We are trying to reduce your RISK to make sure you don’t get hurt.
How do we do that? We tell you what we know about what ‘upsets’ a Lithium-ion Battery.
What YOU do with the ‘appliance’ – phone or scooter or laptop or vape – is very much part of the story.
Here’s my own true (happily, not very exciting story). The fan in my 3 year old laptop, was unreliable and the machine regularly got very hot – almost too hot to touch! – there was a fair chance that the battery was being ‘cooked’, although I didn’t know about these things then.
I went to a repair shop to get the external monitor connection fixed, I think, and the technician told me, very sternly, that I was very lucky my battery had not exploded….! My trackpad was already pushed up 5mm+ (nearly 1/4 inch) out of the keyboard, but I didn’t think it mattered that much.
Duh!
What YOU do with the ‘appliance’ – phone or scooter or laptop or vape – is very much part of the story.
Here’s my own true (happily, not very exciting story). The fan in my 3 year old laptop, was unreliable and the machine regularly got very hot – almost too hot to touch! – there was a fair chance that the battery was being ‘cooked’, although I didn’t know about these things then.
I went to a repair shop to get the external monitor connection fixed, I think, and the technician told me, very sternly, that I was very lucky my battery had not exploded….! My trackpad was already pushed up 5mm+ (nearly 1/4 inch) out of the keyboard, but I didn’t think it mattered that much.
Duh!
But I listened to him and immediately bought a new battery on-line and changed it myself. The old battery was more than three times the thickness of the new one…
Something like this – well – exactly like this!
Something like this – well – exactly like this!
The technician suggested that I was close to having a major disaster. A disaster that could have badly injured me and burnt the house.
Now I know……. and so do you!
Now I know……. and so do you!
It can happen. It does happen.
……. actually it doesn’t happen very often, but if it happens to you, it will be once too often ‒ that’s for sure!
I’m not suggesting we need to know the details of all the stuff that goes on inside a battery when it inflates, and anyway, I’m not the one to tell you! It is a complicated Chemical, Electrical and Engineering process, but simply, it is about the gradual degrade of the battery as it is charged and discharged, and sometimes mistreated.
But if you do want to know the science behind it – go to “Lithium ion battery degradation: what you need to know” by J. Edge et al.
For our purposes, to greatly simplify the subject, the story is about – the AGE of the battery, – its history of Charging cycles – any OVER-charging events – OVERHEATING the battery, and surprisingly…. – … using the battery if it is too cold!
All those things, and more, have the effect of causing the complicated chemical ‘goop’ inside the battery (the Electrolyte) to breakdown and start releasing gases inside the battery pouches, which blow up like air cushions.. For a very detailed and professional understanding of Battery Swelling go to – https://breathebatteries by Breathe Batteries. It too is very interesting!
But Hey! ….. WHAT ABOUT US – the users? Is it a problem, and what should we do about it?
Yes it’s a problem and depending on the cause and amount of swelling, it may get much worse, or it may just sit there, fat and happy!
If the battery is swelling there is a good chance that your laptop or cellphone will soon be distorted. Basically, you don’t really want this, do you?
I’m not suggesting we need to know the details of all the stuff that goes on inside a battery when it inflates, and anyway, I’m not the one to tell you! It is a complicated Chemical, Electrical and Engineering process, but simply, it is about the gradual degrade of the battery as it is charged and discharged, and sometimes mistreated.
But if you do want to know the science behind it – go to “Lithium ion battery degradation: what you need to know” by J. Edge et al.
For our purposes, to greatly simplify the subject, the story is about – the AGE of the battery, – its history of Charging cycles – any OVER-charging events – OVERHEATING the battery, and surprisingly…. – … using the battery if it is too cold!
All those things, and more, have the effect of causing the complicated chemical ‘goop’ inside the battery (the Electrolyte) to breakdown and start releasing gases inside the battery pouches, which blow up like air cushions.. For a very detailed and professional understanding of Battery Swelling go to – https://breathebatteries by Breathe Batteries. It too is very interesting!
But Hey! ….. WHAT ABOUT US – the users? Is it a problem, and what should we do about it?
Yes it’s a problem and depending on the cause and amount of swelling, it may get much worse, or it may just sit there, fat and happy!
If the battery is swelling there is a good chance that your laptop or cellphone will soon be distorted. Basically, you don’t really want this, do you?
Could we have done something differently to stop it happening?
Maybe yes, but do it before it’s too late.
Generally we can know that the battery was, or is being overheated, so we would think about it next time, but we would not easily know if the problem was over-charging.
To keep your ‘gear’ cool, do not keep it in direct sunlight, like – not on the dash of a car – not on a seat in the sun – not in a closed car that is in strong sunlight…. A cell phone sitting flat on a leather or soft PVC chair may get very hot, without any extra heating, especially if being charged.
Putting a Laptop on a blanket or carpet will stop all air circulating, and can completely block the fans. You’ll probably burn out the fans first and then the batteries will follow!
Generally we can know that the battery was, or is being overheated, so we would think about it next time, but we would not easily know if the problem was over-charging.
To keep your ‘gear’ cool, do not keep it in direct sunlight, like – not on the dash of a car – not on a seat in the sun – not in a closed car that is in strong sunlight…. A cell phone sitting flat on a leather or soft PVC chair may get very hot, without any extra heating, especially if being charged.
Putting a Laptop on a blanket or carpet will stop all air circulating, and can completely block the fans. You’ll probably burn out the fans first and then the batteries will follow!
Finally – the absolute worst thing, NOT, to do, would be using your laptop in bed and falling asleep with it still on and charging.
There again, charging your phone under your pillow at night is, frankly….. suicidal!
There again, charging your phone under your pillow at night is, frankly….. suicidal!
If you survive a fire, the microwave emissions from the phone all night, every night, really will fry your brain! Please don’t do it – REALLY – DON’T!
(Anyway, this blog is not about that!… BUT … if you want to – KNOW HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF with your phone, go to –
– this astonishing and brilliant talk by Dr Devra Davis will change your life – for the better – I promise).
(Anyway, this blog is not about that!… BUT … if you want to – KNOW HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF with your phone, go to –
– this astonishing and brilliant talk by Dr Devra Davis will change your life – for the better – I promise).
Many small Lithium-ion battery fires have been captured on film – check out YouTube for
Cellphones in back pockets of pants,
Vapes in front pocket of pants,
an e-cigarette in hand,
a Laptop in a back pack – all catching fire.
Vapes in front pocket of pants,
an e-cigarette in hand,
a Laptop in a back pack – all catching fire.
If they are overheated, and especially if there is a defect, there can be a fire.
They are not common…. but they ARE scary!
The US Underwriters Laboratory (UL) estimate that just
ONE lithium-ion battery in ONE MILLION batteries …
may actually catch fire. Seems like not a problem, until you think that there are at least …
200 MILLION vapes and maybe 300 MILLION e-Scooters and e-Bikes ..
…in the world, and you may be holding the one that is going to explode today.
Just remember what the HAZARDS are….. and think “What if?”…..
… and try to reduce the RISK, for yourself – and the Teddy Bear.
We will talk about all this further, particularly about e-scooters, and charging, in the next few posts. There are many simple things you can do to keep everyone safer, and still enjoy the benefits of your quick and quiet transportation.
Remember – only YOU can Manage the Risk
Check out our earlier Blog Post 15th July – “Badly designed and badly made Li-ion Batteries”, and maybe you will understand some of the ways to protect yourself – and others….
in Association with 
