Singapore Airlines bans in-flight charging with power banks

As SIA unveils new rules for using power banks on planes, why do portable power banks catch fire? Can we prevent it from happening?

Next month, passengers aboard Singapore Airlines (SIA) or Scoot flights will not be allowed to use power banks to charge their personal devices.

The new rules

The new rules come in the wake of a recent spate of incidents involving power banks.

• A power bank caught fire on a Batik Air flight.
• Last week, a power bank caught fire on an MRT train.
• Air Busan plane caught fire, allegedly from power bank.

SIA's new rules prohibit the charging of power banks or the charging of devices with power banks.

However, you can still bring them up the plane and existing guidelines about maximum battery capacity remain unaffected.

SIA isn't the only airline imposing such restrictions. Thai Airways, AirAsia, and South Korean airlines have all imposed similar rules, with some being even stricter.

Why do power banks explode?

But why do modern lithium-ion power banks explode or catch fire? There are several possible causes:

• Manufacturing defects; use of poor-quality materials.
• Poor heat dissipation or exposure to high heat.
• Short circuit causing thermal runaway*.
• Lithium-ion cells punctured.
• Overcharging*.

*𝘈 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵-𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘴.

As you can see, there isn't much one can do beyond some basic measures:

• Keep metal parts from the ports of power banks.
• Ensure adequate ventilation when charging.
• Treat power banks with care.

Avoid cheap, bootleg power banks

When I researched phone chargers for an on-air interview with CNA93.8 last year, I realised how bootleg or cheap chargers often skim on safety features to reduce cost.

Yes, the box will highlight various purported safety features. But open it up, and most or all the safety circuitries will not be there.

The same applies to power banks.

tldr;

Handle power banks with care and go for trusted brands. And yes, if buying online, be sure to purchase from reliable stores to avoid fakes.