PSA: Keep An Eye On Your Older Laptops For Swelling Batteries – Forbes
4 min readLithium Ion batteries brought greatly increased battery life to laptops, but that did come at a cost: the risk of battery fire. As noted by Consumer Reports, a lithium ion laptop battery membrane that is compromised has the potential to trigger a runaway thermal reaction that could reach temperatures of over 1,000° F in a matter of seconds, leading to a fire or even an explosion. It’s not just the heat and flames that are a danger.......
Lithium Ion batteries launched signalificantly elevated battery life to Laptop Pc systems, however that did come at A worth: The hazard of battery hearth. As famous by Shopper Reviews, a lithium ion Laptop Pc battery membrane That is compromised has the potential to set off a runamethod thermal response That would attain tempperiodtures of over 1,000° F in a matter of seconds, Ensuing in A hearth And even an explosion. It’s not simply The warmth and flames That are a hazard, poisonous fumes are advertditionally in play. The possibilities of this extreme event occurring are comparatively unusual, however they’re not Unprecedented. You don’t Want to look That strong on-line To discover accounts of Laptop Pc hearths.
I’m writing about his as a Outcome of I simply eliminated the battery in my spouse’s seven yr-previous, 11-inch MacBook Air. This spare Laptop Pc was conscripted again into lively use when she started working from house Initially of the pandemic. Laptops have been Briefly current and related to An monumental, 4K current (although previous It might nonethemuch less output 4K), it acquired the job carried out. It doesn’t harm that I On A daily basis max out the specs As quickly as I order A mannequin new Laptop Pc, so this one hadvert a Core i7 processor and The utmost RAM out there.
Excuse the mud (That is an previous Laptop Pc that has seen heavy use), and its Lithium Ion battery pack is … [+] quickly sproperlying.
Bradvert Moon
After shifting to hybrid work, changing the MBA appeared like much less of an pressing precedence. In any case, it was nonethemuch less getting the job carried out and solely hadvert To be used one or two days Every week. Neverthemuch less, I noticed Finally that the lid was open a half inch or so. It was like that subsequent time I noticed it. I finally investigated and it turned out that the lid Could not bodily shut. The keyboard and palm relaxation case have been sproperlying and warped. This Is usually A pretty strong aluminum Laptop Pc, so it was A very dangerous signal that one factor was placing that a lot strain on it.
The membrane is The one factor containing the chemical response That is inflicting this battery pack to … [+] sproperly.
Bradvert Moon
I immediately launched the MBA to my workbench and agained up The information. From there, I eliminated the case screws. The strain from inside was so intense that the final two screws popped out and flew into the air after A pair of turns. It was shortly apparent what The disadvertvantage was: the Laptop Pc’s Lithium Ion battery was dangerously swollen. It Ought to be flat, however Appeared like a puffy coat. I very rigorously eliminated it and till I’ve the time to take it to our native environmental depot For right disposal, It is sitting outdoors, properly amethod from The house and contained in a metallic bucket.
I didn’t hassle changing the battery. This Laptop Pc nonethemuch less boots and runs with Only An affect advertapter if I ever needed it. Neverthemuch less, I did take The prospect To change my spouse’s work-from-house setup to A mannequin new M1 Mac mini — which has been unbelievable, by The biggest method.
This Is usually truly the second MacBook Air I’ve owned that has suffered from a sproperlying Lithium Ion battery. The primary was an early period 13-inch MBA. I submited about Which have in 2015, collectively with The tactic To discover a alternative battery, and The tactic To tradverte the Laptop Pc’s unique battery. That particular MacBook Air with its third celebration battery Continues to be useful right now, although it’s pretty ineffective as somefactor however An internet browser.
This MacBook Air’s Lithium Ion battery pack is clearly growing with unimaginable strain.
Bradvert Moon
The underside line on this submit is that Everytime You’ve a Laptop Pc That is Greater than three or 4 yrs previous, You’d like to be primarytaining An eye fixed out for any indicators of a sproperlying battery. Particularly Everytime You’ve retired fashions That are stuffed in a shutt or drawer in case You think that about a use for them Finally. Alalthough unusual, Lithium Ion battery sproperlying does happen, and MacBooks don’t get a free move. I Could Even be a statistical outlier, however I’ve hadvert two Of 4 MacBook Airs I’ve owned sproperly up Because of a defective battery pack… Sproperlying is dangerous enough. It can bodily damage a Laptop Pc if left unchecked, and perioddverticating Want to be carried out very rigorously.
Neverthemuch less, if a sproperlying Lithium Ion Laptop Pc battery ruptures, The outcomes Shall be A complete lot worse.
Right here’s a primer from the Nationwide Fire Safety Affiliation (NFPA) that has Ideas about Lithium Ion battery safety, collectively with not charging a Laptop Pc In your mattress or couch.
