Air travel and lithium batteries (Page 3): I just misread the column titles and was actually looking at the 7th item down about spare lithium ion batteries. No offense taken, it seems...

saintsrest44

I just misread the column titles and was actually looking at the 7th item down about spare lithium ion batteries. No offense taken, it seems to be a lot easier for me to get confused as I age.

Oh, and now I see that your statement wasn't addressed to me. And so it goes...

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

So many people are carrying bags on board now that there are always too many for the plane. Some have to be checked. They always ask if there are batteries in that bag, as they must be taken out before the bag can be checked. They've been doing this now for several years. Canon batteries come in a little plastic carrier. I assume that protection is enough? They can't touch. And they're sort of hard to get out (it wouldn't happen accidentally). i wish all batteries came with that.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I've never been checked. I have packed two cameras,extra batteries,etc.,several times for domestic flights. Some checked and some carry on. Yes, I check a camera and extra battery. I'm sure my time is coming and this thread improved my awareness and I will properly prepare. A couple years ago,my wife had a remote shutter release that was sending off a signal and she got searched until they found it. No big deal as I told to her pick me up in 10 days if they wouldn't let her on.

MtnMan Loc: ID

DaveO wrote:

I had an I-Touch that the battery was soldered in...you can do it yourself or swap it into Apple for a replacement unit. Not cheap!

Or send it to one of the many firms that perform the service.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Lithium ion batteries come in several particular chemistrys. The fire proneness differ for each. Wikipedia has an article on them. It might not be the last word but it is a word on them.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

MtnMan wrote:

Or send it to one of the many firms that perform the service.

Wish I had thought of that at the time. $90 was steep for the swap.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I heard about this rule and researched it before my last 2 flights; one last February & one in September.
As I read it:
None in Checked Luggage
Allowed in Carry On, but must be separated in individual containers. You CAN keep them IN-CAMERA.
I had no problems with TSA.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

AzPicLady wrote:

So many people are carrying bags on board now that there are always too many for the plane. Some have to be checked. They always ask if there are batteries in that bag, as they must be taken out before the bag can be checked. They've been doing this now for several years. Canon batteries come in a little plastic carrier. I assume that protection is enough? They can't touch. And they're sort of hard to get out (it wouldn't happen accidentally). i wish all batteries came with that.

You raise some interesting points. I do keep my camera batteries either in the camera or with the plastic carriers on. For other rechargeable batteries (flash and other stuff) I have a bunch of little plastic cases that would prevent them from coming into contact and also help me separate charged from used batteries. I've never had an issue with taking them on board.

However, that much said, I usually pack batteries in my luggage separately from cameras and lenses, those stay with me. So if I check baggage then they go in the cargo hold. If I fly on a small regional jet such as a CRJ200 and my luggage gets gate checked then it also ends up in the hold. I have never been asked if there are batteries in my luggage. A couple of years ago I did over 75,000 air miles domestically and internationally and I have never been asked about batteries in my luggage.

I somehow doubt that the TSA or aircrew could easily distinguish between NiMH or Lithium batteries of a similar form factor such as AA or AAA.

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

Davethehiker wrote:

A few years ago I was flying to Alaska. As we were... (show quote)

===========================================================================

Please answer a question from a dummy.
I never carry any batteries except in carry on.
My question is just what causes the batteries to catch fire?
Is it only if the is a short between their terminals?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

charles tabb wrote:

===========================================================================

Please answer a question from a dummy.
I never carry any batteries except in carry on.
My question is just what causes the batteries to catch fire?
Is it only if the is a short between their terminals?

Shorting of terminals is one cause although, in reality, it's not a real big risk. Most terminals are either recessed or separated by the length of the battery. Still a possibility though. My understanding is that with lithium batteries, aside from shorting, the only other time that fire is a danger is during charging. I read that someplace but can't vouch for it's accuracy. Perhaps someone else can elaborate.

tsca Loc: USA

marki3rd wrote:

iPhones don't have removable batteries? All the cell phones I have ever owned (not Apple products) had removable batteries.

My Samsung Galaxy Note 5 (not the exploding Note 7) has a battery that is not user replaceable. Actually there are DIY instructions for changing it online, but it looks like more work than it's worth. Mine is a year and a few months old and the battery life is still great. If it starts dying, I'll take it in for replacement like a did for the screen last month.

fotonut

Just recently flew from South Florida to frigid Northern Iowa.Keep batteries in cameras with no problems. My carry on did get checked because of a large tin of home made chocolate fudge my son-in-law requested . All was accounted for.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

DaveO wrote:

A D810 battery is 13.3 Wa. (1900 mAh at 7 V.) as far as I can tell. I think spares would have to be in carry-on,according to the link.

The "Wa" must be short for Watts. The formula is correct as stated in this post Amps x Volts = Watts. And for batteries Watt-hours. (1.9amps [1900 mAh] x 7 volts = 13.3 Watt hours)
A previous post had this wrong.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

MT Shooter wrote:

It's funny that with ALL the battery explosions and fires posted all over the internet, I have yet to see a single story of a camera battery fire anywhere. Just food for thought.

I'm fairly certain there is an overheated camera battery situation somewhere in the world, but haven't seen one yet. May be a Google search might find one?

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

DaveO wrote:

No offense,but what is confusing about my statement? I get it. I understand it. My point was that a link was posted and the OP did not,according to his observation,read or understand the link. The end.

I'm not offended. But read your post that I responded to. You said you were confused. Then you asked for where the chart specified where lithium batteries should be carried. That gave me the impression that you wanted some information. Your question to the OP was rhetorical because it was clear that he didn't really read it. Sorry if I misunderstood your post.