The Galaxy Note 7 which was expected to lead the Samsung’s sales in the festive period has turned into a disaster after the innumerable issues of its batteries overheating and exploding.
Following its many phones bursting into flames, Samsung was forced to issue a global recall and the debacle has also got it banned from planes with regulators strongly advising its customers to not use it further. Not only that, the devices are also being blamed for fires that destroyed a Jeep and did serious damage to a garage. Meanwhile, sales in India have also been suspended following the fiasco.
What is the reason that the phone has turned into such a fire hazard? Here’s what experts say:
- The Note 7 has a 3,500 mAh lithium-ion battery. Lithium, as many of you might not know, is a metal that can catch fire when exposed to oxygen or water. So, the companies use such batteries with additional safety measures, but faulty ones with poorly made electric circuitry can meet with fiery ends, Lloyd Gordon, the chief electrical safety officer told Live Science.
- These faulty batteries when overcharged and if left plugged in for too long can cause accumulation of lithium ions which get deposited as metallic lithium within the battery and react with oxygen. Defective lithium-ion batteries can also be over-discharged, meaning they don’t shut off when the power is too low, which can also lead to fires, Gordon said.
