Charging, storing and disposing of power banks correctly
For years, power banks have been the saviours in times of need when the batteries of smartphones and other devices run out while on the move. However, power banks can also age quickly or even become a danger if they are damaged, stored incorrectly or charged improperly. The risk of fire is so high that airlines, for example, only allow relatively small power banks (up to approx. 20,000 mAh/100Wh) on aeroplanes. Even these power banks usually store more power than a smartphone and therefore pose a greater risk in the event of a fire. Mistakes can also be made when disposing of power banks. Here we explain the most important aspects of handling external energy storage devices.
Firstly, consumers should pay attention to the quality of their power banks when buying them. They must have at least a CE mark.
Special care should be taken if a power bank has been damaged or has inflated. Such devices should be disposed of as soon as possible and stored under special safety measures until then. They must not be used or charged under any circumstances. If a power bank is already smoking, spontaneous combustion or an explosion is probably imminent. In this case, it is particularly important to evacuate people from the danger zone and prevent the fire from spreading. It is practically impossible to extinguish burning lithium-ion batteries and, in addition to the flames escaping at high pressure, toxic smoke is also produced.
Storing power banks
Like most electrical devices, power banks should be protected from water and dirt during storage and use. They also do not tolerate cold or heat particularly well. If they are not stored at ‘room temperature’, the cells can age more quickly and thus lose capacity. In very hot conditions, power banks can even have a ‘thermal runaway’. They burn out with a jet of flame or even explode. Power banks should therefore not be stored in the car in summer, for example.
If power banks are stored for longer periods, they should not be completely full, as the high cell voltages would otherwise contribute to premature ageing. On the other hand, empty power banks should be recharged as quickly as possible. In particular, they should not be stored empty. The reason for this is that power banks – just like other lithium-ion batteries – gradually discharge themselves over time, even without a connected consumer. If a power bank is stored empty, this can lead to a deep discharge. This will irreparably damage the cells.
Charging power banks
What applies to storage applies even more to charging power banks. This means that they should be charged in a dry and clean place at room temperature. It is not only the ambient temperature that is important, but also the temperature of the cells in particular. Especially if the power bank was used outside in winter, you should therefore wait until it has reached room temperature before charging it.
When charging, it is also important to ensure that only authorised chargers are used. As there is a particularly high risk of fire during the charging process, power banks should not be charged unattended. If they become very hot during the charging process, they must be unplugged immediately. It is also advisable to charge power banks in a place where the spread of fire can be ruled out if the worst comes to the worst. A special fireproof box for batteries, such as our RETRON BOX, is ideal for this purpose.
Dispose of power banks
Power banks contain lithium-ion batteries and must therefore not be disposed of with normal household waste. With this regulation, the legislator wants to keep toxic substances out of normal household waste and ensure that important raw materials are recycled. On the other hand, the incorrect disposal of rechargeable batteries repeatedly lead to fires in waste collection vehicles and at recycling companies.
The good news: In contrast to the disposal of e-bike batteries, which are classed as industrial batteries, pure power banks can be disposed of wherever normal household batteries are collected. Power banks can therefore be thrown into the collection bins in supermarkets and specialised electrical shops, for example, or handed in at a recycling centre.
However, an exception applies if the power bank has other functions in addition to storing electricity (and possibly a charge level indicator). Models are now available that have a lamp function, a data memory or an alarm clock built in, for example. These power banks then no longer count as a battery, but as an electrical device. In this case, they can be disposed of like other small electrical appliances at a recycling centre or at a retailer that sells electrical appliances.
Retailers and recycling centres can dispose of used power banks, like other batteries and rechargeable batteries, free of charge via the manufacturer's or importer's disposal system. RETRON supports companies and authorities in the handling, transport and safe (temporary) storage of potentially hazardous used power banks. Please contact us.
(The described regulations for disposal are according to German law. Different rules may apply in other countries, but disposal in normal household waste is never a good idea.)
