New regulations for lithium batteries in USA on airplanes Jan. 1 2008

[AlanWald]

Guess what, the below quoted info from the TSA web site (from yesterday) is now gone
Today(January 2, 2008) it merely says
"Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage."

Loose means not installed in a device.

It will take a while to implement any regs.

But for now, it looks like no Lithium in checked bags except those installed in a device. So carry your spares in your carry on until things get more clear.

So as of January 2, 2008 5:47 PM PDT
Safe Travel
this is what the DOT web site says
Effective January 1, 2008, the following rules apply to the spare lithium batteries you carry with you in case the battery in a device runs low:

* Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries.
* You may not pack a spare lithium battery in your checked baggage
* You may bring spare lithium batteries with you in carry-on baggage – see our spare battery tips and how-to sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!
* Even though we recommend carrying your devices with you in carry-on baggage as well, if you must bring one in checked baggage, you may check it with the batteries installed.

This from the TSA web site TSA: Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices
late January 1. 2008
Checked luggage batteries must be properly packaged to avoid removal.


Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage.

Under the new DOT rule, lithium batteries are allowed in checked baggage under one of the following conditions:

* The batteries must be in their original containers.
* The battery terminals must not exposed (for example placing tape over the ends of the batteries).
* The batteries are installed in a device.
* The batteries are enclosed by themselves in a plastic bag.

Loose lithium batteries found in checked baggage may be removed

 

[Redondoscubadude]

Leaving Cozumel this September Mexican Security made me check my large lithium-ion battery for my HID canister light I had in my carry on. It looks a lot like a stick of dynamite with a fuse.

 

[mania]

Ken
This is exactly my question - what about HID batteries. I have 3 i travel with. 2 are NiMh (i understand no problem with these) and one LiIon. As a master of Literature please don't ask me to calculate watt-hours (this looks way too difficult for me ). Can I have all 3 in my carry-one bag or not?

Mania

 

[divepsych]

Here's what is on the official TSA website as of this morning:

Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices

Air Travel
Travel Alert!: Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation will prohibit loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.

Learn more at http://safetravel.dot.gov/.
Some Tips for Safe Travel With Batteries

• Keep batteries and equipment with you, or in carry-on baggage - not in your checked baggage! In the cabin, flight crew can better monitor conditions, and have access to the batteries or device if a fire does occur.
• Buy batteries from reputable sources and only use batteries approved for your device – avoid counterfeits! A counterfeit battery is more likely to cause a fire in your equipment – costing you more in the long run, and compromising safety.
• Look for the mark of an independent testing or standards organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• Do not carry recalled or damaged batteries on aircraft. Check battery recall information at the manufacturer's website, or at the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• Only charge batteries which you are sure are rechargeable! Non-rechargeable batteries are not designed for recharging, and become hazardous if placed in a battery charger. A non-rechargeable battery placed in a charger may overheat or cause damage later.
• Only use a charger compatible with your rechargeable battery – don’t mix and match!
• If original packaging is not available for spare batteries, effectively insulate battery terminals by isolating the batteries from contact with other batteries and metal. Do not permit a loose battery to come in contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys, or jewelry.
• Place each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag, or package, or place tape across the battery's contacts to isolate terminals. Isolating terminals prevents short-circuiting.
• Take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing, or putting a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating.
• If you must carry a battery-powered device in any baggage, package it to prevent inadvertent activation. For instance, you should pack a cordless power tool in a protective case, with a trigger lock engaged. If there is an on-off switch or a safety switch, tape it in the "off" position.

