Earlier today I was in a store and heard a loud explosion from the other end of the building. At first I thought it was a firework being detonated until I saw the remains of a vaporizer battery pack in a man’s very injured hand. While the young man was inhaling from the top of the device it exploded.
Batteries are in just about everything including cell phones, laptops, power tools and other portable electronics. Portable electronic technology wouldn’t be the same without some type of rechargeable battery. Unfortunately many of the devices in which batteries are used don’t come with the necessary protective circuitry to make them safe.
About ten years ago laptop and battery manufacturers recalled batteries by the hoards for exploding and causing fires. At that point the batteries didn’t have proper overcharging circuitry so the cells would keep charging and eventually heat until their flashpoint was reached. Sometimes the batteries would be charging and other times they would simply catch fire while discharging.
Cheap electronic items like vaporizers, inexpensive tablets and toys don’t have the proper electronics to prevent overcharging. Furthermore, many times the batteries are undersized for the device they’ve been installed into. Overcharging and rapidly discharging batteries causes them to get extremely hot.
A very common problem we run into at the store is people using the wrong or cheap charger. USB voltage output is 5V so everyone assumes their generic charger is sending 5V to the device. Many times the plug-in USB adapters output as much as 19V which poses obvious problems. We always suggest the original charger that came with the device or a good quality replacement.
Batteries should not be mixed in with trash and need to be disposed of properly. Not only do modern rechargeable batteries contain hazardous materials, but they could pose a fire hazard if damaged. Simply penetrating the battery casing may be enough for them to burst into flames. I’ve personally had this happen when changing batteries.
For those looking for a technical explanation, impurities and poor manufacturing techniques are the real cause of battery fires. Batteries are made up of different materials and small amounts of metal introduced into the lithium portion create the possibility of rapid discharge and fire. Each cell is separated by a layer of insulating material, which if not applied correctly, can cause the cells to short also causing rapid discharge.
Unfortunately there is very little warning when a battery decides to explode or catch fire. From personal experience I can tell you they incinerate almost immediately after being stressed. Occasionally batteries will make a hissing noise just prior to exploding, but most of the time there is no warning. Batteries that bulge should be removed immediately to avoid a dangerous situation.
If a battery does catch fire, the device should be moved to a safe location away from flammable materials. Fire extinguishers, water or baking soda will aid in putting out a battery fire. I found water to be good because it’s readily available and cools the device at the same time.
There is no need to stop using less expensive electronics because of this issue, simply be cognizant of the possibility of fire. No matter the device, it’s a good idea to pay attention to heat from the battery when the device is charging or discharging. Never try and remove a built-in battery without a proper face mask and gloves as batteries will explode from too much mechanical fatigue.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can read past articles at www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)