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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo You Have a Carry-On Bag That Charges Your Devices?
Sorry. Too bad. Airlines have started banning those on their flights, even as checked luggage. The issue is the lithium ion batteries in them. They're a fire hazard, apparently.
I saw something about that recently. When my wife was packing for a trip yesterday, I realized that her new under-the-seat bag had USB ports on it. She just bought it, especially for this trip. She was not amused when I told her she couldn't use it. I saw the USB ports and realized that it was one of those cool smart bags.
Not so smart, I guess. Her airline doesn't allow them on the plane any longer. So, she had to pack her junks in a different bag. That nice new one isn't going to work out.
Just a caution to all you travelers out there.
LexVegas
(6,005 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Actually, though, it does make sense. Those bags have relatively large lithium ion batteries in them. They're not removable, either. You can't even see them. You charge them up at home, using a USB charging cord, and then you can charge your devices on the road. It's the size of the batteries, and where they are. They could be punctured in the bag, or shorted out by something, and that could start a fire. Nobody wants that. The batteries in your cell phone or laptop are in a hard case, so they're less likely to become a fire hazard.
Makes perfect sense to me. I don't want someone's carry-on starting a fire on a plane I'm on.
mn9driver
(4,412 posts)They can handle up to a large laptop. Smart bags wont fit.
Regarding lithium batteries in checked bags, the cargo fire suppression systems arent very effective against that kind of fire. A battery fire in the cargo bin could cause the loss of the aircraft.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)It's going to upset a lot of people who bought one of those bags, though. My wife included. We'll check on returning it to the seller.
I don't want fire hazards on planes. Nope. It's a good ban.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)A phone, a tablet, my fitbit and maybe a portable charging block.
I'm not sure these things are any worse than laptop or phone batteries.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)that's the problem. It's banned now. Your portable charging unit, though, may get banned soon. They won't ban devices that use those batteries, though. But they might ban such chargers before long.
The luggage, though? It's history. If it has USB ports on it, they're going to not allow it. That includes expensive briefcases that can charge your phone, along with all those cool carry-on pieces.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Airports never have enough outlets or charging points and airplanes often do not have usb ports or outlets near the seats. In a really long flight, your phone or tablet would be drained, especially if you want to watch video.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)But, they're not going to cut it for air travel any more. Airlines don't want fires on their planes. Passengers don't either. Everyone will just have to get used to it, I suppose.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)People fly with all sorts of devices, often with multiple ones. They use them in flight, too. It's an issue for most travelers these days.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)We're going to China this summer and will be looking for charging stations at every airport we land in.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)Now it's basically bring your own, even on cross country flights (domestic). For someone who can't sleep on planes, watching movies on my tablet is necessary entertainment.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)half the seat gone, the windows darkened with soot, awful smell. My Versa was totaled.. I just got the check from my insurance company.
the battery was in a Garmin which I had but I had it unattached and threw it in the back seat. It must have exploded in the night and thank god no one was in it at the time...
Now I have to go out and buy another car...
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)The problem often is that the terminals on those lithium ion batteries are bare, exposed and level with a surface. If you take the battery out of a device and toss it somewhere, it's easy enough for something to short circuit across those bare terminals. If that happens, the battery overheats and catches fire. There is no current limiting device in the battery, so the amperage can go through the roof.
Sorry about your Versa. Cute car. I hope the insurance payoff lets you replace it OK.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)My daughter thinks we shouldn't have two cars and has advised me not to buy one and just rely on one car (my husband's) but hubby doesn't like the idea of not having two cars. When you think of the expense of both cars for a retired couple in our late 70s her argument does make sense.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)We have two now, though. But, we're going to give the 2007 PT Cruiser she inherited from her late mother to a nephew as soon as we trade in our 2013 Kia Soul (soon) and get a nice new one. We can get along just fine with one car. If that car is out of service, we'll just rent one until it's fixed. That would be much cheaper than maintaining two cars.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)don't really travel anywhere outside of our general neighborhood.
We have a one car garage as well.
It's getting to where we might be forced to sell our house and go into assisted living...I have explored that option...