Lithium Batteries: Safety and Security

Lithium-ion batteries, often found in laptop computers, differ from primary lithium batteries, which are often used in cameras. Some newer AA-size batteries are also primary lithium.
While there is no explosion hazard associated with either kind of battery, the Federal Aviation Administration has studied fire hazards associated with both primary and lithium-ion cells, and their extensive research is publicly available. As a result of this research, the FAA no longer allows large, palletized shipments of these batteries to be transported as cargo on passenger aircraft.
The research also shows that an explosion will not result from shorting or damaging either lithium-ion or primary lithium batteries. Both are, however, extremely flammable. Primary lithium batteries cannot be extinguished with firefighting agents normally carried on aircraft, whereas lithium-ion batteries are easily extinguished by most common extinguishing agents, including those carried on board commercial aircraft.
TSA has and will continue to work closely with the FAA on potential aviation safety and security issues, and TSA security officers are thoroughly and continually trained to find explosive threats. TSA does not have plans to change security regulations for electronic devices powered by lithium batteries.

 

[divepsych]

Just another layer of stress for dive travel...

 

[mania]

I merged 2 threads on the samae topic. Ken Kurtis' thread was in SoCal but I think it has some really good info valuable for all of us.

Mania

 

[DandyDon]

I had a security agent at Georgetown airport, Exuma island, Bahamas take my lighter away Saturday. It was certainly an allowed lighter per changes to the regs in August, but he claimed that they never got any notice on any changes - no lighters. I started to say "Sir, I don't know if you're ignorant or lying..." but decided against that. I just told him he was wrong, for all the good that did.

I guess we need to carry ALL TSA regs with us on trips, printed out the day of travel....? :silly:

Continental Air has this on their site now...

Spare Lithium Batteries Banned in Checked Luggage

Effective Jan. 1, 2008, customers traveling to, from or within the United States will no longer be able to carry spare lithium batteries in their checked bags.

Customers may bring spare lithium batteries for laptops, cell phones and cameras in their carry-on luggage. When bringing spare batteries in carry-on luggage it’s best to leave them in the original packaging. If packing loose batteries secure them with tape so that the ends of the batteries do not come into contact with each other and place each battery in separate plastic bags. The limit is two batteries per passenger.

Customers may still place electronic items in checked luggage with the batteries still inside the devices.

Details and information on other prohibited items may also be found at SafeTravel.dot.gov.

I never leave batteries in devices in my checked luggage, but the only lithium batteries I can think of in mine would be in a couple of tank lights. I guess I can carry them in my backpack, too.

 

[jimdiverman]

I never leave batteries in devices in my checked luggage, but the only lithium batteries I can think of in mine would be in a couple of tank lights. I guess I can carry them in my backpack, too.

In the original packaging, it takes several charging cycles for LiIon batteries before they hold better than 90% charge. If I need to buy new batteries, it could be several days, after charging and recharging them, before they could be ready to use.

If we can only carry two spare batteries on the plane, that is going to seriously challenge the way I use LiIon batteries. My strobes use 4 AA each. My camera uses 2 AA, and my backup dive lights use 4 to 6 AA batteries each. I normally take 30 AA batteries on my trips. I don't plan to buy additional batteries at my destination, use them for a week and then discard them because I can't take them back on the plane.

How can there be a limit on these batteries? I thought the limit was only on larger batteries, like for laptops.

 

[DandyDon]

In the original packaging, it takes several charging cycles for LiIon batteries before they hold better than 90% charge. If I need to buy new batteries, it could be several days, after charging and recharging them, before they could be ready to use.

If we can only carry two spare batteries on the plane, that is going to seriously challenge the way I use LiIon batteries. My strobes use 4 AA each. My camera uses 2 AA, and my backup dive lights use 4 to 6 AA batteries each. I normally take 30 AA batteries on my trips. I don't plan to buy additional batteries at my destination, use them for a week and then discard them because I can't take them back on the plane.

How can there be a limit on these batteries? I thought the limit was only on larger batteries, like for laptops.

Go NiMH? I had my bad learning experiences with Wal-mart rechargeable batteries. Then I learned to buy better quality batteries and rechargers at Thomas Distributing Their chargers can drain and charge a battery set to prevent the "memory effect" - which NiMHs can have, albeit to a lessor degree than NiCds