Japan PC makers: No Sony battery recall needed

Low voltage flow from AC adapters, battery type used in Japanese notebooks eliminate fire hazard, companies say.

The story "Japan PC makers: No Sony battery recall needed" published August 17, 2006 at 7:55 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[eBob1]

High voltage flow?

Voltage doesn't flow from an AC adapter. Current flows. I am not sure if this is a translation error or what, but it sure seems odd coming from an electronics manufacturer.

[sidewinder]

Re Voltage Flow

Well, for current to flow, it needs a Voltage, perhaps that is what he meant. (High voltage current)

[Jackson Cracker]

current doesn't flow

current = flow of charge

[anytimeyourtime]

Is it an Industry Issue and Dell Leads?????

Dell acts. and curious that Apple investigates and "others -- namely HP -- have publicly distanced themselves from the affair by stating that "It's a Dell issue."
So, no Burning Laptop issues at HP? check this out:
http://expressen.se/index.jsp?d=10&a=578852
May 2006, Stockholm paper, HP Pavililion zd 8180EA laptop bought in 2005...the article references batteries as the issue....

[mdburkey]

Not likely this is a Dell only problem!

The other laptop manufacturers are basically sticking their heads in the sand on this.

*IF* the problem only becomes apparent when the battery is being recharged then their might be some tuth to their & Sony's assertion -- namely that Dell is recharging the batteries at a higher voltage and faster charge rate and it is causing problems.

However, at least in some cases it appears that the "flaming laptops" occured when the batteries were discharging and not connected to an AC adapter. If that is the case, then ANY of these Sony cells may be subject to the problem given the right set of circumstances.

If Dell's explanation of the problem -- small particles of metal left in the casing due to a flaw in Sony's manufacturing procedure (not a design issue per se but a process issue) -- is accurate, then this problem could apply to ANY of the cells produced.

Basically, their explanation is that these particles of metal were left in the battery during manufacturing and eventually work their way through the internal insulation to where they contact something conductive. In the case of small particles of metal, they make contact and almost instantly vaporize -- the result is a damaged/dead battery but no other significant issues. A large particle of metal would have been spotted during QA and would have been discarded. The problem is with the mid-size particles that would have been missed during QA but would be large enough to survive contact long enough to allow rapid discharge of the battery internally (causing a rapid buiid up of heat and gas and... well, you know the rest!).

Based on other comments I have seen, they say this problem takes, on average 10-14 months to occur (probably as the repeated heating/cooling cycles of the battery causes expansion/contraction and eventually works the metal shard through the insulation). Other factors like physical abuse can hasten the process as well.

This is all hearsay, but if it is accurate, then the Dell recall is merely the tip of the iceburg -- and my hat goes off to Dell for being proactive on this one and stepping up the plate and admitting they have a problem.

[MidniteRaider]

Article's reason goes along with yours

Higher voltage can help in the high heating of the battery. If the
voltage is improperly induced to the battery, it might have other
effects as well.

In any case, I agree with most of what you are saying.

Except Dell was BEING REACTIVE. As they knew of this issue for
4-5 months, but did nothing! It wasn't until the incidents got air
time all over the news, after a few more incidents, that they
issued the recall.
Also, they didn't admit they have a problem. They stated that
Sony has a problem. But there might be truth to the article,
where if the power system was PROPERLY implemented, maybe
most of this wouldn't have happened.

[pookiecat]

toshiba -- be ready to be sued!!!!!!

i am a toshiba owner and i am mad as hell. i won't even use my laptop anymore. i was using it a few days ago and that sucker was so frigging hot...if i hadn't discovered it i'm sure it would have exploded. i am not going to turn this sucker on. so now i have a $1500 paperweight sitting in my house. i am going to sue frigging toshiba.

[insaneike]

toshiba

I too ahve a Toshiba Satellie model. it gets freakin HOT!!! Like big time. Was there a recall on the sattelites bats? I cant find any real info on the whole ordeal.

later

[GreenApple123]

Toshiba Laptop Battery Question

I bought a replacement battery for my Toshiba laptop about a month ago from http://www.laptopsforless.com/laptopbattery/toshiba-battery and it works great. Is there any reason to think that a replacement laptop battery would be any worse than the manufacturers?