Weird Battery Thing

[SirGrant]

I had my xtra bionic battery stored in my car for emergencies. I pulled it out to use it and the paper surrounding the battery has blown up like a balloon. Just the paper, the battery (when felt through the paper) is still a flat rectangle. If I jam it into the phone, it still works great, still charges, no weird drain or anything. Again, no obvious battery damage other than air under the paper. Because it warps the back of the phone while it is in, I will only use it as an emergency backup. Anyone else seen anything like that?

 

[Thom]

I have not. I recently got a spare battery on Amazon ... it was $12.

... Thom

 

[rdsok]

Actually it isn't odd... You shouldn't leave any lithium type battery ( and probably other types as well ) in a hot environment.

 

[Harry2]

A storage temperature of Li-Ion batteries is save up to 60C (140F) ... but such temperatures will reduce the battery's life.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

Harry

 

[rdsok]

A storage temperature of Li-Ion batteries is save up to 60C (140F) ... but such temperatures will reduce the battery's life.

How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries - Battery University

Harry

I know from first hand experience they aren't safe up to that temp... and have read many other reports. Some of the puffed cells were still usable... but I still wouldn't consider them safe after that.

 

[rdsok]

I should have read the page you linked to first.... they aren't saying it is safe.. here is an excerpt

Lithium-ion suffers from stress when exposed to heat, so does keeping a cell at a high charge voltage. A battery dwelling above 30

 

[Harry2]

Well, I thought of another meaning of safe ... not dangerous, no danger of burning or exploding.

See, up to 60C is the battery's allowed operating temperature for working in phones (for discharging ... not for charging, that's up to 45C).

Meaning not safe for the battery's health and life ... yeah, you're right
BTW, this table about reducing of battery's life by temperature was the reason for I've put the link in my post above
Sorry for misleading.

Harry

 

[biker128pedal]

I cannot take my phone into work. Maybe I should take just the battery in.

I know it is bad but will it catch fire?

 

[Harry2]

I cannot take my phone into work. Maybe I should take just the battery in...

This would be an option if you've to leave your phone on your bike while working hours.

An other option would be to measure the battery's temperature (while phone's on stand-by) on your bike's storage compartment, leaving the bike on a parking place.
A battery monitor app like Battery Monitor Widget would show you the battery's temperature on a log or as graph by time.

Depending on the measured temperature you could decide your next step

... but will it catch fire?

My HTC phone's safety and regulatory guide says:
"...Handle battery packs carefully
This product contains a Lithium-ion polymer or Lithium-ion battery. There is a risk of fire and burns if the battery pack is handled improperly. Do not attempt to open or service the battery pack. Do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts or circuits, dispose of in fire or water, or expose a battery pack to temperatures higher than 60˚C (140˚F).
WARNING: To reduce risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts, expose to temperature above 60

 

[Lars]

The battery is likely shot. I've gone through several headsets this way. Even one hot day in the California sun and they are shot. Lithium batteries don't like heat, overcharging and over discharging.