Hoverboard battery explodes while charging
- Thread starter Gauss163
- Start date
Str8stroke
Flashlight Enthusiast
:wtf::poof: Thats nuts. I guess the Grand Pa gets a new kitchen for Christmas too.
Kurt_Woloch
Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2014
- Messages
- 290
Well, they got nicknamed Hoverboard on the Internet. Actually they've got multiple names, depending on which company imports them from China and sells them. They are called "IO Hawk", "Phunkee Duck", "Swegway" or just "2 wheel self balancing scooter". And they sell at a wide range of prices, from $200 to about $1500... although I hope that the companies with the big markups (i.e. IO) do take more care of their products so that they are made properly and don't go up in flames...
Anyway, I've seen multiple reports of such boards catching fire as well lately. But they don't only do this while charging, but also while being ridden. Something must be wrong either with the way the Li-Ion battery is treated in this vehicle, or the electronics overheat (or both).
I noticed that on Amazon they sell a spare 36V battery which is rated for a current draw of 10 amps maximum... but the motors are rated for an output of 2x250 W, so their combined maximum output would be 500 W, which makes them draw even more from the battery... but the battery is only rated at 360 W maximum output! Granted, this is only the peak output... if you're only rolling on the flat, you will maybe use 100 or 130 watts, but when climbing hills, you may exceed the maximum rated output of the battery for a longer time.
:faint: Shocking, truly...........
A couple of weeks back there was a report iirc on my sky news app, many coming into the UK being destroyed by customs due to safety issues. No doubt many buyers have lost a lot of money . I cant remember the total amount but it was in the 1000's iirc over the months.
A couple of weeks back there was a report iirc on my sky news app, many coming into the UK being destroyed by customs due to safety issues. No doubt many buyers have lost a lot of money . I cant remember the total amount but it was in the 1000's iirc over the months.
127.0.0.1
Flashlight Enthusiast
it is probably because they are recycling lithium cells of dubious history and the balance circuit is not intelligent enough
Some don't even stop charging was the issue over here. Banned over here now but not by any complaint. It was the YouTube videos of flaming hover boards that got the attention of the regulators
Update: There have been many similar reports over the past month. It is reported that UK has impounded over 88% (15000/17000) of imports that failed basic safety tests.
andrewnewman
Enlightened
There are so many things that can go wrong here I can't even begin to itemize them. Wait, I probably can begin
...
The Technical
The Supply Chain
I would avoid this product like the plague until sanity is introduced (which may never come).
If you absolutely need one of these then I'd store it in a detached shed or garage and either charge it on my driveway while home, far away from combustibles or in a detached garage with concrete floor far away from combustibles or anything I value (car etc...). I would never let a small child ride one and avoid crowds if I rode it myself. I wouldn't ride it indoors, ever.
Folks are looking at the risk of significant personal property damage and a significant risk to one's health.
...
The Technical
- Very large multi-cell LiIon packs need lots and lots of safety features. Cells need to be balanced, bad cells need to be identified and the device has to be disabled until the battery pack can be replaced etc...
- The charging device can't overheat or draw too much current.
- The drive mechanism has to be controlled so it doesn't draw too much current under load (bad bearings, going up hill etc...)
- The cells need to start out as high quality.
- Lots of thermocouples to measure temperature to assure nothing is getting too hot.
The Supply Chain
- These are white box products being resold by retailers who rebrand them after manufacture.
- The makers source their components and often can't verify the quality of the components.
- The makers take no responsibility for safety
- The distributers take no responsibility for safety.
- A source supplier may source similar seeming products from many different factories
- I don't believe a single one of these products has undergone UL testing in the US, much less passed.
I would avoid this product like the plague until sanity is introduced (which may never come).
If you absolutely need one of these then I'd store it in a detached shed or garage and either charge it on my driveway while home, far away from combustibles or in a detached garage with concrete floor far away from combustibles or anything I value (car etc...). I would never let a small child ride one and avoid crowds if I rode it myself. I wouldn't ride it indoors, ever.
Folks are looking at the risk of significant personal property damage and a significant risk to one's health.
uk_caver
Flashlight Enthusiast
Given that in the UK it isn't legal to ride one either on a road or on a pavement (ie sidewalk), it's hard to see what the point of them would be here even if they weren't a fire risk.
Speedfreakz
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2013
- Messages
- 151
Flew out of the airport this past week that had them for sale. You had to be escorted out if you bought one or they said they would ship. They obviously won't let you on a plane with them. Later on in the week I got a "travel advisory" saying they were banned from flights.
Phlogiston
Enlightened
Hmm.
I wouldn't want to be crewing a container ship with a few hundred of these things in a container, buried somewhere in amongst all the other containers on the ship. I wonder how long it'll be before we see that news story?
I wouldn't want to be crewing a container ship with a few hundred of these things in a container, buried somewhere in amongst all the other containers on the ship. I wonder how long it'll be before we see that news story?
Dr. Tweedbucket
Enlightened
I'd soOoo be suing China!! :mad:
That stinks !!
The problem is, we import all this junk and no one inspects it for safety! Don't we have laws in the US that mandates we build electronics to a certain standard / code? Great, then why isn't there the same requirement for imported stuff?
I bought a made in China (UL approved) lamp at Home Depot and it started smoking. I'm glad I was in the room otherwise it would have burst into flames eventually.
That stinks !!
The problem is, we import all this junk and no one inspects it for safety! Don't we have laws in the US that mandates we build electronics to a certain standard / code? Great, then why isn't there the same requirement for imported stuff?
I bought a made in China (UL approved) lamp at Home Depot and it started smoking. I'm glad I was in the room otherwise it would have burst into flames eventually.
lightlover
Flashlight Enthusiast
DocT,
More details please - sounds Serious?
(BTW - I agree muchly about tint - I'm happy with just Illumination)
uk_caver
Flashlight Enthusiast
Amazon [UK] tells customers: Throw away unsafe 'hoverboards'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35109728
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35109728
Dr. Tweedbucket
Enlightened
It was a nice looking pole light with three adjustable pods. I got it installed and then heard this sizzle sound :confused: I felt around the one light and it was burning hot ... I could smell the wires burning then. I unplugged and took it apart and all the wires were melted ..... nothing directly shorted out yet, but it got really hot. Amazing there was a UL sticker on the thing. :mad:
scout24
Flashaholic
On topic for batteries, please. Not the country of origin or household lighting... :)
Changchung
Flashlight Enthusiast
I am sure that their make this stupid wheels to rid of all old lithium batteries...
If it does not explode, it will get you one way or another.............
