New Rules re Flying with Lithium Batteries

[CompuDude]

I could have posted this in a number of places, including Photography, but here should be as good as any, I suppose!

SEE: SafeTravel.dot.gov

Important updates to what is allowed when flying with Lithium-Ion batteries. Important for photographers and those with high-powered Lithium-based light batteries. Read up!

Effective January 1, 2008, the following rules apply to the spare lithium batteries you carry with you in case the battery in a device runs low:

* Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries.
* You may not pack a spare lithium battery in your checked baggage
* You may bring spare lithium batteries with you in carry-on baggage – see our spare battery tips and how-to sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!
* Even though we recommend carrying your devices with you in carry-on baggage as well, if you must bring one in checked baggage, you may check it with the batteries installed.

The following quantity limits apply to both your spare and installed batteries. 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:

* Under the new rules, you can bring batteries with up to 8-gram equivalent lithium content. All lithium ion batteries in cell phones are below 8 gram equivalent lithium content. Nearly all laptop computers also are below this quantity threshold.
* You can also bring up to two spare batteries with an aggregate equivalent lithium content of up to 25 grams, in addition to any batteries that fall below the 8-gram threshold. Examples of two types of lithium ion batteries with equivalent lithium content over 8 grams but below 25 are shown below.
* 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.
* Almost all consumer-type lithium metal batteries are below 2 grams of lithium metal. But if you are unsure, contact the manufacturer!

[Shortyman801]

I think I am going to go to the airport with a carry-on bag full of batteries, and in my checked baggage I am going to make a device that runs on 100 batteries. The device that I make will not work, and when they tell me that I can't take it I will tell them that just because it doesn't work does not mean that those batteries aren't installed.

Also just to screw with them I am going to take 10 Coke bottles that are filled with sprite, and when they tell me to take a drink out of all of them I'm going to look at the bottles and say " Sir, I put GHB in that drink, so that if I see a young, thirsty girl... wll, you know the rest."

Not to mention I am going to wear shoes with a 3 inch thick sole, that weigh 3 pounds each.

I love screwing with the government.

[paintsnow]

you could just make a huge flashlight with a tiny little bulb and a bunch of resistors to make it last years on the amount of batteries and barley let off any light.

[WV Diver]

So what's the point? What's the big deal about batteries and airports? They never bother to explain why they change the rules, they just expect you to follow like cattle.

[Bigg_Budd]

Probably has something to do with different people bringing separate components to assemble a bomb while in flight...

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by Shortyman801

I think I am going to go to the airport with a carry-on bag full of batteries, and in my checked baggage I am going to make a device that runs on 100 batteries. The device that I make will not work, and when they tell me that I can't take it I will tell them that just because it doesn't work does not mean that those batteries aren't installed.

Also just to screw with them I am going to take 10 Coke bottles that are filled with sprite, and when they tell me to take a drink out of all of them I'm going to look at the bottles and say " Sir, I put GHB in that drink, so that if I see a young, thirsty girl... wll, you know the rest."

Not to mention I am going to wear shoes with a 3 inch thick sole, that weigh 3 pounds each.

I love screwing with the government.

I think I have a pair of platform shoes from the 70's I can let you have...

[chinacat46]

The rules are really screwy. I had 4.2 oz tube of toothpaste that was almost empty(less then .5 oz in it) but because the original tube said 4.2 oz it wasn't under 3 oz so they took it. Geeze!!

[Bigg_Budd]

Originally Posted by chinacat46

The rules are really screwy. I had 4.2 oz tube of toothpaste that was almost empty(less then .5 oz in it) but because the original tube said 4.2 oz it wasn't under 3 oz so they took it. Geeze!!

Contents don't matter. It's all about the size of the container. That's stated pretty clearly on their website.

I fly alot for business, and this really isn't a hassle. Just know the rules prior to departure and you will be fine...

[scubamike]

Lithium batteries can explode. I will try to find the pictures of batteries exploding.. it's incredible something so small can make so much damage.

If the batteries exploded in a plane it would be a disaster. Manufacturers are trying to make "PROTECTED" lithium battery that are supposed to be safer.

Video
YouTube - Lithium Battery Explosion By Night

A lot of info
Flashlight Reviews and LED Modifications

Read and view the pictures
Anyone Ever Have A Flashlight Explode? - Groundspeak Forums

[Matt P]

Yes - if anyone knows the official reasoning behind this new regulation please post it here. I'm curious about the official word...