Why do batteries explode and catch fire?
There are several reasons why a phone battery might overheat. Sometimes it’s very much an isolated incident while others, like the Note 7, have a fundamental flaw. There are two main causes of Lithium-ion batteries going wrong. The first is when one gets wounded, and by that we mean a break, piercing or similar. This could be caused by dropping your phone but, however it happens, the battery can short-circuit causing it to expand and potentially explode.
Heat is the other main cause of battery fires and is usually related to charging. Charging a battery will result in some heat generation, and if the temperature gets too high then an internal short-circuit can occur – it’s not always because the battery itself is faulty. If your battery can’t cool down quick enough ‘thermal runaway’ can happen, whereby a chain reaction accelerates the increase of temperature – and that is a recipe for disaster. With recent technology such as fast charging and the latest processors, there’s more heat in today’s phones than previously. The design of a phone may also be detrimental, especially when companies try to fit a large battery into a very thin phone without ensuring heat is sufficiently dissipated, or placing components too close together.
How to stop your battery exploding
• Use the correct charger – Ideally, use the supplied charger with your device. • Unplug once charged – Try and be aware of when your phone is fully charged and unplug it to avoid unnecessary heat build-up. • Charge in a safe place – it might sound silly but don’t leave your phone charging under your pillow all night, for example. • Remove cases – a case is like putting a jacket on and will restrict heat dissipation so take it off to charge or other heat inducing tasks. • Avoid direct sunlight – your phone won’t get a tan but the sun will heat it up so don’t leave it places like your car dashboard, especially when charging. • Let your phone cool – whether you’re charging, gaming or something else; let your phone cool down if it gets hot. • Avoid pressure – you don’t want the battery to get a puncture so don’t sit on it or allow it to come under excessive pressure. Read next: Best new phones coming in 2018 & beyond Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
