Exploding flashlight batteries

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armoredman

armoredman

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My loving wife was so happy when she won an Internet raffle back in July of 2006, and got her Surefire Nitrolon flashlight. LApolicegear.com shipped it with 2 free extra batteries, and we figured this was great...and it was, up until yesterday.
As I was pulling into work, my wife called, saying that she had heard a loud bang, and her Bianchi holster fanny pack caught fire on the bed. She put the smolder out, and discovered that her Surefire flashlight had exploded. The rear battery had detonated like a grenade, gutting the flashlight like a hog through the front.

destroyedsurefirenitrolon1.gif

Naturally, this scared about ten years off her life. I advised her to take the flashlight and the spare batteries out into the garage, behind the fire door. The spares had been stored in her small safe - right next to her spare live ammunition.
I contacted Surefire just a few minutes ago, and they stated they would replace it, just like that, and requested I send them the pics I took. They will issue a UPS call tag, and give us a new one. I was impressed with thier stance on thier product. without reservation.
Then I found something ELSE out...
The batteries were NOT from Surefire. LApolicegear.com had replaced the original set, so that all four batteries sent were these Battery Station 123A, marked "made in PRC"! They offered to replace the flashlight, and assured me they no longer use the Chinese made batteries. When I asked them if they would replace her fanny pack,(not a real expensive item!), the customer service person said "We won't do that!" Hmm.
It's a testament to the toughness of the flashlight that it did not burst at all, the steel body held the explosion in quite handily.
Surefire stepped up to the plate without reservation, LApolicegear.com sort of did, with prodding, so I guess I can't argue too hard, but I have to wonder, what would thier answer have been if my house had burned down due to thier cheap chinese made batteries? "Caveat Emptor"? Could be.
So, not to bellyache about how the world owes me squat, just check your CR123A flashlight batteries, and if they say "made in PRC", DITCH 'EM!
Mods, if this isn't firearm related enough, it WAS next to her CZ 2075 RAMI in her fanny pack! The RAMI was undamaged, and the spare mag was OK, but I had to clean off reside from both. the fanny pack is history, full of gunk and melted holes.
 
armoredman - Glad your damage was limited to replaceable items. I just checked my surefire 123A batteries in my E2D and they do say "MADE IN USA" on them, never noticed before. Thanks for the heads up on this.
 
*blink* *blink*

They did what??

Sheesh, as if the world weren't already full enough of things to worry about!!

Glad you & your wife are okay, and the damage wasn't worse.

pax
 
Speaking of batteries I am using 1,2,3 PHOTO. This is all I have. Am I doing something wrong or is it ok. I need some advice.
 
Did your wife use the flashlight shortly (an hour) before it went up? If so, it was likely "rapid venting with flame", which probably developed temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees.

Batteries are ugly. The more power they can store, the more unstable they become. About 10 years ago I had a car battery explode as I was starting my car. It split in half and spewed acid all over the engine compartment. I had to replace a ton of hoses and wiring, and even the fuzzy insulation on the bottom of the hood had holes in it.
 
I two E2Ds and I only use Surefire-branded, or Duracells. I prefer the Duracells myself. Easier to find and they last a little longer (although, that might be a figment of my imagination as I have not directly compared them).


-T.
 
armoredman, that's very unusual. I've never heard of one of these batteries letting go just sitting there. Usually the catalyst for such a reaction is use, either heating from rapid current drain or one cell (strong) charging another (weak) in a circuit. If the light was off, neither of these situations should have been possible.

Steve
 
Usually the catalyst for such a reaction is use, either heating from rapid current drain or one cell (strong) charging another (weak) in a circuit. If the light was off, neither of these situations should have been possible.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, which is why I never move lithium batteries around between flashlights.
 
That's what I thought, which is why I never move lithium batteries around between flashlights.
Click to expand...

If Mrs. Armoredman wasn't using the flashlight and the light itself didn't suffer a dead short, it sounds like the batteries would have let go just sitting in the packaging, in the safe (ouch) or in a kitchen junk drawer (think "spontaneous combustion"). It's possible the tightly sealed flashlight caused the explosion to appear more violent than it actually was, but it's still not cool.

I'm going to stick with Alkaline cells when possible.
 
Yes, the flashlight usually sat in her fanny pack, used every so often, but mostly in a cool, dark place, unmoving. That also struck me as very odd, and I am the fact that it was the back battery was what made it so violent, just like a cartidge being fired. The only movable thing was the battery in front, so it "fired" it right out.
 
Holy Crud, I bought a 24 pack of those batteries and have been using them. I have about 12 left. Should I toss or take the chance. Bought them from BatteryStation. Oh PooP
 
Should I toss or take the chance. Bought them from BatteryStation.
Click to expand...

My educated guess is that this incident is due to the cheap no-name batteries. I expect you're fine if you have name brand batteries.


-T.
 
I would expect Battery Station to replace all the returned batteries from that batch... with another batch of the same exact battery. :banghead:

Be very careful with lithium batteries! If one discharges earlier than the other (low quality batteries, or mix -n- matching old with new) then the charged battery attempts to charge the weak battery. Usually the battery with the most charge is the one that explodes, as it's being rapidly discharged in attempt to charge the nonchargeable weak battery. This sensitivity is the price we pay for the amount of power in such a compact package.

I'm not sure I would expect Surefire to be replacing lights in the future known to be harmed by those specific batteries if it becomes a common problem. They may begin deferring the customer to the battery vendor/manufacturer.
 
Battery manufacturer is in China - good luck.
Thernlund, that IS the no-name brand that exploded, see the pic - marked "The Battery Stattion", and on the back..."made in PRC".
 
Thernlund, that IS the no-name brand that exploded, see the pic - marked "The Battery Stattion", and on the back..."made in PRC".
Click to expand...

I know. My point was, stay with name brand. But of course you know that. ;)


-T.
 
Yeah, it's a pretty amazing forum that way. :)

Thanks for the link. I'm curious about this because although I understand (now) the basic mechanics of how a lithium battery can explode, I'm still greatly puzzled how one can explode in a flashlight that isn't being used.

pax
 
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