Hot battery temp caused explosion

[traumajohn]

Hi,
I was trying to diagnose a friends Dell XPS M140. She thought it had a
battery problem because she was having 4 amber and 1 green lights flashing on
her battery indicator. I looked up the Dell battery recall and entered her
battery data and it was found to be a good non recalled batery. While I
turned her laptop on had ac and battery connected and within 10 minutes or
so, I heard 3 small popping noises. I took th e laptop outside to cool down
because the battery at that point felt really hot. I didn't see smoke or
smell it. After 20 inutes I brought it in and was releasing her battery, I
noticed it had melted the batery case. Nothing wrong on laptop at this point.
While I ejected the battery to dispose of it exploded in my face, rocked it
out of the laptop and conitinued to explode 4 or 5 more times. I am waiting
to hear back from Dell. I need to know if there is any software or tools to
monitor a batteries temperature. I am working on another friends laptop and
it feels like another hot battery adn the motherboard numbers match. Sorry
for the long email but I reallly am scared of this and want to monitor a
battery temp.
Thanks,
John

 

[Roger]

Next time send the computer to a qualified computer workshop or ask
assistance from a skilled technician.

 

[traumajohn]

First of all, I was only looking at a friends laptop to find an error message
or see what the problem was. Second, I didn't say I opened it and tried to
fix a board problem. Third of all, this is a newsgroup where people ask or
seek informatio from professionals not to have a "non professional" be non
helpful. Go get a life.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Entire conversation:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr....hardware/browse_frm/thread/809d9721236525c0/



traumajohn wrote:

Third of all, this is a
newsgroup where people ask or seek informatio from
professionals not to have a "non professional" be non helpful.

Actually - this is a peer-to-peer newsgroup. This means anyone really can
say anything they want - although it may be deleted from some servers, etc.
The best way to handle unwanted comments is usually to ignore them.
Truthfully - the comment did not seem all that bad nor all that unhelpful to
me.

In any case - this is not a problem with hardware in relation to Windows
XP - but just pure hardware. While there may be some software that can run
to monitor such a thing - there is no guarantee because if there is not
something already in place monitoring it (some hardware) - you have nothing
to obtain data from.

Non-contact thermometer would be my first thought.
http://www.google.com/search?q=non+contact+thermometer

What did Dell say when you called?

Also - what does 'exploded in my face' mean in this context - because it
cannot be as violent as all that considering you continued to handle/remove
the battery afterwards and it did it 3-4 more times?

 

[SC Tom]

Actually, if you're asking in a newsgroup, you may or may not get a
"professional." Most people here are very knowledgeable, but not necessarily
a professional.
If you truly had it blow up in your face, get a lawyer. You might be in for
a decent settlement.

 

[traumajohn]

Hi Stanley,
I am sorry, I miss spoke. I had the battery pack partially ejected from the
laptop and was continuing to remove it as I was walking outside to throw it
away. At that point I ony saw melted plastic on the battery pack. As I walked
out, the first explosion occured which launched the battery from the laptop
hitting a wall/door and continued to explode out of the laptop on the floor.
The laptop only has flash burn marks at the battery connector and the side of
the laptop. The battery had left only burnt cells behind no plastic outer
cover.
John

 

[Anteaus]

Lithium battery fires or bursting are fortunately very rare, but any
indications of such a fault existing should be treated very seriously as the
risk of fire or persons receiving burns is considerable.

I suggest you contact Dell about this. It basically shouldn't happen EVEN if
the laptop's charge regulator has failed, because there should be a second
charge-limiting circuit in the battery itself.

Of course if the battery is not a genuine Dell article, or has been refilled
with unapproved cells, then it's not Dell's responsibility.

As said, if you intend putting any kind of battery into the computer in
future, get it checked by a professional. A young girl had her legs badly
burned in similar circumstances. Not something to ignore.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Hi,
I was trying to diagnose a friends Dell XPS M140. She thought it had a
battery problem because she was having 4 amber and 1 green lights flashing
on
her battery indicator. I looked up the Dell battery recall and entered her
battery data and it was found to be a good non recalled batery. While I
turned her laptop on had ac and battery connected and within 10 minutes or
so, I heard 3 small popping noises. I took th e laptop outside to cool
down
because the battery at that point felt really hot. I didn't see smoke or
smell it. After 20 inutes I brought it in and was releasing her battery, I
noticed it had melted the batery case. Nothing wrong on laptop at this
point.
While I ejected the battery to dispose of it exploded in my face, rocked
it
out of the laptop and conitinued to explode 4 or 5 more times. I am
waiting
to hear back from Dell. I need to know if there is any software or tools
to
monitor a batteries temperature. I am working on another friends laptop
and
it feels like another hot battery adn the motherboard numbers match. Sorry
for the long email but I reallly am scared of this and want to monitor a
battery temp.

Taking the machine and battery outside was agood starting point. You should
position it at least 2 metres from anything combustible (including what you
put it on).

Taking it back indoors after 20 minutes was a bad move. You should leave it
for at least 24 hours.

Was the battery a genuine Dell original or was it an aftermarket pattern
battery? Then latter have been known for omitting vital safety features.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Entire conversation:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr....hardware/browse_frm/thread/809d9721236525c0/



traumajohn wrote:


Actually - this is a peer-to-peer newsgroup. This means anyone really can
say anything they want - although it may be deleted from some servers,
etc. The best way to handle unwanted comments is usually to ignore them.
Truthfully - the comment did not seem all that bad nor all that unhelpful
to me.

In any case - this is not a problem with hardware in relation to Windows
XP - but just pure hardware. While there may be some software that can
run to monitor such a thing - there is no guarantee because if there is
not something already in place monitoring it (some hardware) - you have
nothing to obtain data from.

Non-contact thermometer would be my first thought.
http://www.google.com/search?q=non+contact+thermometer

What did Dell say when you called?

Also - what does 'exploded in my face' mean in this context - because it
cannot be as violent as all that considering you continued to
handle/remove the battery afterwards and it did it 3-4 more times?

Generally Lithium batteries usually will provide at least 1 bonus explosion
following the first.

Actually, explosion is the wrong description because it really is just a
fierce fire event from the burning electrolyte (which is highly flammable)
aided by the battery's ability to generate its own oxygen (making it
virtually impossible to extinguish a battery fire).