HTC Touch Pro battery explodes, the trend continues

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Yesterday Neowin reported on a MacBook Pro whose MagSafe adapter overheated burning the user and the laptop. Today reports are surfacing on an HTC Touch Pro whose spare battery erupted.

The story goes that the user "had a spare Touch Pro battery in the back pocket of his pants. He walked into his home earlier in the week to be greeted with a burning smell in the air. He later went on to do some laundry to find a huge hole with burn marks in the pocket of his pants. The battery in question must have expanded and burned through it. No word yet as to whether or not the battery was a battery from HTC or an after market one. Luckily the explosion didn't cost him more than buying a new pair of jeans."

This may be one of the first reports of a spare battery burning/exploding. It seems that all battery related stories up till now have ruptured while either charging or being used by the device. This one, as the story goes, was under no strain and still ruptured.

As battery technology becomes more advanced this trend may only get worse. As we find ways to expand the capacity and life of batteries but not increase the size the possibility for larger explosions grows exponentially.

Remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to care and maintain any device that has a rechargeable battery. It will not only prolong the life of the device but it will also help to protect you.

(1 reply) #1 theslam08 on 21 May 2009 - 17:11

Damn, thats a bit...'discomforting'...

#1.1 roblife on 22 May 2009 - 00:45

theslam08 said,

Yap her buns are well done! hehehe

(2 replies) #2 +warwagon on 21 May 2009 - 17:12

Looks like it roasted a condom in the back pocket.

#2.1 TakeNothingBack on 21 May 2009 - 17:22

How's that?

#2.2 Tom W on 21 May 2009 - 17:31

Yeah it does actually! ha

(2 replies) #3 Rev. on 21 May 2009 - 17:52

You do realize that stuff like this happens all the time, probably every day. Though it's only when it gets into the "news" is when it is considered 'a big issue'.

#3.1 ir0nw0lf on 21 May 2009 - 17:58

Rev. said,

So if it happened to *you*, you wouldn't want your 15 seconds of "fame?"

#3.2 Shadrack on 22 May 2009 - 05:10

Indeed. Exactly what i was thinking. This kind of stuff happens more than a lot of people realize.

#4 Airlink on 21 May 2009 - 18:14

Was this the regular capacity batter or the expanded capacity one?

(3 replies) #5 njlouch on 21 May 2009 - 18:56

Whats the betting it was a 3rd party?

#5.1 +bob21 on 21 May 2009 - 19:30

If he had an extra one , Id bet my life thats its a cheep-o extended battery from china they're all over ebay and amazon .

#5.2 mrmckeb on 22 May 2009 - 04:38

bob21 said,

Yep, that's my bet too. Yet the article doesn't mention this... because that wouldn't make for good press.

#5.3 mmck on 22 May 2009 - 09:01

It was also probably sat on causing it to crack.

(1 reply) #6 +Phantom Helix™ on 21 May 2009 - 19:03

how did the burns get outside the seam of the pocket? wouldnt he have FELT that not just smelt it?

#6.1 Tatiania on 22 May 2009 - 22:35

Ya, how the heck did he not feel that?

(5 replies) #7 +Ricardo Gil on 21 May 2009 - 19:22

After reading the comments on the MacBook article and the ones above I can definitely say that there's a childish mentality about Apple among Neowin members.

#7.1 VIVIsectVI on 21 May 2009 - 20:24

Ricardo Gil said,

Perhaps it only seems that way to those that are easily butt-hurt...like Apple devotees.

#7.2 +Ricardo Gil on 21 May 2009 - 23:13

VIVIsectVI said,

Thank you for proving my point

#7.3 mrmckeb on 22 May 2009 - 04:37

No, thanks for proving VIVIsectVI's point by smugly replying and attempting to redeem yourself.

#7.4 +Ricardo Gil on 22 May 2009 - 12:13

mrmckeb said,

Every time Apple gets mentioned, the expressions "smug" and "butt hurt" always come up... interesting. It's like I'm talking to robots. I'll just go elsewhere and talk to the grownups. Bye

#7.5 chisss on 22 May 2009 - 18:23

*snap* *snap* Oh no he didn't!
lol

why did you even come here and start mentioning apple?

#8 NeoandGeo on 21 May 2009 - 19:33

I've woken up before with my cell phone in my pocket and it be hot to the touch, never had anything that dangerous though. Thankfully.

(1 reply) #9 neufuse on 21 May 2009 - 19:36

puts a new meaning to having a fire in your pants...

#9.1 Majesticmerc on 22 May 2009 - 01:49

I bet this experience was a right pain in the ass!

#10 rakeshishere on 21 May 2009 - 19:51

Back pockets matter less to me

(1 reply) #11 Antiprophet on 21 May 2009 - 20:20

goodness gracious....

#11.1 TheGlassPrison on 21 May 2009 - 22:56

Antiprophet said,

Great Balls of Fire!

#12 Sp32 on 21 May 2009 - 23:36

Turns out his car didn't have electric seat warmers

#13 Geranium_Z__NL on 22 May 2009 - 00:15

cool... glad i have no what was it again... phone ;p

haha

#14 wrack on 22 May 2009 - 01:29

Non branded Jeans!!! Meh...

#15 AltoidBox on 22 May 2009 - 02:20

This one, as the story goes, was under no strain and still ruptured.

Considering that the battery burned through at the top of the pocket rather than at the bottom, I would have to disagree with there being no strain. Those jeans must have been fairly tight to be walking around doing laundry and such without it sliding to the bottom.

#16 Shiranui on 22 May 2009 - 02:36

Either this article is badly written, or he was not wearing the pants at the time of the incident.

The battery probably got wet and shorted itself.

(1 reply) #17 naap51stang on 22 May 2009 - 03:51

Dumb*ss shouldn't have a battery loose in his pocket in the first place. Perhaps he sat on the battery, bending it, or had some metal in his pocket. You never should just leave these tiny packages of dynamite just laying around.
LiOn batteries are DANGEROUS. Amazes me that the Ralph Nader types haven't called for getting rid of them.

#17.1 +Techno_Funky on 22 May 2009 - 05:21

#18 +Berserk87 on 22 May 2009 - 06:24

it says they were under wet socks.

the battery got shorted.

fin.

#19 mrmomoman on 22 May 2009 - 11:12

Still bet it wasn't an HTC OEM battery but an aftermarket one. QC goes out the windows sometimes.

Spare battery in the back pocket should give you an idea of the common sense this person used...

#20 eXtermia on 22 May 2009 - 12:45

this is also the reason Airlines DO not want spare Laptop batteries as carry - on unless they are in original packing.

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