Laptop Batteries: Hazards for the Consumer

In 2006, laptop and notebook battery recalls were proliferating. From Apple to Hewlett Packard to Dell, none of the major computer manufacturers or distributors was immune to the laptop battery recall scenario. With a variety of defective issues, the main factor contributing to laptop battery recall involved the potential for fire or explosion when the battery became overheated. As a laptop or notebook consumer, understanding the warning signs of laptop battery hazard may ensure a more safe technology experience at work and at home.

With battery recalls a significant financial impact to the manufacturers of laptops and notebooks, many hazards, unfortunately, go without acknowledgement. For this reason, the laptop and notebook consumers, alike, should be familiar with the warning signs of potential laptop battery failures and defects. One such laptop battery failure indication lies within the function of the laptop, or notebook, directly, in which the battery simply does not power the unit. For some consumers the laptop battery may fail to power the unit while in other cases, the laptop battery may power the unit but not supply that same level of power for greater than 30 minutes. When this occurs, the manufacturer should be notified, immediately, of the potential laptop battery issue.

Of a more extreme concern is the potential of laptop battery explosion when overheated. For some laptop consumers, the use of the laptop, even with an outlet electrical charge, results in the overheating of the laptop battery. For many laptop consumers, because the laptop computer is resting on a hard surface, the consumer is either unaware of the heated laptop battery or may regard the heat as a normal process of laptop operations. However, with recent issues involving the explosion of laptop batteries, when the consumer finds a battery is excessively overheated, the manufacturer should, again, be contacted regarding possible defect. While some heat is expected, a consistent and extreme heat can lead to life threatening complications.

Unfortunately, with laptop batteries, many consumers are turning to low budget electronic retailers to purchase replacement batteries in an effort to save money. While this saves the consumer money on the front end, the manufacturer is at a disadvantage as they are unable to inspect the original battery and, as a result, may be missing opportunities to diagnose and provide a potential laptop batter recall notice. For this reason, laptop consumers should always alert the manufacturer of any potential issue involving a laptop even when replacement parts are not purchased through the manufacturer.

For information on recalls of laptop and notebook batteries, visit www.tech.netscape.com.