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FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

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Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#31

Post by hackuser »

mhmiles wrote: post #21
Hydraulix989 wrote: post #16

Is this a Samsung-specific problem, or is it more generally, a lithium ion battery problem (the regulations have always been in place for lion batteries on planes)? I suspect it's the latter -- in which case, it's pretty unfair to single out Samsung. On another note, I've always felt paranoid about keeping my phone in my pocket or having my laptop on my lap, especially if it starts to heat up. I might as well stick a…

It's an issue with batteries manufactured by Samsung SDI. Hong Kong Note 7's have batteries from ATL and are not subject to the recall

What are SDI and ATL?

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#32

Post by brazzledazzle »

ptaipale wrote: post #24
pkaeding wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems unwise to gate-check a bag with a laptop anyway, given the way the luggage handlers throw bags around. Gate-checking a roller board suitcase with clothing is one thing, but I wouldn't check anything fragile or particularly expensive.

Sometimes there is no choice, e.g. in the case when I carry two or three laptops for work reasons, and the weight limit of carry-on baggage means only one fits in hand luggage. A laptop packed properly in a hard bag full of clothes isn't very likely to take any hit, though. If the baggage handlers run over it by a truck, then it may be damaged, but not in plane.

If it was for work reasons I'd just ship them.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#33

Post by eggy »

leetrout wrote: post #10
bwang29 wrote: post #3

If I understood this correctly, this is based on a higher (but unknown to consumers?) chance that the Galaxy Note 7 's battery could explode during flight and catch fire. Then, what would be considered a chance high enough that a laptop battery's explosion would not be a concern? Would it be safer to lock these phones into an explosion-proof box before they onboard the flight?

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

Me too. I fly a lot, and the thought of a damaged battery, or somebody leaving their notebook in sleep mode, packed in a suitcase of flammable clothes with all of the other luggage gives me anxiety at times.

If I have both laptops with me, I check the heavier one, but take the battery out and carry it on.

I fly from Hong Kong to the US quite a bit (16 hours), so alternate landing sites are few and far between. That, and everyone seems to be carrying a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone from HK.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#34

Post by gilgoomesh »

bwang29 wrote: post #3

If I understood this correctly, this is based on a higher (but unknown to consumers?) chance that the Galaxy Note 7 's battery could explode during flight and catch fire. Then, what would be considered a chance high enough that a laptop battery's explosion would not be a concern? Would it be safer to lock these phones into an explosion-proof box before they onboard the flight?

The batteries don't "explode" – they self-combust.

Better to have the phone out in the open (so you can see it catching fire) and throw it in a bucket of cold water – the water will absorb most of the heat and prevent the fire getting out of control (it won't extinguish the fire, which will continue in the water).

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#35

Post by mhmiles »

hackuser wrote: post #31
mhmiles wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an issue with batteries manufactured by Samsung SDI. Hong Kong Note 7's have batteries from ATL and are not subject to the recall

What are SDI and ATL?

Samsung SDI is their battery manufacturing subsidiary. ATL is Amperex Technology Limited, a Chinese battery manufacturer.

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#36

Post by ghshephard »

brazzledazzle wrote: post #32
ptaipale wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes there is no choice, e.g. in the case when I carry two or three laptops for work reasons, and the weight limit of carry-on baggage means only one fits in hand luggage. A laptop packed properly in a hard bag full of clothes isn't very likely to take any hit, though. If the baggage handlers run over it by a truck, then it may be damaged, but not in plane.

If it was for work reasons I'd just ship them.

Ironically, for people who travel a lot, the exact opposite happens and we are frequently "encouraged" to use our baggage allotment to reduce courier costs for the company.

The business model is obvious, and has been tried at least once: http://qz.com/309185/this-startup-wants-to-pay-you-to-fly-wi...

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#37

Post by revicon »

eggy wrote: post #33
leetrout wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually my #1 fear in flying in 2016. Some rough baggage packing under the plane that damages a laptop battery in the gate checked bag. Every time I fly I watch people gate check bags with laptops and more even after the announcement to "remove all lithium batteries & electronics". I wish more people understood how dangerous this could be and would take 3 minutes to take electronics out and carry them on boa…

Me too. I fly a lot, and the thought of a damaged battery, or somebody leaving their notebook in sleep mode, packed in a suitcase of flammable clothes with all of the other luggage gives me anxiety at times. If I have both laptops with me, I check the heavier one, but take the battery out and carry it on. I fly from Hong Kong to the US quite a bit (16 hours), so alternate landing sites are few and far between. That,…

> but take the battery out

obviously not a mac user

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#38

Post by ghshephard »

leetrout wrote: post #28
robryan wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A while back I checked a second, relatively bulky laptop that I was carrying for a new employee. As I understood it the current rule is that you shouldn't check a laptop battery that isn't plugged in but it is fine as part of the laptop? On another flight I also checked a power bank before learning of the rules surrounding them, which depending on capacity could be a lot more dangerous.

I'm not sure about specifics there. It's an interesting thing to think about though... whether a battery with exposed leads has more potential to short vs being attached to something. (I would assume the exposed leads would be worse.)

You never ever leave leads exposed. That is absolutely the fastest way to start a fire. Either pack it with the equipment, or make damn sure you have some industrial covers for those leads.

And yes, I have had people do a piss poor job securing their leads, and then have the equipment rub up against metal, and "Poof" - instant smoke. (Thankfully the luggage was with us, so we were able to stop it before it became a fire)

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#39

Post by megablast »

kondro wrote: post #20

Australian airlines have just outright banned them. http://www.smh.com.au/business/innovation/qantas-jetstar-vir...

Are they banning them from being brought aboard the planes? Because it just looks like Qantas is stopping them from being charged or used while aboard?

Re: FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes

#40

Post by jen729w »

revicon wrote: post #37
eggy wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me too. I fly a lot, and the thought of a damaged battery, or somebody leaving their notebook in sleep mode, packed in a suitcase of flammable clothes with all of the other luggage gives me anxiety at times. If I have both laptops with me, I check the heavier one, but take the battery out and carry it on. I fly from Hong Kong to the US quite a bit (16 hours), so alternate landing sites are few and far between. That,…

> but take the battery out obviously not a mac user

Clearly not. Mac users are used to their laptops actually going to sleep when they shut the lid.

My work HP, however, is regularly scorching hot when I get home as it's been on in my backpack the whole time despite me shutting the lid and despite the instruction to 'go to sleep when the lid is closed'. How there's not some sort of thermal cutoff I do not know, but I know for a fact that there is not.

Edit: by 'regularly' I mean a few times a year. Still far, far too many.

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