"Don't Lose Your Batteries to Airport Security"

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Don't Lose Your Batteries to Airport Security
By Gary Krakow
TheStreet.com 


If you're one of the millions of airline travelers who carry spare lithium
laptop, cell phone and camera batteries with you, listen up: The government
has some new rules which go into effect on New Year's Day. 

Fortunately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is not worried
about the batteries installed in your devices, be it an iPhone or laptop.
Those are safe to bring along with you on the plane in your carry-on bag. 

But the TSA is worried about loose, spare batteries. These are batteries
with uncovered electrical contacts, which, if touched by other metal objects
could cause an explosion and fire during a flight. So, the agency wants to
make sure that any spare lithium batteries you take with you on your flight
meet its new standards. 

Simply speaking, the rules are that you can't pack spare lithium batteries
in your checked luggage and can bring spare batteries with you in your
carry-on luggage -- up to a point. 

Look a little further and you find things get somewhat tricky. 

As for exactly what you're allowed to bring onto the plane, it all has to do
with the actual amount of lithium contained in the each battery. According
to the new government rules: 

The new lithium quantity limits apply to both your spare and installed
batteries. The limits are expressed in grams of "equivalent lithium
content." Eight 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 grams of
equivalent lithium content. Most lithium ion batteries in cell phones and
laptop computers are below this quantity threshold. 

You can also bring up to two batteries with an aggregate equivalent lithium
content of up to 25 grams, in addition to any batteries that fall below the
8-gram threshold. 

For a lithium metal battery, whether installed in a device or carried as a
spare, the limit on lithium content is 2 grams per battery. 

The bottom line for travelers is most consumer-type lithium batteries are
permitted. Very large, professional batteries are a different story. If you
are unsure, contact the device's manufacturer before you pack your bags and
leave for the airport. 

For more information, and some helpful photos, you can read the official
announcement on the U.S. Department of Transportation's SafeTravel Web site.


Good luck.


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