TSA Restrictions for Li-ion Batteries

[NW Dive Dawg]

Other than my laptop, this Sunday will be my first time traveling with Li-Ion batteries for some video lighting that I recently purchased. The lights are Fantasea Blue Ray 1600 lumens and each light uses two 18650 Li-ion batteries. The batteries I'm bringing are 3100 mAh and I'm bringing 8 total so I can swap with fresh between dives

The TSA site is not very clear on what is allowed and Mr. Google is not much help either.

Seems that the restrictions are minimal if the batteries are installed in a device and stricter if they are brought as spares. Also, no spares are allowed in checked baggage. I do have the plastic cases to keep the batteries secure and parrellel and plan to bring my entire video system as carry on.

My stupid question....finally.... Do you folks that travel with Li-Ion batteries leave them installed in your lights? Does TSA ever give you any hassles over your installed or spare Li-Ion batteries?

These batteries ain't cheap so I'd hate to loose them at the security check.

Thanks..

 

[tstormdiver]

I'd be curious also, as I am planning to take my canister light to Little Cayman in June.

 

[diversteve]

For the OP: You should have no problem. Your batteries are classifed by them as spare batteries and since they'll all be in their plastic cases - so the contacts can't touch anything - it's a non-issue. Your batteries aren't big enough to be considered "large" batteries which brings in extra restrictions.

Were you to check them, they would be confiscated most likely.

So just follow the basics here: Safe Travel

Effective January 1, 2008, you may not pack spare lithium batteries in your checked baggage.
You may pack spare lithium batteries in your carry-on baggage. Please see our Spare Battery Tips and How-To sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!
If you pack a device containing batteries, secure it against activation by locking the activation switch in the "off" position, placing the device in a protective case, or by other appropriate measures.
For personal use, there is generally no restriction on the number of spare batteries allowed in carry-on baggage. This is the case for cell phone batteries, "hearing aid" button cells, and AA/AAA batteries available in retail stores, as well as almost all standard laptop computer batteries.

Effective January 1, 2008, you may not pack spare lithium batteries in your checked baggage.

You may pack spare lithium batteries in your carry-on baggage. Please see our Spare Battery Tips and How-To sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!
If you pack a device containing batteries, secure it against activation by locking the activation switch in the "off" position, placing the device in a protective case, or by other appropriate measures.

For personal use, there is generally no restriction on the number of spare batteries allowed in carry-on baggage. This is the case for cell phone batteries, "hearing aid" button cells, and AA/AAA batteries available in retail stores, as well as almost all standard laptop computer batteries.

You'd have to have almost 10X larger batteries to qualify for any restriction/special handling i.e. your batteries would have to qualify as "larger" as specified. But they don't - not even close. Let's do the math

Your battery would have to have the equivalent of 8 grams of Equivalent Lithium Content to qualify for restriction, 25 grams to qualify for an outright ban. 8 grams ELC is approx. 100 wh.

The easy way to figure it out is using this formula: mAh/1000 x V = wh

So for the OP (assuming 3.7v. batteries - larger 18650's I saw on Amazon were) - you're at just over 1/10th of allowable:

3100/1000 x 3.7 = 11.47 wh.

For Tammy, I think you're fine also. Do the math.

I know people that travel with paired 8000lm lights that have never been stopped. My regular buddy travels with 4320lm lights and no one has ever even commented on it - big battery - larger than I've seen in most can lights.

More info here but you've probably seen this: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/safe-travel-batteries-and-devices

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Steve...THANKS for taking the time to explain this and especially for providing both the formula and the math! I was having difficulty with the calculation for estimating the ELC.

Think I'll just print out your post and toss it in my carry on for back-up!

 

[Doubler]

It also depends on where you are going. Security at Coz, for example, has a habit of taking spare batteries. TSA does not rule the world, even though they think they do, so check the rules at your destination.