X-Ray Scans Expose Cheap Battery Dangers
▼ Summary
– A study of over 1,000 lithium-ion batteries revealed a major quality gap between reputable brand-name cells and low-cost or counterfeit ones sold online.
– The investigation found dangerous manufacturing defects, including negative anode overhang, exclusively in the 424 low-cost and counterfeit batteries tested.
– These defects significantly increase the risk of internal short-circuiting, fires, and explosions, especially when combined with factors like heat or physical damage.
– Counterfeit batteries were also found to have grossly overinflated capacity claims and much poorer internal construction compared to OEM brands like Samsung and Panasonic.
– The study concludes that purchasing devices with batteries from reputable brands is safer, as low-cost alternatives carry a higher risk of dangerous defects.
A recent investigation using industrial X-ray scanning technology has exposed alarming safety disparities between major-brand batteries and their budget counterparts. The study, conducted by Lumafield, scrutinized over a thousand lithium-ion cells, revealing that cheap and counterfeit batteries frequently contain dangerous manufacturing flaws that significantly elevate the risk of fires and explosions. This research highlights a critical consumer safety issue, particularly as these low-cost cells are easily accessible through popular online marketplaces.
The analysis focused on the common 18650 battery cell, a component found in countless everyday items from power tools and electric toothbrushes to e-bikes and power banks. Researchers sourced batteries from ten distinct categories of suppliers. These included three original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Samsung and Panasonic, three vendors selling rewrapped OEM cells, and four sources of low-cost or outright counterfeit batteries procured from large online retailers.
By employing computed tomography (CT) scanners to peer inside the batteries in three dimensions, the team identified a specific and hazardous defect known as negative anode overhang. Out of the 1,054 batteries scanned, 33 exhibited this problem, which can lead to internal short-circuiting. Every single defective battery came from the pool of 424 low-cost or counterfeit cells. For consumers, this translates to an almost 8% chance that a cheap battery harbors this dangerous flaw. For two specific counterfeit brands that advertised impossibly high capacities, the defect rate soared to between 12% and 15%.
The performance claims of these budget batteries were also wildly exaggerated. While genuine 18650 cells offer capacities between 3,000 and 3,450 mAh, some counterfeits boasted ratings of 9,900 mAh. In reality, their actual capacity measured less than 1,300 mAh. Beyond the anode defect, the internal construction of the inexpensive cells was markedly inferior. They displayed significantly worse alignment of their internal wound layers compared to OEM products, a flaw that further increases the risk of short circuits and premature failure.
It is important to note that these defects do not guarantee a battery will fail catastrophically. However, they substantially increase the likelihood of a dangerous incident, especially when combined with common stressors like exposure to high temperatures or physical damage from being dropped. In stark contrast, none of the name-brand OEM batteries exhibited any of these critical manufacturing defects.
While batteries sold by rewrap vendors showed some minor deviations in build quality, they performed far better than the counterfeit options. The primary concern with rewraps is their obscured origin, making it difficult for consumers to verify the quality control standards of the original manufacturer. The findings strongly indicate that batteries from established manufacturers like Samsung and Panasonic are demonstrably safer and more reliable.
For the average person, conducting an X-ray scan before purchase is impossible. This study serves as a powerful reminder that the initial savings from a bargain battery may carry a hidden, and potentially severe, cost. Opting for devices from reputable brands remains the most effective strategy for ensuring the power source inside is free from life-threatening defects.
(Source: The Verge)
