Burning some papers on a barbeque grill out back some years ago, and forgetting that I had discarded a cellphone battery in that trash can, I had momentarily turned away from the fire when that little Nokia battery pack ignited and peppered the back of my neck with molten plastic. After that stark and unforgettable illustration of how much kinetic energy those unassuming little battery packs unleash when they are incinerated, I developed a healthy respect for the inherent dangers of these innocuous cellphones that we all carry in our pockets next to the family jewels, and place next to our heads.
A couple of days ago, I was watching a TV program on the morbid subject of unusual deaths, when one of the recorded instances in which a cellphone blew up in someone's ear was described in harrowing detail. Those mini-napalm fragments, which merely burned small pockmarks in my skin from 3 feet away, when I inadvertedly left a cellphone battery in burning trash were, in that TV re-enactment, driven deep into a cellphone user's head, killing her instantly.
All this brings me to my question here, which is whether there are certain conditions, outside of accidental incineration, in which a cellphone battery could spontaneously combust while in use, or while simply being carried about. Could say forgetting one's cellphone in a locked car on a hot day have the effect of lowering the ignition threshold of that phone's battery ? Also, are there any telltale signs of internal degradation and instability that one can discern by visually inspecting cellphone batteries ? Finally, is anyone here aware of any particular cellphone makes and models that, rightly or wrongly, have earned a reputation for blowing up without warning ?
I did a forum search here, but didn't spot any references to this particular aspect of cellphones, hence my decision to ask now. Thanks in advance for any information that can be offered.
A couple of days ago, I was watching a TV program on the morbid subject of unusual deaths, when one of the recorded instances in which a cellphone blew up in someone's ear was described in harrowing detail. Those mini-napalm fragments, which merely burned small pockmarks in my skin from 3 feet away, when I inadvertedly left a cellphone battery in burning trash were, in that TV re-enactment, driven deep into a cellphone user's head, killing her instantly.
All this brings me to my question here, which is whether there are certain conditions, outside of accidental incineration, in which a cellphone battery could spontaneously combust while in use, or while simply being carried about. Could say forgetting one's cellphone in a locked car on a hot day have the effect of lowering the ignition threshold of that phone's battery ? Also, are there any telltale signs of internal degradation and instability that one can discern by visually inspecting cellphone batteries ? Finally, is anyone here aware of any particular cellphone makes and models that, rightly or wrongly, have earned a reputation for blowing up without warning ?
I did a forum search here, but didn't spot any references to this particular aspect of cellphones, hence my decision to ask now. Thanks in advance for any information that can be offered.
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