Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: vjbelle on January 01, 2008, 03:50:20 pm
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The FAA has initiated new rules with regards to traveling with Lithium batteries. The rules can be found at http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html (http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html).
No spare Lithium batteries can be included with checked luggage and only two additional (spare) batteries can be carried on board. There are additional rules regarding power limitations. This is already causing a lot of controversy and will cause problems for certain traveling photographers.
Victor
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What the hell? What's the reasoning behind this nonsense?
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Paranoid freaks..
Snook
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if you carry two computer spare batteries can you bring two digital camera spare batteries? These rules are ridiculous.
The FAA has initiated new rules with regards to traveling with Lithium batteries. The rules can be found at http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html (http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html).
No spare Lithium batteries can be included with checked luggage and only two additional (spare) batteries can be carried on board. There are additional rules regarding power limitations. This is already causing a lot of controversy and will cause problems for certain traveling photographers.
Victor
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Paranoid freaks..
Snook
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how many li-ion accus one can take in hand luggage? i dont understand this. one spare battery + one accu which is intstalled for each camera? or more than one spare accu?
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I just did a search. The reason why they cannot be carried in checked luggage is due to concern related to battery fires. Can such fires occur if the battery is sealed and not connected to any device? I thought these batteries can only cause a fire if they are connected to a device? If so, making sure the batteries are separate in luggage carry on or in checked bags in theory should be fine.
if you carry two computer spare batteries can you bring two digital camera spare batteries? These rules are ridiculous.
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One more reason to drive
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If so, making sure the batteries are separate in luggage should be fine.
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Mark,
I wish you were right but you are dead wrong!! You cannot have any spare/lose lithium batteries in checked baggage. You can, however, check your P45+ or whatever great DB you have WITH the battery attached in checked baggage, but no lose batteries. This is going to be a nightmare for some photographers!
Victor
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Victor i do understand. I edited my post to reflect that i meant in theory it should be fine as i am not aware that these batteries have ever been found to spontaneously ignite. In fact, most of the rare cases where spontaneous ignition have been claimed (e.g. Ipod starting a fire in someone's pocket) were proven to be false. I do know that there is some evidence that a battery that is being recharged, if defective can ignite under very rare conditions.
Mark,
I wish you were right but you are dead wrong!! You cannot have any spare/lose lithium batteries in checked baggage. You can, however, check your P45+ or whatever great DB you have WITH the battery attached in checked baggage, but no lose batteries. This is going to be a nightmare for some photographers!
Victor
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Mark,
First of all please replace all 'lose' with 'loose'. I am so upset with this ridiculous FAA rule that I can't even spell anymore. What's even more disturbing is that in the cargo hold (being shipped as cargo) underneath the seat you are in there could be numerous Lithium batteries in 'loose' stage being shipped off to your same destination. By 'loose' I mean not connected to any device. This is really nuts!
Victor
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I think everybody is overreacting.
First of all, lithium batteries do catch fire, although usually the battery has to be damaged or defective in some way for this to happen. Lithium itself is extremely flamable. It's rare, but it does happen. There are numerous documented cases. This isn't some urban legend. Remember the huge Dell and Sony battery recalls?
Second, you can check any number of batteries, as long as they are within the unit they power, i.e. you can check a camera with an installed battery.
Third, there is no limit to the number of carry-on spare batteries as long as they are each under 100 watt-hours in capacity. For comparison, a P45 or 1DsIII or D3 2500mA/H battery is roughly 20 watt-hours. Even most laptop batteries also fall under this limit. For example, my laptop batteries are 40 watt-hour - well under the limit.
Fourth, you can carry on up to two very large batteries that total 300 watt-hours of capacity. These would be some pretty massive batteries.
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I think everybody is overreacting.
First of all, lithium batteries do catch fire, although usually the battery has to be damaged or defective in some way for this to happen. Lithium itself is extremely flamable. It's rare, but it does happen. There are numerous documented cases. This isn't some urban legend. Remember the huge Dell and Sony battery recalls?
Second, you can check any number of batteries, as long as they are within the unit they power, i.e. you can check a camera with an installed battery.
Third, there is no limit to the number of carry-on spare batteries as long as they are each under 100 watt-hours in capacity. For comparison, a P45 or 1DsIII or D3 2500mA/H battery is roughly 20 watt-hours. Even most laptop batteries also fall under this limit. For example, my laptop batteries are 40 watt-hour - well under the limit.
Fourth, you can carry on up to two very large batteries that total 300 watt-hours of capacity. These would be some pretty massive batteries.
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I have been refused Hensel batteries as well many times.
You are "legally" not allowed to travel with hensel batteries even below deck..
Or profoto for that matter either.
