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Just my opinion, but you'd be a fool to mount batteries in the cock pit area and they not be in a sealed box.

According to the rules in top sportsman/pro mod they must be in a sealed box no matter what type batteries.

 

I have 25 years experience with lithium batteries in big RC helicopters and airplanes and I wouldn’t have it in the drivers compartment without at least having a heat shield. I definitely wouldn’t put it in a sealed compartment. I have seen them turn a sealed ammo box into a bomb. When storing mine I put it in a vented metal box. I’ll show a picture below.

When they go up they burn extremely hot so you don’t need a flame touching you to get burned very badly. Once they get damaged they can easily short and catch on fire. A buddy of mine crashed his Heli and when we left he got out in front of me and after about 5 minutes I start seeing a little smoke from his trunk.

Before I could text him he pulled over and he didn’t even get the trunk open before the car was engulfed and was a total loss in an incredibly short amount of time.

Keep in mind your current fire suppression system isn’t going to do shit for a lithium fire and the smoke is extremely toxic.

I put an ammo can next to it for a size comparison.

 

Thanks Guys. I read the same things as posted above. The promod section sounds like an exemption, but then refers back to the other part that says no. I would be ok with even putting it in a box, but I was told that was not acceptable as well. I'm up in Canada where we always seem to be a bit behind on stuff like this, but I also don't want to go to the track and get turned away for something that I have seen on almost any car built in the last 5 years. I will have to search the threads a little bit more. I just haven't been on here much lately. Time to get to work, I guess

 

This is an example of just because you can doesn't mean you should. Everyone knows these miniature things store a staggering amount of energy. And we also know what happens when things go wrong. Why would you put these anywhere near you?
No Thanks.
RIP

 

Anyone who puts a battery, especially a lithium battery, inside the drivers compartment without being inside a fireproof box, is just playing tricks on himself...."stop playing tricks on yourself !"....

 

Why not just call your NHRA division office, speak to the tech director, and ask to get the specs in writing?

 

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From what I see on the news, if these things explode, the damn box isn't going to do jack!!!
How deep was the hole in the track & streets when these things let loose???

I take them out when towing, and over night in the trailer.

It is what it is, men are stupid!!!


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From what I see on the news, if these things explode, the damn box isn't going to do jack!!!
How deep was the hole in the track & streets when these things let loose???

I take them out when towing, and over night in the trailer.

It is what it is, men are stupid!!!


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Speak for yourself.... It's very fitting.
Mine are in the trunk where they belong, along with my fuel cell.

 

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So as long as I don't crash, there's nothing to worry about!!!

AGAIN, I worry about everything and usually caution on the side of over reaction.
I was planning to store these things in a steel box, and only transport them in the back of the truck.
After all this time, I've stop worrying so much.
I still take them out of the car, just in case, but I have forgot to pull them and noticed it days later with no issues.

Then you hear about a package with a computer phone exploding or the things starting a plane on fire.
Who knows what the hell is going to happen??

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Do you guys have your lithium batteries in your rc cars in a metal box when using them or charging?

 

I don't, but typically have them sitting on concrete or something non flammable. I have had one light off when charging. Would have burned the house down for sure if we didn't catch it when we did.

 

For years NHRA Rulebook General Regulations section 8:1 Batteries has stated that "Batteries may not be relocated into the driver or passenger compartments." Any battery, regardless of type, can be a very dangerous item capable of causing extreme damage and carnage. Sometimes you just have to use common sense and go with what you believe is the safer path. Personally, I would never locate any battery in the driver/passenger compartment, whether in an enclosed box or not . . . . . . . . .

 

Any battery, no matter how securely mounted, can become a projectile in a crash. Why subject yourself to that possibility?

I feel the same about front mounted fuel cells. Look how many cars were lost/burned this season on Street Outlaws from front end crashes even though they had the required safety bars in front of the cell. The fire systems did not protect those cars or would not activate after the crash.

 

I'm confused what the fear is actually. If it's the weight of the battery mine is 6lbs so I'm not worried about it being a projectile. If you have a fear of lithium batteries you need to ditch your cell phones battery tools. Shit my wife's vacuum cleaner.
Somebody posted about fuel cells in the front, some of our cars need so much fuel volume we could never pump it from the back. My car on 10.5 slicks has been 1.00 in the sixty and uses a 21 gallon per minute mechanical pump. Never going to happen from the back.
Do any of you guys use a electric vacuum pump? All use lithium tool batteries and none have any issues.

Have anybody had problems with their battery tools? I'm sure they are in everybody's houses shop charging a battery as we speak.

The rule might be no drivers compartment but I'm also not mounting a 45lb lead battery in there.

 

I'm confused what the fear is actually. If it's the weight of the battery mine is 6lbs so I'm not worried about it being a projectile. If you have a fear of lithium batteries you need to ditch your cell phones battery tools. Shit my wife's vacuum cleaner.
Somebody posted about fuel cells in the front, some of our cars need so much fuel volume we could never pump it from the back. My car on 10.5 slicks has been 1.00 in the sixty and uses a 21 gallon per minute mechanical pump. Never going to happen from the back.
Do any of you guys use a electric vacuum pump? All use lithium tool batteries and none have any issues.

Have anybody had problems with their battery tools? I'm sure they are in everybody's houses shop charging a battery as we speak.

The rule might be no drivers compartment but I'm also not mounting a 45lb lead battery in there.

Like I said earlier I have 25 years experience with these batteries and the truth is they really only go up in flames for two reasons.
1) When they are being charged too fast.
2) When they are damaged in a wreck and short out.

My fear would be getting in a wreck and the battery being damaged gets a short and goes up in flames. Lithium fires are insanely hot (2000+ degrees) so if it goes up in flames you are getting burned and breathing very toxic chemicals no matter what if it's in the drivers compartment. Look at the small battery fire I posted above (post #28) in an area way larger than a drivers compartment and tell me if you would want to be strapped in right next to that.


You can't compare power tools because they aren't getting damaged from a severe impact and the chargers that are used to charge them are not adjustable and charge very slowly (safe).

Look I could care less what anyone else does with their car because it's not going to affect anyone else. I just want to point out how dangerous it is and how horrific it COULD be if the battery is damaged in a wreck when there is no need for it to be.