laptop battery fires

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Phil S

OBS Chief
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
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The recent post about bringing batteries on board got me to do a little thinking and checking. Forum search turned up nothing obvious to me. So here's what's to my knowledge the latest on what you do and do not do. A very very scary video. Note the person is in full body armor. Anyone with something newer but equally authoritative, please correct me.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6KA_Si-m8

What's the Amtrak drill on this? It must have happened by now, no? Where are the smoke detectors in the sleeper cars? Next time I'm going to make sure I know where the fire extinguisher(s) is. I don't even recall if Amtrak warns pax not to leave laptops plugged in to the AC while they decamp to dome/lounge/sleeper.

Cheery thoughts, eh? On a plane the drink carts are at least handy though if it's gotta happen I'd rather be on a train. Actually, I'd rather be on a train anyway..
 
Where are the smoke detectors in the sleeper cars? Next time I'm going to make sure I know where the fire extinguisher(s) is. I don't even recall if Amtrak warns pax not to leave laptops plugged in to the AC while they decamp to dome/lounge/sleeper.
Not sure that I've ever noticed them in the Superliners, but there are at least 3 or 4 detectors in the Viewliners, right on the ceiling in the aisles.
 
Thanks. Any idea what I did wrong? I used the link button. It looked like it was going to append "http://" to the url I was going to copy (which already included that), so I deleted it in order to not have two. What's link text mean? Should I be able to test a link from the preview box? I'd rather not just experiment on you guys until I get it right.
 
Fire on board a train from an exploding laptop? Unhook your seat cushion in case of a water landing as it can be used for flotation. Grab the nearest blow-up railcar, put it on the track outside the train, activate the gas cartridge then evacuate the train in an orderly manner. Remember, Amtrak recommends you put the railcar on the track BEHIND the train as the train will likely still be moving.

Sleeper passengers should have been given a free bottle of water. Combine yours with those of other passengers in your car and create a line from a water source to the fire, passing the full bottles forward and empties back.

Find the nearest emergency window, open it, activate the slide and carefully slide down into the path of an oncoming train.

If a fire occurs just outside of your sleeper door and the train is moving along at 60mph, close your compartment door, move all objects off the floor, kneel down and ask for forgiveness for stealing your ticket from the real owner.
 
OK, based on further reading there are much better things to worry about. Sorry about that.
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Fire on board a train from an exploding laptop? Unhook your seat cushion in case of a water landing as it can be used for flotation. Grab the nearest blow-up railcar, put it on the track outside the train, activate the gas cartridge then evacuate the train in an orderly manner. Remember, Amtrak recommends you put the railcar on the track BEHIND the train as the train will likely still be moving.

Sleeper passengers should have been given a free bottle of water. Combine yours with those of other passengers in your car and create a line from a water source to the fire, passing the full bottles forward and empties back.

Find the nearest emergency window, open it, activate the slide and carefully slide down into the path of an oncoming train.

If a fire occurs just outside of your sleeper door and the train is moving along at 60mph, close your compartment door, move all objects off the floor, kneel down and ask for forgiveness for stealing your ticket from the real owner.
And remember someone has to make their way to the Lounge to save all the beer and whiskey!
 
Thanks. Any idea what I did wrong? I used the link button. It looked like it was going to append "http://" to the url I was going to copy (which already included that), so I deleted it in order to not have two. What's link text mean? Should I be able to test a link from the preview box? I'd rather not just experiment on you guys until I get it right.
This is what your link says (disregard my quotes)

"http://www.http.com//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6KA_Si-m8"

This is the unnecessary bit

"http://www.http.com//"

I always empty that field or paste over it. Not a big deal, you'll get the hang of it.

"Link text" allows you to put in a meaningful word or phrase that shows instead of the link gobbledygook. As in when I corrected your link, you see the underscored Try this instead of the www.etc.
 
Fire on board a train from an exploding laptop? Unhook your seat cushion in case of a water landing as it can be used for flotation. Grab the nearest blow-up railcar, put it on the track outside the train, activate the gas cartridge then evacuate the train in an orderly manner. Remember, Amtrak recommends you put the railcar on the track BEHIND the train as the train will likely still be moving.

Sleeper passengers should have been given a free bottle of water. Combine yours with those of other passengers in your car and create a line from a water source to the fire, passing the full bottles forward and empties back.

Find the nearest emergency window, open it, activate the slide and carefully slide down into the path of an oncoming train.

If a fire occurs just outside of your sleeper door and the train is moving along at 60mph, close your compartment door, move all objects off the floor, kneel down and ask for forgiveness for stealing your ticket from the real owner.
Wouldn't it be fun if SCA and coach attendants are required to announce such "safety instructions" with animated hand gestures, pointing towards the Emergency Exits et al, like it is done on planes, when the train departs from every station. Free onboard entertainment.
mosking.gif
 
I have had !!! one very close call with another PAX DVD batt .

I was napping in the lounge car and I tend to wake up to make shure my stuff does not "walk " when we are stopped ,

I smelt a smell I am very aware of ... Burnt electronics , A resistor in fact . " My day job " Is a EET so I can darn near tell you what is roasted in a device by its smell ..

I looked at the wet bar and there was a "DVD player universal batt " charging and letting off its magic smoke .

I took the batt from the lounge car and exited the car with the LSA whom was getting ready to close up for the night,

I proceeded to put it on the pavement in a remote location where it it was 10 Feet From any combustible material.

He had the station master sit there for 30 min after we Highball'ed out with some sand on it and waited ... no more smoke . Good ...

We were both happy that It was Off of the train and no a threat to anyone any more .

Besides me playing hot potato . No one was harmed .

Li-Ion is a great power source but its not all was stable .

compounded by shoddy protection and bad engineering ( no the train driver ) you can have fires .

a simple thermal fuse and a current fuse are basics . but you need more in a Li based batt ..

Often the knock off Batts on line are not made to OEM specs .

Peter
 
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