Why phones catch fire
If Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 has you worried about your phone, Chris Martin’s tips will keep it safe
With the fiasco surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and its exploding battery still in the news, many will be wondering whether their phone is safe. While it’s not the only model to have exploded (iPhones, BlackBerrys and other devices have done the same), we’ve not seen something on this scale before.
Why batteries explode or catch fire
That’s a tricky question to answer in a neat way because there are a few reasons why a phone
battery might go wrong. Sometimes it’s very much an isolated incident while others, like the Note 7, have a fundamental flaw.
There are two main causes of Lithium-ion batteries going wrong and the first is when one gets wounded – and by that we mean a break, piercing or similar. This could be caused by dropping your phone but however it happens, the battery can short circuit causing it to expand and potentially explode.
Heat is the other main cause of battery fires and is usually related to charging when it comes to phones – this seems to be when most of the Note 7s went wrong. Charging a battery will result in some heat and if the temperature gets too high then an internal short circuit can occur. If your battery can’t cool down quick enough ‘thermal runaway’ can happen where a chain reaction accelerates the increase of temperature which is a recipe for disaster.
With recent technology such as fast charging and the latest processors, there’s more heat in today’s phones than previously. The design of a phone may also be detrimental, like trying to fit a large battery into a very thin phone, not ensuring heat is dissipated or components being places too close together.
In the case of the Note 7, it seems that the batteries are at fault rather than the design. It’s also worth noting that other Samsung phones are fine.
Stop your phone battery exploding
The advice being given to Note 7 owners is to stop using the phone and return it for a full refund
or a different phone – it’s really not worth the risk even if it appears to be working fine. The following tips can be applied to any phone (and other electronic devices like tablets) to avoid failures, explosions or fires.
Use the right charger: Ideally, use the supplied charger with your device. Unplug once charged: Try and be aware of when your phone is fully charged and unplug it to avoid unnecessary heat build-up. Charge in a safe place: It might sound silly but don’t leave your phone charging under your pillow all night, for example. Remove cases: A case is like putting a jacket on and will restrict heat dissipation so take it off to charge or other heat inducing tasks. Avoid direct sunlight – your phone won’t get a tan but the sun will heat it up so don’t leave it places like your car dashboard, especially when charging. Let you phone cool: Whether you’re charging, gaming or something else; let your phone cool down if it gets hot. Avoid pressure: You don’t want the battery to get a puncture so don’t sit on it or allow it to come under excessive pressure.