Over the weekend, we saw the news of
how a power bank exploded on the body
of it's user. This happened while he was
charging his phone with the power bank
in his pocket. We may ask, Why? Why
would a power bank all of a sudden
explode? You guys requested we do a
piece on why power banks explode, my
curious mind was also yearning to learn
this too. So I hereby present to you
The
likely causes of a power bank explosion.
1.) Poor Battery Quality
Batteries are the major components of
power banks, infact that's the most
expensive part when you try to cost it
individually. Most of the power banks in
the market are made from Lithium-ion or
Lithium-Polymer batteries, though the
former is a cheaper option.
Manufacturers, (in a bid to keep prices
down) tend to use the Lithium- ion
batteries to save costs. In worst case
scenarios, some manufacturers go to the
extent of using recycled batteries. This
increases the chances or likeliness of
explosion at a later time.
2.) Wrong Circuit Design:
It doesn't just end with the quality of
battery. The internal circuit design of a
power bank is another likely cause of
explosion. For a power bank a good
circuit design entails the following :
* Power protection: A well made power
bank should have power protection. This is
a mechanism that ensures that the battery
stops charging once it has reached full
capacity.
* Short circuit control: A good power bank
should have it's circuit fully insulated to
prevent short circuit. (Short circuit means
touching of wires)
* Temperature control: The ideal power
bank should have a kind of temperature
control such that once it hits a particular
temperature, it shuts down to cool off.
If one or more of these are not built into
the power bank, the chances of a likely
explosion in the future are high.
3.) Improper or Wrong Usage
What can cause a power bank to explode
could be traced to us – the users. How
do you handle your power banks?
Exposing power banks to high
temperatures or humidity can lead to
what can cause explosion .
Overcharging of power banks is bad
practice. Especially when it doesn't have
power protection like we explained
above. Other bad practices include
spilling water on it or leaving it near a
heated area, like under the sun.
So now you know the likely causes of a
power bank explosion. Meanwhile be
careful of dirt cheap power banks, also
do not use power banks in your pockets.
Cheers.
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