Swollen Battery: What to Do - Phone & Laptop Safety
Lithium-Ion Battery Failure: Safety and Handling
A failure within a lithium ion battery can escalate rapidly into a hazardous situation. Discovering a battery that has expanded to double its original dimensions within a device like a smartphone necessitates careful and considered handling.
Understanding Swollen Batteries
Battery swelling is often indicative of internal decomposition. This process can generate gases, causing the battery to inflate. It’s a clear sign the battery is unstable and potentially dangerous.
Safety Precautions
Prioritizing safety is paramount when dealing with a swollen battery. Both personal safety and the safety of those nearby must be considered.
- Avoid Puncturing: Do not attempt to pierce, crush, or disassemble the battery.
- Do Not Charge: Immediately cease any attempts to charge the battery.
- Prevent Heat Exposure: Keep the battery away from sources of heat or direct sunlight.
- Ventilation: Ensure the area is well-ventilated to dissipate any released gases.
Proper Handling and Disposal
Safe disposal is crucial to prevent environmental contamination and further hazards. Improper disposal can lead to fires or the release of harmful chemicals.
Contact your local waste management facility for guidance on lithium ion battery recycling programs. Many retailers also offer battery recycling services.
It is strongly recommended to consult with a qualified technician for assistance with removing the battery from the device, if you are not comfortable doing so yourself.
Potential Hazards
A compromised lithium ion battery can pose several risks. These include:
- Fire: The battery can ignite, causing a fire.
- Explosion: In extreme cases, the battery may explode.
- Release of Toxic Gases: Decomposition can release harmful fumes.
Therefore, prompt and cautious action is essential when a swollen battery is identified.
Understanding Swollen Batteries
The majority of contemporary portable electronic devices – encompassing laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and activity trackers – rely on lithium-ion batteries for power. These batteries are remarkably effective for their size, offering high energy density, minimal self-discharge, and a negligible memory effect. These attributes make them ideal for integration into devices ranging from MacBooks to Kindles.
However, this impressive energy capacity comes with inherent trade-offs. Compared to older battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries exhibit reduced stability. The reactive nature of lithium, coupled with thin separators and a pressurized internal design, contributes to potential issues.
When lithium-ion batteries experience overheating, overcharging, or simply degrade with age, the internal cells can release a flammable electrolyte gas. This gas accumulation is the cause of battery swelling. Batteries are engineered with a safety feature to contain this outgassing, preventing a potentially catastrophic fire.
Subtle swelling may manifest as minor distortions in your device. You might observe a slight bulge on the back of your smartphone, an unusual gap in your Kindle’s frame, or stiffness in your laptop’s trackpad. Recently, while preparing older smartphones for recycling, we discovered a swollen battery that caused a phone’s back cover to detach easily, almost as if spring-loaded.
The swollen battery was compared to a healthy, identical unit for assessment.
Although not dramatically visible, the smartphone battery had clearly deteriorated. The battery’s center had expanded to approximately 150-200% of its original size, rendering the case unable to close securely.
In more severe cases, the battery’s expansion can physically damage the device. A photograph shared by Reddit user iNemzis on /r/TechSupportGore illustrates how a swollen MacBook battery exerted enough force to dislodge the trackpad from the laptop’s frame.
It’s important to note that lithium-ion batteries are generally safe. Multiple safety mechanisms, including overcharge protection and temperature monitoring, are incorporated into their design. Despite the failures shown in the images, neither battery ignited. The built-in safety features functioned as intended, preventing harm.
We will now discuss the safe removal and disposal of swollen batteries, as well as preventative measures to minimize the risk of battery swelling.
Addressing a Swollen Battery: Removal and Disposal
While lithium-ion batteries rarely experience catastrophic failures causing harm, it’s crucial to handle them with caution, recognizing the potential risks they pose.
Cease Device Usage and Charging
Upon discovering a swollen or otherwise compromised battery, discontinue device use immediately. Power down the device and, critically, avoid any attempts to charge it. A swollen battery indicates a failure of its internal safety features.
Attempting to charge a battery in this condition significantly increases the risk of a fire or explosion, potentially releasing hazardous and flammable gases.
Battery Removal Procedures
When removing a swollen battery, prioritize avoiding further damage to its casing. Puncturing the battery can lead to a reaction with atmospheric oxygen and moisture, creating a dangerous situation.
If your device allows for easy user access to the battery compartment, removing it yourself is advisable. This prevents further expansion from damaging the device and protects against sharp edges potentially piercing the battery’s protective layers.
After removal, immediately insulate the battery’s contacts with electrical tape to prevent short circuits. Store the battery in a cool, dry location, away from flammable materials, until it can be safely transported for disposal.
If the device is not user-serviceable, seek assistance from a repair shop, a specialized battery store, or an authorized recycling facility. Professionals possess the necessary tools and expertise to safely open the device and extract the damaged battery.
Even if you cannot remove the battery yourself, store the entire device in a cool, dry place, away from flammable items, to minimize further battery degradation.
Proper Battery Disposal at Recycling Centers
Lithium-ion batteries, regardless of their condition, should never be discarded with regular waste. They pose an environmental hazard and present a fire risk if punctured or short-circuited in a trash can or waste management vehicle.
The potential for causing a fire at home or endangering sanitation workers is too significant to ignore.
Dispose of lithium-ion batteries – new, used, or damaged – exclusively through authorized recycling centers. Utilize resources like Call2Recycle or contact your local hazardous material disposal center to locate nearby facilities.
When handling a swollen battery for disposal, it is highly recommended to contact the recycling center beforehand. Confirm their ability to accept damaged batteries and inquire about their specific handling procedures. Avoid simply placing a swollen battery in a general battery recycling bin at retail locations.
Preventing Battery Swelling
Related: Addressing Common Misconceptions About Battery Performance in Mobile Devices, Tablets, and Computers
Perhaps you've reviewed the previous information and are thinking, "I don't currently have a swollen battery, but I want to prevent that from happening." In this scenario, the focus shifts to maintaining optimal battery health and avoiding premature deterioration.
Fortunately, achieving this is possible by adhering to the same principles used to maximize the lifespan and overall well-being of your lithium-ion batteries.
Maintaining Optimal Battery Temperature
Lithium-ion batteries are particularly sensitive to heat. While complete temperature control isn't always feasible, it's prudent to avoid exposing your devices to excessive heat sources. Avoid leaving laptops in vehicles during hot weather, and refrain from charging phones in direct sunlight.
When devices or spare lithium-ion batteries are not in use, store them in a cool, dry environment.
Investing in a Reliable Charger
Overcharging poses a significant risk to battery health. If the official charger for your laptop is priced at $65, while a generic alternative costs $9, careful consideration is warranted. Quality components and safety certifications come at a cost, and potential savings on a cheaper charger could be offset by damage to your laptop and battery – or even a fire hazard.
Timely Battery Replacement
If you observe a noticeable decline in your battery's capacity to hold a charge, replacement should be considered. A reduction from 5 hours of laptop use to just 30 minutes indicates battery degradation. Replacing the battery restores performance and prevents the use of a potentially failing power source.
Avoiding Continuous Charging
Constant charging isn't beneficial for your battery. It generates extra heat and batteries function best when they are neither excessively hot nor fully charged.
Occasional extended charging during intensive tasks is acceptable, but leaving devices plugged in continuously is not recommended.
By implementing these simple guidelines for battery care and ensuring proper disposal of batteries at the end of their life, you can minimize risks to both yourself and your electronic devices.