How to safely maintain, use, and dispose of your power banks
The risk of a power bank causing a fire, which is the result of a chain reaction known as a thermal runaway, is low. But when it does happen, the fires are intense, occasionally explosive, and difficult to extinguish. Early in June, Anker recalled more than 1.1 million aging power banks, and while the company says it only received 19 reports of fires and explosions, the incidents caused multiple injuries and over $60,000 of property damage. More recently, Anker recalled another five models, which the company said should stop being used “immediately due to the risk of overheating, melting, smoke, or fire.”
Sudden recalls aside, the lithium-ion battery inside your power bank isn’t designed to run forever. After years of use and hundreds of charges, its performance and capacity will decline, while the risk of more severe issues increases. There are things you can do to prolong your power bank’s lifespan, while also ensuring you can use it safely. And if it’s already a few years old, there are signs that your power bank may be reaching the end of its life and needs to be disposed of properly.
Knowing how to detect when a power bank has reached the end of its life can help prevent ha …