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)We both work at home. I'm 72, but my wife is only 62. Still, working at home means no commute, so two cars aren't really essential. After her mom died, we ended up with her car. I won't be sorry to see it go to her nephew, frankly.
The KIA will be paid off in June, and we're taking it to the dealer and getting a brand new one right away. Ours is out of its full-coverage warranty.
We also have a one-car garage, so that will work out perfectly, especially during snow season.
apnu
(8,722 posts)Its easier and cheaper than buying an over-engineered and expensive bag.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)They're getting really hinky about lithium ion batteries. Those charging units may be the next item to be banned. In fact, TSA is not allowing loose LI batteries that are not inside devices any longer. Your charging battery might get taken. I don't know exactly how they're handling those right now, but I suspect they'll ban them soon, as well.
apnu
(8,722 posts)That's why when I fly, which is rare and I avoid it if I can, I check the current rules a week before departure so I know what I can and cannot bring. Especially when traveling with carry-on suitcases, the toiletry restrictions alone, make for a bad day, and seem to be a constant moving target.
The battery I have is about the size of a iPhone Plus.
Flying sucks. The security is a pain, but tolerable, that's not why I hate flying. Its the companies and the passengers. The companies treat their product as low-rate commodity transport, and the fellow passengers conduct themselves accordingly. Essentially everybody is nasty to one another, which makes the process miserable. Even when one tries to be kind to fellow airline representatives and fellow passengers, they still treat the whole process as cheap and beneath their notice.
At least here in the states that is usually my experience. When I flew to Europe on an American airline, that was what it was like. When I flew home, on British Airways, it was totally different. Everybody was nice and polite on the flight. Its amazing what a small change in attitude and a modicum of respect can do.
nolabear
(41,915 posts)Mr. Bear travels a lot on business and its a good idea. Guess Ill stick to the little lipstick chargers.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I suspect that they'll be the next things to go. I don't use them. I do plug in at the airport to top up my batteries, and take a charger with me to plug in where I'm staying. I don't use my devices on the plane to watch movies and stuff, but I do read on my Kindle. It's not a big battery user, though. Fortunately, both my phone and Kindle can use the same USB charging cord, so that's all I need. If I forget the cord, I can pretty much buy one anywhere.
Watch for more restrictions on lithium ion batteries to come. Those portable chargers may be the next thing that gets banned.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)SInce the airlines are taking away the TV screens on the back of the seats, they leave me no other choice. (I can read for a small amount of time, but longer gives me headaches).
My phone/tablet/battery packs use the same charging cord (for now. I'm upgrading my phone soon and it will be USB-C instead of micro USB).
Not only do I use those portable chargers at airports, they're also essential when I get to my destination.
Sailor65x1
(554 posts)Regulations require that they be less than 100 Watt-Hours in capacity, and be "Protected from damage and short-circuit."
For a portable charging battery, 100 Watt-Hours equates to a 20,000 mah battery (This will be the value the battery is marketed with).
USB charging batteries are considered safe from short circuit in all circumstances except immersion.
This allowance is limited to carry-on luggage only.
You can carry a larger one, but only with prior approval.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,272 posts)I think cell phones and laptops are enough of a risk. They are generally built to some standards of quality.
No need to add another layer of risk with god knows what quality junk sold online.
My neighbor's dad bought her and my partner and I a portable LI car battery jumper as a stocking stuffer gift a few years ago. It doubled as a phone/laptop charger. Pretty neat gadget I thought. Came in handy once to jump my car without having to find a friend with a car.
Hers eventually blew up in her kitchen whille charging. Luckily didn't do much damage. Mine went right to recycling. I have jumper cables anyway.
I've gotten to the point where I try to charge devices only on the granite in the kitchen. Away from flammable surfaces whenever possible.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)High charge and discharge rates seem to the the culprit. I really don't like those batteries much. They're in my phone and other small devices, so you can't completely get away from them, but I try to avoid larger LI batteries. I'm too cautious, I suppose, but I don't want anything around that poses a fire risk, really.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)Maybe the inventors of luggage with device chargers should have talked to the airlines first.