Over the weekend, we saw the news of how a power bank exploded on the body of its user. This happened while he was charging his phone with the power bank in his pocket. We may ask, Why? Why would a power bank all of a sudden explode? You guys requested we do a piece on why power banks explode, my curious mind was also yearning to learn this too. So I hereby present to you three likely causes of a power bank explosion.
Table of Contents
What can make your Power bank explode?
1.) Poor Battery Quality
Batteries are the major components of power banks, infact that’s the most expensive part when you try to cost it individually. Most of the power banks in the market are made from Lithium-ion or Lithium-Polymer batteries, though the former is a cheaper option.
Manufacturers, (in a bid to keep prices down) tend to use the Lithium- ion batteries to save costs. In worst case scenarios, some manufacturers go to the extent of using recycled batteries. This increases the chances or likeliness of explosion at a later time.
Also, over long periods of use, it is possible for a good battery to degrade and become bad. This happens more if you have had your power bank for over two years. The chances of its battery going bad increases, and this can make the power bank explode.
2.) Wrong Circuit Design
It doesn’t just end with the quality of battery. The internal circuit design of a power bank is another likely cause of explosion. For a power bank a good circuit design entails the following :
- Power protection: A well made power bank should have power protection. This is a mechanism that ensures that the battery stops charging once it has reached full capacity.
- Short circuit control: A good power bank should have it’s circuit fully insulated to prevent short circuit. (Short circuit means touching of wires)
- Temperature control: The ideal power bank should have a kind of temperature control such that once it hits a particular temperature, it shuts down to cool off.
If one or more of these are not built into the power bank, the chances of a likely explosion in the future are high.
3.) Improper or Wrong Usage
Sometimes, what can cause a power bank to explode could be traced to us – the users. How do you handle your power banks? Exposing power banks to high temperatures or humidity can lead to what can cause explosion . Overcharging of power banks is bad practice. Especially when it doesn’t have power protection like we explained above. Other bad practices include spilling water on it or leaving it near a heated area, like under the sun.
To Stay safe
Now that you know the things that can make a power bank explode, you should take steps to avoid those things. For starters, be wary of dirt cheap power banks, as they are likely to have faulty or poor quality batteries and wiring.
Do not keep or use your power banks on extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. To be on the safe side also, do not use put a power bank in your pocket while using it. Cheers and stay safe.