Dude, yer gettin' a recall

[greatbear]

Dell Corp is recalling 4 million laptop batteries. This is not surprising to me, given the dramatic photos making their way through the 'net of late showing a fire-belching laptop doing it's best to pwn an unsuspecting conference. Kudos to Dell for taking on such a huge undertaking.

People demand more and more processing horsepower out of their portable gadgets, at the same time expecting the batteries to last longer than ever. For the most part, the various industries have done a decent job on both fronts. Thing is, people don't realize the sheer amount of energy that's packing in those relatively small battery packs. As long as everything goes according to plan, the batteries do their job with no fanfare or dramatics. It's when the built-in safety measures, charging and current control circuits or just plain defective cells start bustin' loose that the fireworks happen. Literally.

Now, let's couple this with the travel paranoia du jour of bombs on airplanes and you have the makings of a potential uberdisaster. Should someone's laptop battery erupt in flames in the passenger compartment, it's a relatively easy task to douse the flames with a typical fire extinguisher once the crowd is under control. Having one blow in the cargo hold among the baggage can be much worse. And since the TSA is recommending that people stow their electronics in checked baggage these days, the potential for fire in the hole is there more than ever. My take? No laptops or electronics at all on airplanes if that occurs or is hinted about.

Give me Snakes on a Plane any day.

Comments

[le-lapin.livejournal.com]

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Only the most anticipated movie ever.

[le-lapin.livejournal.com]

[theevilnub.livejournal.com]

I love the icon. ONOZ OMG ONOZ OMG...

8^D

[in-fin-i-ty.livejournal.com]

Though would there be much concern of them bursting while shut down? I honestly haven't been paying attention to this issue but it would seem that there'd be less concern if they're shut off. I mean I know that the juice is still in there but.. with the computer doing less stuff there'd be less to go wrong.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

In most cases of battery failure, the catastrophic bursting happens when the cells are in (usually overly heavy) use, or some sort of physical damage happens to the cells or control circuitry when operating or shut down, and the cells have a good amount of charge left.

Taking my scenario to another analysis, if our unsuspecting laptop was hastily packed into an already overfilled suitcase and checked, there is more than a chance of the laptop (and the batteries) becoming damaged in handling. Even worse, if the laptop were to have the company of non-carry on liquids in either the same or neighboring suitcase and that container leaks due to pressure changes in the cargo hold, the poor laptop can theoretically get drenched, malfunction and set off the batteries. Since virtually all modern laptop batteries are lithium ion cells, anything that might cause the litium to vent from the cells would create a very nasty situation here, as litium burns violently on contact with water.

While everything I have talked about is pure speculation, it's not very far fetched anymore, and could cause some real problems in the future if conditions are right (and especially if intentional).

[fredneckteddy.livejournal.com]

that does not surprise me......I've already had to replace the power pack in my Dell PC after only having the computer for a year......

[fjdbear.livejournal.com]

That aint gonna happen cause the corporate big guys want it both ways. They want cell phones on planes and PCs etc etc etc, yet they want to take our freedoms away under the pretense of security -- and they get what they want with this creepy crew in power.


I heart the Dude You're Getting A Cell guy who got busted in NY with Pot. Cant have that! Unless your name is Rush.

[psuweightlifter.livejournal.com]

if I remember the Li-ion battery correctly, upon recharging, you might create lithium metal which upon contact with air is extremely reactive. Fun stuff!

you used "pwn." you rock!