Exploding headphones - I guess no one "heard" it coming

[Analog]

Quote

A passenger on a February 19th flight from Beijing, China to Melbourne, Australia was burned when her headphones caught fire. The incident was detailed in a report released today by the Australian government’s Transport Safety Bureau, which stated that the headphones’ batteries were the likely the cause of the fire. The passenger’s name, the name of the airline, and the brand of the headphones were not released. The ATSB says that “a loud explosion” was heard about two hours into the flight. The injured passenger had been sleeping when the headphones exploded. “As I went to turn around I felt burning on my face,” she told the ATSB. It’s unclear if this is exactly what happened on the flight in question, but considering thermal runaway was behind the problems with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and exploding hoverboards, it’s a likely culprit.

 

Source - http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/15/14938788/headphones-explosion-airplane-sleeping-woman

 

 

After the fiasco with the Note 7 and reports of iPhones exploding now we have this - exploding headphones... The incident occurred almost a month ago, but it only now that the media reports on it. The brand of the headphones was not released as, stated in the article, according to the ATSB "it was not really important." Still, no permanent harm was caused to the passenger who was wearing the headphones when they exploded, which is a good thing. Nevertheless, judging by the burn marks on that poor woman's face, they must have been an over the ear kind and resting on her neck and shoulders when the explosion happaned. 

 

 

[tlink]

Just now, <Aleks> said:

What brand where these headphones? 

it says right in the quote that that info is not yet released

Quote

... the passenger’s name, the name of the airline, and the brand of the headphones were not released ...

 

[The Sloth]

breaking news lithium batteries explodes, it's a wireless headset that contains batteries , most likely overheated and exploded. 

[CostcoSamples]

wow that's scary!  No more electronics for me!

[captain_to_fire]

Just like how Lithium-Ion replaced Nickel-Cadmium batteries, I hope the tech industry can now come up with something that is safer but at the same time can store more power. I wonder if there's any progress to the graphene battery.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

One line explanation from yours truly.

[Cheezdoodlez]

All of a sudden I don't wanna wear my wireless headphones anymore. 

But something I can't understand is. We've been using Lithium-ion batteries for years. But it seems like batteries all of a sudden are exploding left and right. So what has changed? Is it only the news coverage that has increased after the Note 7-fiasco or do more devices actually explode these day? 

[WMGroomAK]

3 minutes ago, Cheezdoodlez said:

All of a sudden I don't wanna wear my wireless headphones anymore. 

But something I can't understand is. We've been using Lithium-ion batteries for years. But it seems like batteries all of a sudden are exploding left and right. So what has changed? Is it only the news coverage that has increased after the Note 7-fiasco or do more devices actually explode these day? 

If I were to posit a guess, it would deal with miniaturization of the batteries, higher energy density and poor quality control from the factories making it easier for the batteries to short out and cause a sudden discharge.

[CTR640]

Batteries? As in bluetooth earphones?

[themctipers]

oh god

 

spoiler it

 

 

also, #3.5mmmasterrrace

[Drak3]

7 minutes ago, Cheezdoodlez said:

All of a sudden I don't wanna wear my wireless headphones anymore. 

But something I can't understand is. We've been using Lithium-ion batteries for years. But it seems like batteries all of a sudden are exploding left and right. So what has changed? Is it only the news coverage that has increased after the Note 7-fiasco or do more devices actually explode these day? 

 

2 minutes ago, WMGroomAK said:

If I were to posit a guess, it would deal with miniaturization of the batteries, higher energy density and poor quality control from the factories making it easier for the batteries to short out and cause a sudden discharge.

WMGroomAK gets part of it, the other part is the issue that electronics manufacturers are changing their designs, moving towards designs that don't dissipate heat fast enough or even partially trap it in.

[Tech_Dreamer]

She musta been listening to my FYAAAH mix tapes!

[captain cactus]

Lithium batteries are literally bombs. They just are. If they get to hot, they go boom. If you squeeze them, they go boom. If you puncture them, they go boom. If you look at them funny, they go boom.

 

It's time for a new battery that lasts a lot longer, charges a lot quicker, does not explode in your face and can be mass produced easily within a year. Get lithium batteries out of existence ASAP. 

[Techstorm970]

2 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

-quotes-

WMGroomAK gets part of it, the other part is the issue that electronics manufacturers are changing their designs, moving towards designs that don't dissipate heat fast enough or even partially trap it in.

It seems like some tech companies just keep getting worse and worse about quality control.  It's horrible.

 

Lucky for me, my Logitech G930 doesn't get hot at all.  Shouldn't have to worry too much about them literally blowing up my ears.

[Tech_Dreamer]

Anyone else thinking it's probably Beats by Dre wireless? not sure if the company has to do anything with battery issues assuming they get it from a separate company & doesn't manufacture its own

[Cheezdoodlez]

12 minutes ago, Tech_Dreamer said:

Anyone else thinking it's probably Beats by Dre wireless? not sure if the company has to do anything with battery issues assuming they get it from a separate company & doesn't manufacture its own

My guess is either Beats or Bose. But if I had to choose I'll put my money on Beats.

[suicidalfranco]

hey, at least she didn't had to deal with wires tangling while taking those headphones off. Great courage

[VerticalDiscussions]

Maybe we should all start buying these and wearing them every day, besides in bed and after its been properly cleared:

 

I dont feel safe anymore :(.

[suicidalfranco]

1 minute ago, VerticalDiscussions said:

Maybe we should all start buying these and wearing them every day, besides in bed and after its been properly cleared:

 

I dont feel safe anymore :(.

inb4 someone makes it with built in bluetooth to connect to an app on your phone and will therefore have a built in battery

[Magnetorheological]

I guess now is as good a time as any for Skullcandy to discontinue the "Skullcrusher" brand name.

[VerticalDiscussions]

Just now, suicidalfranco said:

-snip-

Well.... were fuked then xD.  

 

One can always go live with the Tibetan monks for some extra safety :3.

 

 

[suicidalfranco]

Just now, VerticalDiscussions said:

Well.... were fuked then xD.  

 

One can always go live with the Tibetan monks for some extra safety :3.

 

 

in before buddha's statue also needs bluetooth for who knows what reason 

[mynameisjuan]

This wasnt that big of a deal until the Note 7. This shit has been happening since lithos were developed. Lithos have the potential to explode and it does happen with even with good QC.

 

She prob had cheap chinese headphones with horrible wiring/heat dissipation/cramped battery, and fell a sleep on one side and it heated up. Two years ago no one would of blinked an eye over this.

 

[MrRavens]

2 hours ago, lots of unexplainable lag said:

Lithium batteries are literally bombs. They just are. If they get to hot, they go boom. If you squeeze them, they go boom. If you puncture them, they go boom. If you look at them funny, they go boom.

 

It's time for a new battery that lasts a lot longer, charges a lot quicker, does not explode in your face and can be mass produced easily within a year. Get lithium batteries out of existence ASAP. 

If I remember correctly, the man who invented the lithium ion battery, along with his team, are already working on and have something on the way. So that's good at least.

[SansVarnic]

Seriously the more times I see the terms 'explode' or 'explosion' in place of 'burned' or 'caught on fire' the more I cringe and start to think that people are that much closer to being uneducated.The batteries did not "explode".

[I was going to say stupid but I did not want to imply that the op is stupid, that would be impolite of me to do]