The incidents of fire in power banks during flights are increasing. Recently, a power bank caught fire in an Indigo flight. The government has taken this incident seriously and now new rules are being made regarding power banks. It is being told that there may be a ban on carrying or using power banks in flights. In the meantime, let us know why fire occurs in power banks and how it can be prevented.
Why does power bank catch fire in flight?
Power banks with lithium-ion batteries store more energy in a compact pack. Sometimes due to defect, physical damage, overcharging or internal short circuit, the chemical reaction reaches thermal runaway state. This means that the battery heats up quickly, but is unable to cool down. Apart from this, the risk of fire increases due to many reasons like change in pressure in the aircraft, continuous vibration and heat.
Careless handling
Sometimes carelessness in handling the power bank can also cause fire. Keeping a power bank in a tight pocket along with coins and keys can cause big losses. Similarly, fast-charging or poor quality cable increases the voltage and can create a risk of fire. Apart from this, due to less airflow, charging the power bank from the USB port near the seat increases the heat and there is a risk of fire.
What to do to protect yourself from fire?
Passengers can prevent the power bank from catching fire in the cabin by taking some precautions. For this, always use only BIS certified and good quality power banks. Do not carry a damaged power bank with you while traveling by air and do not keep the power bank with metal objects while packing your luggage. If there is a ban on power bank charging in any aircraft, then do not charge it.
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