Take care when charging phones to prevent explosions

PETALING JAYA: The revelation that Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd group chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan died from a handphone explosion has got many Malaysians worried.

The post-mortem report concluded the cause of death as "a complication of blast injuries attributable to an exploding handphone that was being charged next to him," according to Cradle.

Bernama reported that messages have been circulating on social media, purportedly from Nasrin's brother-in-law, advising users to be safe when charging their phones.

"Better yet, not in the bedroom. It's worth the inconvenience of not having your mobile a hand's reach away," it read.

And though this could be an isolated incidence, one thing is certain – any device with a battery has the potential to explode, including smartphones.

Most smartphones use lithium-ion batteries as they charge faster and last longer and they are mostly safe, but a couple of extenuating circumstance can cause them to explode.

One is if the battery suffers a puncture which can be caused by dropping the phone or dropping something onto the phone that damages the thin materials insulating the battery cells, causing a short circuit.

The other main cause is heat – too much can cause the layers in the battery to break down, also causing a short circuit – and batteries inevitably heat up when they are charged.

Though this is rare, as most phones feature some sort of protection mechanism, overcharging could force too much current into the battery, especially if the charger is faulty, causing it to overheat and explode.

But as we can't part with our phones, take a few simple precautions to protect your phone and yourself.

First of all, if you notice your phone is starting to bulge, it's most likely the battery swelling up. As most phones today do not use a removable battery, stop using it and take it to an authorised dealer to get it replaced.

Additionally, the following steps must be taken;

> Always use and only buy original chargers. Though they may be more expensive, you are assured that they always pump the optimal amount of current into the battery so it doesn't overheat. This is especially important as most phones today feature fast charging which essentially pumps more current into your phone to charge it rapidly.

> Do not overcharge the phone. In fact, it's better to charge your phone throughout the day as it's claimed to extend the life of your battery. Avoid charging it overnight and, if you must, remove the casing, especially if it's very thick.

> Charge it in a cool place. Always pick a well-ventilated space that's not exposed to direct sunlight to charge your phone. Also, stop charging the phone if it starts to heat up.