[SOC] Cell Phone Fire

[Mike Besemer (WM4B)]

LiON cells are known to do this on occasion.  They burn with a heat similar
to that of white phosphorous.  If you check some of the model aircraft
publications, you can find reference to this.  We've got a gentleman in our
club who teaches college physics and flies model aircraft and he gave us a
good presentation on the dangers of LiON cells, to include examples
including having a cell burn through a flyers kitchen counter, pots & pans,
and floor before burning itself out in the dirt below.  Another fellow lost
his pick-up truck when one of his devices went into thermal runaway while
sitting on the seat.

Bottom line is to buy batteries made specifically for that particular
application.  Aftermarket chargers and batteries are suspect.  If your cells
feel unusually hot or are bulging, be very wary.

-- de WM4B
Mike
Kathleen, GA

-----Original Message-----
From: soc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:soc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of ng3o at earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 5:50 PM
To: soc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [SOC] Cell Phone Fire

According to the press, a Vallejo CA man was badly burned when the cell
phone in his pants pocket burst into flame. Is this possible? It seems
extremely unlkely to me. If a cell phone could catch fire, could an iPod or
a hearing aid? Has anyone ever heard of a two-meter handi-talkie suddenly
going up in flames?

Bill NG3O
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