Warning of potential threats from power banks
With the increasing number of fires and explosions, we cannot help but be concerned about the potential threat posed by lithium-ion batteries. Their widespread use in everyday devices has posed serious safety challenges for consumers.
Fires and explosions involving battery chargers are becoming more and more common. Large-scale product recalls from reputable brands such as Audio-Technica (Japan), Belkin (USA) and Anker (China) have exposed serious safety flaws in lithium-ion batteries.
Improper charging, manufacturing defects, and the use of substandard devices are believed to be the main causes of fires and explosions, causing property damage and directly threatening human life.
Chinese manufacturer Anker has long been known as a leading brand in the field of audio and charging accessories, especially loved for its high-quality backup battery products at reasonable prices.
However, a series of consecutive product recalls this year, the third in just six months, due to lithium-ion battery overheating, has raised big questions about the brand's reliability.
The continued occurrence of similar incidents not only seriously affects Anker's reputation but also makes consumers worry about the quality and safety of the products they are using.
In an alarming development, Anker has just issued an emergency recall of 80,000 of its speakers due to a serious fire risk. The number of 33 reports of incidents related to this product, ranging from smoke, small fires to users suffering minor burns, shows the level of risk that these devices pose.
Faced with this situation, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has just issued an urgent warning, asking users to immediately stop using affected products and unplug them to ensure safety.
Which Anker products have been recalled in 2024?
Anker has identified the speaker models that pose a fire risk as Soundcore (A3102) and Bluetooth PowerConf (A3302), which were sold exclusively on the Amazon e-commerce platform in 2023. According to information from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, both Anker and Amazon have proactively contacted customers who own the defective products to carry out recalls and returns.
This year has been a turbulent one for Anker, as it has faced a series of incidents involving overheating lithium-ion batteries. First, it recalled more than 321,000 products, including the AnkerWork PowerConf S3 (A3302) and Soundcore Bluetooth speakers (A3102), after receiving multiple reports of fire and explosion risks due to overheating batteries.
This not only causes anxiety for users but also raises big questions about the quality and safety of the technology products we use every day.
To ensure absolute safety for consumers, last September, Anker expanded the product recall to include 334 MagGo (PowerCore 10K) battery models, 20,000 mAh power banks and MagGo (10,000 mAh) power banks. This decision shows that Anker is increasingly tightening product quality and safety control measures.
How to check if your Anker device is affected?
You can easily determine if your Anker device is subject to recall by visiting the recall program's website and entering the serial number of your A3102 speaker, 321 Power Bank, or Anker MagGo Power Bank.
While waiting for replacements, the company has advised users of the recalled speakers to immediately stop using them and not charge them with any external power source or charger.
But Anker’s problems are just a small part of the broader picture of lithium-ion battery risks. More and more devices, from Audio-Technica earbuds to popular power banks like the Belkins BoostCharge Pro, have been reported to have overheating issues in recent times, highlighting the growing concern about lithium-ion battery safety.
Cheap tech devices pose a risk of lithium-ion battery explosions
During the shopping season, when the demand for cheap technology devices increases, the risk of explosion due to lithium-ion batteries also increases significantly. From compact devices such as mobile phones, tablets to personal vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric scooters, and even consumer products such as e-cigarettes, there is a potential risk of explosion due to battery failure. This is truly an alarming problem and needs to be taken seriously.
According to the latest report by the multinational insurance company QBE (Australia), the number of fires related to lithium-ion batteries in the UK has skyrocketed to 46%. Heartbreaking images of fires caused by electric bicycles, destroying homes and even lives of many people, are becoming a scary reality.
To tackle the root causes of lithium-ion battery-related house fires, we need stronger regulation. In the UK, the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill sets out a clear path to keeping people safe by tightly controlling the manufacture, storage and use of lithium-ion batteries.
How to protect your home from lithium-ion battery fires
Three major recalls from Anker not only raise concerns about the safety of its line of speakers and power banks, but also reflect a deeper issue: the increasingly heated debate about lithium-ion battery safety that extends far beyond the boundaries of any one brand.
We, as consumers, need to be more conscious of our daily battery usage and charging habits. Do you often pay attention to charging electronic devices overnight or ignore safety warnings when using lithium-ion batteries?
These seemingly simple actions pose serious fire and explosion risks. For example, did you know that trying to put out a lithium battery fire with water can make the situation worse?
To avoid unfortunate consequences, we need to pay special attention to unusual signs of the battery. If your battery suddenly heats up, blisters, leaks liquid, smells strange, cannot be charged or emits smoke, stop using it immediately. These may be warning signs of danger, with the potential risk of fire or explosion.
To ensure safety when using electronic devices, we should prioritize buying products from reputable brands and reliable sales addresses. At the same time, equipping yourself and those around you, especially children, with knowledge about battery safety is also extremely important. Let's create a habit of checking and using batteries safely.
Seemingly small actions such as using the right charger, storing the device in a dry place and unplugging it when fully charged can become a solid barrier, preventing unfortunate fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion batteries.
