Hobby RC flying is fun! If you haven't watched them doing it, go on a weekend to one of the parks near you where hobbyists gather and just watch... only be prep

Hobby RC flying is fun! If you haven't watched them doing it, go on a weekend to one of the parks near you where hobbyists gather and just watch... only be prepared to get hooked. Back on topic: lithium-chemistry cells are known for their potential to explode for good reason. It doesn't have to happen very often before the bad press really kicks into gear. This is unfortunate, as lithium is really a pretty good foundation for green energy initiatives like electric cars. If the bad press really gets bad enough even cell phone and laptop batteries could become significantly more bulky and less powerful, just "for safety." Lithium cells can explode when overcharged – a tightly controlled charger is a must. (This is most likely what happened on the 787, though no official sources are out yet.) Lithium cells can also catch fire if the cell voltage drops too low. Cell voltage is a measurement of the amount of energy stored in the cell. The wikipedia page is a good place to start, but the practical effect of this is that the cell _must_ have a good regulator at all times! The same regulator circuit can do charging and discharging; that's how cell phones and laptops work. Hobbyists commonly use a ground-based charger/discharger for when the cells are not in use and a very small circuit on the vehicle. The voltage on a lithium cell drops much faster as the cell approaches empty, so the protection against too deep of a discharge must be sensitive and react quickly.