Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / August 2006

Sony’s crisis over potentially flammable batteries deepened further on
Thursday as US product safety regulators said Apple Computer was to
recall 1.8m batteries because they presented a fire hazard.

The voluntary recall follows a similar move by Dell, which this month
recalled more than 4m Sony batteries amid reports that they could cause
computers to overheat and, in rare cases, explode into flames.

The recall applies to 1.1m batteries sold in the US and 700,000
batteries sold outside the US. It comes amid heightened concerns about
the safety of Lithiumion battery packs commonly used in laptop
computers. A number of videos and news stories describing fires caused
by laptops spontaneously bursting into flames have circulated on the
internet.

Apple said Sony batteries in some of its older models “had not met Apple
standards of performance”. The recall did not apply to newer Apple
computers containing Intel microchips. Models affected include Apple’s
iBook and PowerBook laptops.

Apple said it had received nine reports of batteries overheating,
including two reports of customers who received minor burns from
handling overheated computers. Others reported minor property damage. No
serious injuries were reported.

*Experts say the overheating problem is due to a manufacturing error by
Sony that introduced metallic impurities into some of its Lithium-ion
batteries. Sony said the metallic parts may then intrude through the
insulation, resulting in a short circuit that in rare occasions, “may
lead to cell overheating and potentially flames.*

The electronics maker said on Thursday that it had introduced new
safeguards into its manufacturing process to address safety concerns.

Sony said the recalls at Apple and Dell could cost the company
Y20bn-Y30bn (€134.5m-€202m).

“Our understanding is that no further recalls are anticipated involving
[products] using these battery packs,” Sony said.

Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint Technologies, said: “This is really bad
for Sony. It has already been shown that Sony is the root of the
problem, that they’ve had a manufacturing flaw that is really inexcusable”.

Apple, with its sparkling brand image, might be in a better position to
weather a big recall than Dell, which had been struggling against
perceptions of poor customer service.

“Dell [is dealing with] a brand image that is already a bit damaged,
whereas for Apple it’s a little dent in on a relavely shiny surface,” he
said.

In New York trading on Thursday, shares of Apple fell 0.2 per cent to
$67.17, while Sony’s American Depositary Receipts fell 2.9 per cent to
$43.13.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006

Note that any battery that gets shorted can burst into flames. In this
case its not the fact that its lithium ion per se (not even like flight
batteries particularly these ones) but the fact that swarf in the
batteries caused them to short out.

I don't discount them on that score, it's just that electric doesn't
"ring my bell"      >:-)

If I was into indoor flying (and I would possibly be tempted if there
was a local venue) or park flying then I might consider giving it a go.
As I do neither then the cost of starting up from scratch and powering
reasonably large models with electric gear deters me from considering
it.

I also like the smell and noise of diesel and glow. I can appreciate
that some clubs, and thus there members, will be driven down the
electric powered route because of noise considerations and the need to
preserve their flying sites. This problem will become more severe as new
housing encroaches ever further into open spaces.

I am fortunate in being able to fly well away from houses and people and
also to fly mid-week when there is even less chance of seeing anyone. I
recently bought 4 PAW diesels for under £80. They are all good engines
and run well so that's 4 models equipped very cheaply. I also have 4
glow engines which would be a damned sight more expensive to replace
with electric power. £54' ish for an MVVS .21 with ball races... starts
and runs superbly... how much to replace that with electrickery and
obtain the same performance ? How much to replace my TT 40 that only
cost me £27  ???

Nah, I will stick with i.c engines.

Besides there's the fondling....        >:-)

Reg

If you dont like Li-po's dont buy em. & stop f'kin wingeing here about them.
I love 'em & will continue with them. Thank you, i told you so's