Some people let it get by but they are not allowed.
Snook
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Aren't those large lead-acid packs?
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I think everybody is overreacting.
Third, there is no limit to the number of carry-on spare batteries as long as they are each under 100 watt-hours in capacity.
Mort,
You are completely incorrect! I suggest you re-read the link. The next time you travel and try to carry those six extra/spare lithium batteries and four of them are confiscated don't say you weren't warned. You are limited to carrying on only TWO spare lithium batteries and they're combined lithium content cannot exceed 25 grams.
Victor
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Mort,
The next time you travel and try to carry those six extra/spare lithium batteries and four of them are confiscated don't say you weren't warned.
I did exactly that yesterday and nobody raised an eyebrow. 4 CR123 lithium cells for my SureFire LED flashlight, a spare lithium battery for my cell phone, and a larger lithium battery pack with a USB outlet for charging and powering any USB device such as my phone or iPods. Nobody raised an eyebrow and they went through security in plain sight in a ziplock bag...
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You are completely incorrect! I suggest you re-read the link.
No, I'm right. I suggest you re-read the link :-)
You are allowed an unlimited number of spare batteries if each contains under 8 grams of lithium (100 watt-hours equivalent capacity per battery), and besides these, an additional two batteries with a combined total of 25 grams of lithium (300 watt-hours).
P.S. I'm sure there is a practical limit to the number of spare batteries with under 8 grams of lithium they will allow, so it's probably not truly "unlimited", but it's not specified in the posted regs.
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No, I'm right. I suggest you re-read the link :-)
You are allowed an unlimited number of spare batteries if each contains under 8 grams of lithium (100 watt-hours equivalent capacity per battery), and besides these, an additional two batteries with a combined total of 25 grams of lithium (300 watt-hours).
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You are right, Mort , I stand corrected. Under 8 grams of lithium there is no limit to the number of batteries you can carry on....
Victor
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You are right, Mort , I stand corrected. Under 8 grams of lithium there is no limit to the number of batteries you can carry on....
Ah, consensus! Isn't it great :-)
Happy New Year, Victor.
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The news articles i had read were worded differently and the statements were ambigious at best but I have re-read this link and I am happy that Mort is right!!
Ah, consensus! Isn't it great :-)
Happy New Year, Victor.
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Loose or spare????
From: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ass.../batteries.shtm (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm)
Note that in the following text "loose" is in bold for emphasis. Other references are with respect to limits on "spare" batteries. I'm confused. The following indicates no problem if the batteries are separately stored in a plastic bag.
"Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage.
Under the new DOT rule, lithium batteries are allowed in checked baggage under one of the following conditions:
The batteries must be in their original containers.
The battery terminals must not exposed (for example placing tape over the ends of the batteries).
The batteries are installed in a device.
The batteries are enclosed by themselves in a plastic bag.
Loose lithium batteries found in checked baggage may be removed."
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The news articles i had read were worded differently and the statements were ambigious at best but I have re-read this link and I am happy that Mort is right!!
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Yes Mark, so am I. I always travel with my MBP and always take a spare battery for it, and I always take a spare battery for my P45. I also take spare batteries for my SureFire flashlight. I was trying to figure out what would be left behind. There really is a fair amount of confusion on the net regarding this. However, my original link can and should be relied upon as it is the official statement of the FAA. All that is required is to read it accurately.
Victor
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I typically carry 2 of these
http://www.batterygeek.net/130Wh_Portable_...batterygeek.htm (http://www.batterygeek.net/130Wh_Portable_Power_Station_PPS130_3V_28V_p/pps130_batterygeek.htm)
I run my MacBookPro all day long with these 2 batteries.
and 2 H2 rechargeable grips and 4 Phase batteries.
Anyone know the Specs on the Phase Batteries?
Hmmmmmmm..
Ken
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Anyone know the Specs on the Phase Batteries?
Phase batteries are 2500 mA hour x 7.5 volts = roughly 19 watt-hours. That translates to about 1.5 grams of lithium.
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So I just flew from Boston to Kentucky this week and the folks at Logan didn't really question the 4 Phase batteries that I had, 3 rechargeable H2 grips or the 1 battery geek 130Wh battery. But they did TAKE my Lead acid Bose battery $150.00 from the checked luggage. I have traveled with this for 4 years. They left a slip saying that the pelican case was searched, as was all the other bags this trip. There was no mention they the took the battery. The good news is that I can buy a new battery for $150. Thanks TSA!
Happy Travels,
Ken
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Lead-acid batteries have been prohibited on aircraft for a long time. They are less prone to catch on fire, but far more likely to damage the aircraft via acid leakage or cause injury due to toxic fumes.