The lithium battery problem has hit Australia - fire on Domestic Flight

[frodo]

A power bank is a must-have item for me when travelling.
I don't actually use it on most days but it's good to have a peace of mind and also for the days with heavy phone use.

 

[milehighclub]

What is the correct procedure to extinguish a lithium battery fire?

Most airlines follow a similar procedure which is use a BCF/Halon then submerge the device in water when the flames/smoke/sounds have stopped. If they don't then a minimal amount of water can be used to make it safe to move. The item is then placed into a receptacle with water.

 

[RSD]

Most airlines follow a similar procedure which is use a BCF/Halon then submerge the device in water when the flames/smoke/sounds have stopped. If they don't then a minimal amount of water can be used to make it safe to move. The item is then placed into a receptacle with water.

I would be sceptical about how much good a BCF is going to do considering that the battery is still going to be in thermal runaway so continuing to produce its own heat and oxygen - but I know the perfect person to put the question to so will see what he comes back with.

 

[milehighclub]

I would be sceptical about how much good a BCF is going to do considering that the battery is still going to be in thermal runaway so continuing to produce its own heat and oxygen - but I know the perfect person to put the question to so will see what he comes back with.

The manual says it’s to rid of the flames to make it safer to handle to put in the receptacle but does call out it may be ineffective and water might be required. Then it says water should be minimal again to prevent water ending up where it shouldn’t. Then to submerge. When you watch the video, that’s pretty much what happened so was a text book response from what I saw.

 

[bPeteb]

We were talking about battery banks to a friend on the weekend. She's off to Europe and we were telling her she would most likely need to carry her powerbanks into the cabin. Flying EK I think.

We didn't take one with us to Africa this year or last, or Korea over new year. We both use our phones all day taking photos, using wifi at breakfast, lunch and dinner. bAlt was often tracking us. iPhone 15 pro max and Pixel 9 pro xl, both with eSIMs, so occasional lookups about something if we needed to.

Our usage is our usage. We don't sit there looking at the news, or social media or reading email. Everyone is different of course.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We were talking about battery banks to a friend on the weekend. She's off to Europe and we were telling her she would most likely need to carry her powerbanks into the cabin. Flying EK I think.

We didn't take one with us to Africa this year or last, or Korea over new year. We both use our phones all day taking photos, using wifi at breakfast, lunch and dinner. bAlt was often tracking us. iPhone 15 pro max and Pixel 9 pro xl, both with eSIMs, so occasional lookups about something if we needed to.

Our usage is our usage. We don't sit there looking at the news, or social media or reading email. Everyone is different of course.

I think it’s guaranteed that power banks have to be ‘in cabin’ and not luggage? The further restrictions are whether or not they can even be in hand luggage… some airline are now requiring them to be either carried on your person, or in a sealed plastic bag and in the seat pocket in front of you.

 

[jb747]

I suspect that we are only a small step away from power banks being banned outright. Their use has already been restricted in many places.

 

[kookaburra75]

I think it’s guaranteed that power banks have to be ‘in cabin’ and not luggage? The further restrictions are whether or not they can even be in hand luggage… some airline are now requiring them to be either carried on your person, or in a sealed plastic bag and in the seat pocket in front of you.

That's our practice, partly as we travel on the Dash 8s out of Canberra and our July cases go in the back and batteries have to be out. I've always been conscious of having them in my backpack, just in case the worst happens. I do find them useful, especially when there are delays and we have our eBooks, tablet and phones needing top ups.

 

[Flyerwin]

I suspect that we are only a small step away from power banks being banned outright.

I hope not - they are invaluable when going on holidays where you are doing a lot of filming on your phone - I usually run out by mid-afternoon and have to put the phone on a portable magnetic power bank, which works well.

I've always been conscious of having them in my backpack

Yes, I carry mine in my backpack.

The fallback if power banks are completely banned is that you can use your laptop or even your iPad as a portable battery source for your phone. But they are not something you can carry around easily lol.

 

[jb747]

I would be sceptical about how much good a BCF is going to do considering that the battery is still going to be in thermal runaway so continuing to produce its own heat and oxygen - but I know the perfect person to put the question to so will see what he comes back with.

Very little, but it will knock the fire down on any surrounding material, and may make getting access to the battery easier. The crews are well aware that water is the only real option, but you won’t have a bucket of it available…..

 

[SYD]

But what if you want to use the phone for what it can do? My new-ish iPhone def needs a top-up during walking-touring around, browsing on bus etc.

OT, but “Low Power” mode is the travellers friend. Set before leaving the Hotel in the morning and can last a good few hours longer. It will turn itself off once sufficiently recharged in the evening.