 Betsy Drew |
Battery Caught On Fire! I had a very peculiar and scary thing happen this weekend. I was charging the battery for my Canon 10D and it caught on fire. I was gone for about and hour and when I returned, it was totally charred and had sent burning embers into the wood floor and left deep burn marks. Obviously my question is, has this ever happened to anyone else? I am planning on contacting Canon, as well. Signed, Scared of Recharging
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Was it the original Canon battery and Canon charger? Just wondering.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Cell batteries have been known to explode.
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Betsy Drew |
I'm not sure whether it was the original battery or a replacement. I have two batteries, but they are both Canon products. I'm talking with Canon right now, and they are very concerned. I'll let you know what happens.
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George Anderson |
NiMH batteries can rise to a temp of 130 degrees F while being charged, and this is considered 'normal'. But this sounds like the batteries actually exploded. This could happen to: 1) Non-rechargeable batteries that are recharged anyway 2) Any type of battery made incorrectly that caused an internal short 3) A bad battery charger. Battery chargers often charge on high, then trickle charge towards the end of the charge to reduce battery heating, with an auto shutoff. But an internal malfunction can cause the charger to provide 100% charge until the overcharged, overheated battery explodes. I always charge batteries in a concrete floored area with no flammable materials present.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
George, the battery in question is a Lithium-Ion rechargeable that is used in most of Canon's digital SLRs, plus many of their Powershot G series cameras. I have 2 of them. The battery and charger have been around for a long time. I hadn't heard any credible reports of problems like this with this battery & charger, so I'm interested to hear what Canon's response to Betsy will be. Betsy, have they asked you to send it to them so they can check it out?
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George Anderson |
Where've you been Chris? The current Lith-Ion battery is quite capable of explosion in terms of statistical occurrence per battery pack. Most current lithium-ion batteries need 5 or 6 built-in safety mechanisms in the form of a controller chip and thermal sensor to prevent thermal runaway and explosion. In fact, battery makers hesitate to produce lithium-ion rechargeables in standard (AA, AAA) sizes partly due to their nasty habit of exploding if not charged to exact specifications in the proper charger, or if the controller chip circuitry dies. Valence Technology and other makers have been working on a safer lith-ion battery design because of this very problem: "'Tiger in a Cage' This can happen to ANY lith-ion battery pack, especially that has been used many times. The battery itself is usually ok, but the controller chip circitry dies. Or the controller chip may not have been made correctly in the first place. OR, it might be counterfeit: "Canon wishes to take this opportunity to advise you of incidents we have become aware of relating to certain counterfeit lithium-ion battery packs produced and marketed by non-Canon companies to be used with Canon Digital cameras and Digital camcorders,
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Christopher A. Vedros |
George, I know all about the safety features that are built into batteries and chargers, and I know about Canon's warning against the dangers of using off-brand batteries. The reason I said I'm interested in hearing Canon's response is because Betsy said these were Canon-brand products. Just an observation - any time you talk about a danger "in terms of statistical occurrence", it usually means you're just trying to scare people. Just my opinion.
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George Anderson |
"I know all about the safety features that are built into batteries and chargers, and I know about Canon's warning against the dangers of using off-brand batteries." Then why didn't you mention it before, for the benefit of all of us? I didn't know about the counterfeit Canon-branded battery packs myself. "These battery packs closely imitate the design and shape of genuine Canon battery packs and are illegally marked as Canon products." That's entirely different from just off-brand' - it's a battery pack that is packaged to look nearly identical to the Canon product. What if you bought one of those because it was labeled and marked as a Canon product? "...any time you talk about a danger "in terms of statistical occurrence", it usually means you're just trying to scare people." What are you implying? That I'm making this stuff up? That Canon products are immune to circuit chip failure, regardless of their age? The problem with Li-I thermal runaway is well known and has motivated some laptop manufacturers to revert to NiMh battery technology, while other companies are pouring thousands of dollars into non-cobalt Li-I solutions. What do you conclude happens when the controller circuitry chip fails in a Li-I battery pack? I could as easily say that it's been my experience that anyone who points out problems that could be construed as brand criticism is immediately jumped on by those with a heavy monetary or ego investment in the brand. But I wouldn't jump to that conclusion.
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Betsy Drew |
Okay, I talked to Canon and they want me to send them the charred remains of my battery and charger. They sounded concerned as they put on someone higher up the ladder pretty quickly. I read your responses and I'm wondering if the crispy battery is one of these conterfeits. It says it's a Canon, but you never know. Now I'm trying to remember where I bought it--I've bought so much this past year. Thanks for your input.
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