Batteries not being mailed from china

[Tinderbox (UK)]

Hi.

I read in the forum below, there might be a problem getting hold of li-ion battery`s especially third-part copies from china and maybe other countries.

Batteries not being mailed from china

John.

 

[astroNikon]

The US postal service started prohibiting this some months ago even in Us to US shipments. Their automated kiosks state it too. There have been issues of them catching fire in flight.

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

The UK only deliverers li-ion battery`s posted locally, no international shipping, this started a few months ago, i ordered a cheap battery from china to test this and it was delivered, but since it looks like china is banning them now i don't know what to do, maybe stock up with a few battery`s before the price goes up, or they become unavailable.

Hopefully the retailers will find a way around this.

I use to buy an lots of battery`s from 7dayshop.com it was free delivery, now £1.99, but after the UK ban, it`s now £5.95 delivery per order as they have to use a courier service not the royal mail.

Though they say buying loads of li-ion battery`s is a false economy as even unused ones dies after a few years of storage.

EDIT: Is it back to AA ni-mh battery for new camera`s from now on.

John.

 

[Overread]

It seems to be an issue with air mail, so what will likely happen is that those who are going to deal in batteries will make sea or over land delivery methods. Of course this will slow down the supply chain significantly, the next few months could see a dramatic drop in supply until the slower methods catch up with demand. They might also ship larger bulk orders over to territories and then locally distribute.

Odd that they'll ship them in items but not alone, some companies might just make a load of really dirt cheap torches or clocks and ship the batteries over in them and then break them down and ship the components back (or just also start selling really cheap stock)

 

[Tailgunner]

This is evolves air mail as mentioned above and probably effects more one on one sales. The retailer level gets all their products through the use of ships which is then transported via trains and trucks.

 

[astroNikon]

US Department of Transport announces restrictions for Li-Ion batteries: Digital Photography Review

The US Department of Transportation has announced new safety rules relating to the storage of rechargeable Lithium batteries when flying to, from and within the USA. The new restrictions, effective from January 1st 2008, dictate that loose Lithium cells may not be packed in checked baggage under any circumstances - batteries installed in equipment are unaffected. Carry-on baggage may contain up to two loose batteries but only if there is no possibility of short-circuit, containing them individually within simple plastic bags or their original packaging is sufficient to prevent this and will satisfy inspectors. Click through for the DOT press release.

Click here to visit safetravel.dot.gov for details of all current baggage restrictions

Press release:

PHMSA 11-07

Friday, December 28, 2007

New US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Lithium Battery Limits in Carry-on Baggage on Passenger Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008

Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008 once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones, and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries*, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions. Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.

"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments. These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public website: Safe Travel.

which apparenty has caused severe issues like this
http://gigaom.com/2011/04/04/lithium-ion-batteries-faulted-for-jet-crash/

 

[Tailgunner]

US Department of Transport announces restrictions for Li-Ion batteries: Digital Photography Review

The US Department of Transportation has announced new safety rules relating to the storage of rechargeable Lithium batteries when flying to, from and within the USA. The new restrictions, effective from January 1st 2008, dictate that loose Lithium cells may not be packed in checked baggage under any circumstances - batteries installed in equipment are unaffected. Carry-on baggage may contain up to two loose batteries but only if there is no possibility of short-circuit, containing them individually within simple plastic bags or their original packaging is sufficient to prevent this and will satisfy inspectors. Click through for the DOT press release.

Click here to visit safetravel.dot.gov for details of all current baggage restrictions

Press release:

PHMSA 11-07

Friday, December 28, 2007

New US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Lithium Battery Limits in Carry-on Baggage on Passenger Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008

Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008 once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones, and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries*, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions. Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.

"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments. These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public website: Safe Travel.

which apparenty has caused severe issues like this
Lithium Ion Batteries Faulted for Jet Crash ? Tech News and Analysis

I stand corrected, I guess they do or at least did for sometime ship large shipments of Lithium/Li PO batteries via air freight. Common sense would have told them this had the potential to create problems. Just look at all the laptops that melted down prior to this legislation.

 

[astroNikon]

and yet those are the batteries they used for the 787 - hopefully they have all it corrected now.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery problems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[nycphotography]

But they are only hazardous if they are shorted or overloaded and then overheat. Most decent sized batteries have enough energy stored to start a fire if shorted. Even the short itself can arc and ignite any paper in close contact.

Seems simple enough to just require that batteries be packed in insulating materials (like foam sheets) instead of mylar film.

But noooo let's just ban them all together.

 

[minicoop1985]

Now, it seems that the US postal service doesn't want them shipped IN things either. They told me when I was planning on shipping my E-450 out that it couldn't have batteries in it at all.