Airlines Impose New Restrictions on Batteries

Tue Jan 1, 2008 12:01AM EST

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I'm back! Did ya miss me? Hey, thanks. Let's start off your '08 with some good old-fashioned news about air travel, a big mess of new rules that are sure to confuse and entertain you all year. This time, the FAA has taken aim at lithium batteries, a response to the bevy of exploding laptops that menaced offices and airports alike over the last two years (one of which occured at LAX).

The new rules are confusing and extensive (and are being reported incorrectly in numerous mainstream publications), so I'll try to boil it down for you here, accurately. Hit the link at the end of the story for the entire text of the new rules straight from the horse's mouth. The rules took effect on Jan. 1, 2008.

  • Installed batteries (already in your phone, laptop, camera, etc.) and spare batteries (carried loose) are treated differently. Only lithium-based batteries are concerned here, not nickel-based rechargeables or alkaline batteries.
  • You can't pack spare batteries in checked baggage...but you may check equipment with batteries installed.
  • In your carry-on baggage, you can take as many batteries along as you want (installed or spare), as long as they contain less than 8 grams of lithium content each. How do you know how much lithium is in a battery? An 8-gram battery equals about 100 watt-hours of power. Now, your battery won't say how many watt-hours it provides, but it's easy to do the math. Look on the bottom and you'll find a voltage rating and a mAh (milliamp-hours) rating. Multiply these two together and divide by 1,000. That's your watt-hours. In the (big) battery I'm looking at as an example, it offers 11.1 volts and 7,800 mAh. Multiply and divide by 1,000 and you get 86.58 watt-hours, acceptable under the new rules.
  • Now, you can also bring two spare batteries that break the above rule. These two batteries can have a total lithium content of 25 grams, or about 300 watt-hours. Where might you find such a giant battery? Namely in those third-party laptop battery slabs designed to give you a full day of computing. A product like this Electrovaya PowerPad 300 would just barely make it... but would probably earn you a delay at security.
  • These rules mainly concern lithium-ion batteries. Lithium metal batteries (which are comparably rare) have more stringent rules. Check the link for full details if you use lithium metal batteries, but since lithium metal batteries are usually quite small, there's not that much cause for concern.

Whew! Bottom line: Most travelers are fine as they are now, especially if they don't bring along spare batteries. If you do carry spares, take a look at the FAA's safety tips, which advise placing spare cells in a plastic bag to prevent short circuits. Just make sure those spares aren't too big, and only carry two.

LINK: FAA Battery Rules 2008

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  • 26 Posted by kaitline1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh my word! Those of us that travel for work are really being screwed! Think about it! Things like laoptops and cell phones are needed items if you do travel for work. I know that security is a must but when the government goes that far it's to much! So much for the constitution!

  • 27 Posted by jmulsman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    slm9910 , This is meant as a safety measure, not a security measure. It's goal is to prevent fires, burst containers, and other effects that result from an accidental situation, rather than prevent a deliberate attack.

  • 29 Posted by adrianne29 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is not about security. It is about hazardous cargo. Some loose LI batteries shorted, caught fire and burned a UPS airplane to the main tires in PHL last year. It is the same reason you are not allowed with cans of butane on board. Not worried about how you use them illicitly, but what the risks of the material is. Check out CFR 49 Parts 171 through 175. You might be surprised what you cannot bring on board.

  • 30 Posted by dclaney3141 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    When you say Lithum-metal do you mean Lithium Polymer? This battery chemistry is used in many phone batteries. My PPC6700 uses them. Li-poly has reputation over the last 3-4 years of being much more dangerous than Li-ion -- they have the nasty tendancy to somewhat frequently catch fire which is why they should be charged in a fire proof container. Of course typical watch batteries also have a battery chemistry that contains lithium but are stable and not what is of concern.

  • 31 Posted by goodfellowaabye on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    Another false security measure that will do nothing to improve security but introduce massive headaches to a lot of business travelers. Furthermore, this measure will not be applied uniformly so some traveller may find that s/he can take his/her laptop with her one way but get stopped on the return trip.

  • 32 Posted by da_cheif_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    lithium phosphate is non explosive is very safe and manufactured by valence technology....is used exclusively to power the segway pt..and the Ucharge from best buy is also from valence...symbol on the otc...VLNC....

  • 33 Posted by rlmalisz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    One error in your post--and it's in the conclusion. You can only carry two spare big batteries. You can carry as many little guys as you like. You get this right in the body, but not at the end.

  • 34 Posted by unidvd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everyone is confused by these rules, thanks for the clarity. I race R/C cars and they use huge Lipo batteries. some are 11.1 volt 12000 MAh. I guess you can't take these on an airplane any more.

  • 36 Posted by kthornton7916 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Please note that this regulation was created by the Pipleine and Hazardous Materials Administration (part of the Department of Transportation) and NOT the FAA or TSA.

  • 37 Posted by schallermusic on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hope they don't forget the exploding underwear in everybody's bag!

  • 38 Posted by go_robin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    Digital Camera manufacturers please take note here. Ideally go back to producing cameras that allow the use of AAA or AA batteries instead of small lithium ion ones so that we can in any case use off the shelf duracells when travelling.

  • 39 Posted by bradatude on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    hey, what about my new portable laser tv?

  • 40 Posted by schallermusic on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Here's an Idea - how about we travel in one airplane and have our baggage follow us behind in another airplane - yes I know I said airplane.

  • 41 Posted by da_cheif_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    there is one very safe non explosive lithium battery. Now used exclusively to power the Segway PT and available as a laptop standby power and charger....the N charge.....its manufuctured by Valence Technology of Austin TX.....symbol VLNC ....lithium phosphate....as opposed to the lithium colbalt which is the problem child

  • 42 Posted by vickyrnc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    What about those people that use lithium batteries in there insulin pumps and have to carry extras? I have traveled to several places without any problems, thank you for pointing out the potential concern.

  • 43 Posted by adriana9260 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    I propose we all travel wearing a poncho, naked underneath, with no carry-ons or luggage. We'll buy whatever we need at arrival. Then we'll leave the leftovers behind. Also, no more presents or souvenirs.

  • 44 Posted by jhahn72 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Has there ever been a fire/explosion of a battery that was not in use? This seems silly to me. What if the guy next to you has a really big laptop battery? Does that make it more likely that your battery will catch fire? I must be missing something.

  • 45 Posted by anson_lego on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    i wonder if apple batteries are lithnum or nickel

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