WARNING Battery Danger

kidmet · #1 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:10 PM

I walked into my house early this week to the smell of burning. I couldn't find where it was coming from. Last night as I was gathering my laundry I noticed a burn through the back of my jeans. A HUGE hole. I had a spare Touch Pro battery in my back pocket. It had expanded and obviously started a fire in my jeans. They were in a clothes pile and buried, so I assume that there wasn't enough oxygen to start a fire. I will post pictures later, but be very careful where you store extra batteries. I was very worried about my home.

**Unknown Zone** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:13 PM

Did you have anything in the pocket besides your battery that would of shorted out the contacts to the battery.

It happen to me once, had some spare coins put a 9v in my front pocket and within min. my leg felt like their was a torch pointing at it.

**jmorton10** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Zone

had some spare coins put a 9v in my front pocket and within min. my leg felt like their was a torch pointing at it.

I had the exact same thing happen, that's not a whole lotta fun......

~John

**retrodeviant** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 02:16 PM

A lithium ion battery can burn at some ridiculously hot temperatures when ignited. Overcharging, heat and shorting it out via the contacts are pretty much the only ways to cause one to ignite, though. I don't see how just being in an otherwise empty pocket could cause one to spontaneously combust, though stranger things have happened.

K4el · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 02:25 PM

Mythbusters contacted, we'll have our answer soon. =P

I'm with everyone else though, i doubt the battery spontaneously combusted. Maybe a manufacturing defect resulted in a short? It could also have made contact with metal snaps... rivets... what ever the hell they are called. I know my jeans have them.

MogulMan112 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 02:55 PM

I would figure out how to get alot of free stuff from sprint.. or sue them or HTC... I mean if the chick that spilt coffee on herself at mcdonalds made millions i think u can get somethin too

rachat024 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2009, 04:00 AM

Wow! great news. Many thanks for your informative posts.=D>

pret auto

qper · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidmet

I walked into my house early this week to the smell of burning. I couldn't find where it was coming from. Last night as I was gathering my laundry I noticed a burn through the back of my jeans. A HUGE hole. I had a spare Touch Pro battery in my back pocket. It had expanded and obviously started a fire in my jeans. They were in a clothes pile and buried, so I assume that there wasn't enough oxygen to start a fire. I will post pictures later, but be very careful where you store extra batteries. I was very worried about my home.

That would odd for it to do by itself. Sounds like the leads got shorted. Was there any metal or foil in the pocket?

**ou2mame** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:16 PM

yeah thats really odd...what condition is the battery in now?

kidmet · #10 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ou2mame

yeah thats really odd...what condition is the battery in now?

I will post pics tonight if I remember. The battery looks all bloated and the metal casing is exposed. (And burnt of course) To answer earlier questions there was absolutely nothing else in the pocket. I make sure to keep all metal away from a spare.