Batteries, just like liquids, must now be protected from becoming terrorist-style weapons or catching on fire by being enveloped in that wonder-material: the Ziploc bag. Had the TSA seen the episode of Cranky Geeks I was on a few months ago, they would know that what protects us from the fiery inferno of battery blazes is paper, not plastic, and I worry that an entire nation will be destined for a tragic demise of flames and heartbreak, all because the government doesn’t keep up with technology via videocasting rants and is leading us astray with protection clearly only suitable for guarding against the danger of 3.4 oz or less of water, shampoo, and toothpaste.
In short, beginning January 1st, all lithium batteries must be either in a device they power or in a plastic bag in carry on luggage. If in checked luggage, even if in the super-flame retardant, fantastically amazing plastic, the batteries could turn the plane into a fiery ball of destruction. It’s only by the grace of a perfectly aligned universe that we’ve all managed to escape such a fate before now.
As with those hazardous liquids, limits apply to these perilous batteries. According to the TSA Guidelines:
Under the new rules, you can bring batteries with up to 8-gram equivalent lithium content… You can also bring up to two spare batteries with an aggregate equivalent lithium content of up to 25 grams… For a lithium metal battery, whether installed in a device or carried as a spare, the limit on lithium content is 2 grams of lithium metal per battery…. The limits are expressed in grams of “equivalent lithium content.” 8 grams of equivalent lithium content is approximately 100 watt-hours. 25 grams is approximately 300 watt-hours.
I’m sure those working security will have no trouble measuring lithium content in my necessary-like-water-and-air bag of electronics. I see only smooth airport days ahead.
Tags: travel
December 30th, 2007 at 11:57 am
This has news teaser written all over it. “Could this common house hold item delay your travel planes and possibly kill you? Stay tuned at 11.”
For some reason this reminds me of the Mythbusters where they deemed it possible to kill someone with cigarette butts fired from a gun. Once it was a piece of litter, but now I tremble in fear at the sight of them.