SlashGear Japan
So according to the table below if you have x amount of Lithium or Lithium Ion in your gadget’s batteries you can’t take them with you. But that’s not even the best part, the best part is that this isn’t a security concern…. Wait for it, until January 1st 2008!
So, if they were really doing it for our security, wouldn’t they enact something like this immediately? Anyways, I have no idea what gadgets use Lithium or Lithium Ion batteries, but I know there are a lot of them, like laptops, cell phones, or most other rechargeable battery powered equipment. Even better yet, I have no idea how to tell how many grams of Lithium or Lithium Ion are in a given battery.
Alright, so, the TSA website is there to help us figure this out, 8 grams of equivalent Lithium material is about 100 watt hours, the 2 grams is still in effect for actual lithium metal batteries. They also add that all cell phones are under the limit and most laptops are, so you should be safe traveling with your gadgetry, provided you carry any large extended life batteries as a spare since you get up to 25 grams equivalent Lithium material for spare batteries.
TSA’s new forbidden item: >2gm lithium batteries [via boingboing]
6 Responses to “TSA limiting size of Lithium metal and Lithium-Ion batteries allowed through security”
Ty December 28, 2007
Wow, thats kind of strange for them to be like that.
But I guess security is the main thing now-days for a long time no one was able to take any liquid on planes here in the USA.
NeutralVincent Nguyen December 28, 2007
Don’t even get me started on TSA!
NeutralMario Newman December 29, 2007
The TSA is not making this rule, its the FAA! Im sick and tired of everyone complaining about TSA! They have a job to do just like you have a job to do! Again, its the FAA, not the TSA!
NeutralJames Allan Brady December 29, 2007
alright Mario it all, tell me that this isnt the TSA website issuing the alert! http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/a.....eries.shtm
NeutralOrclev December 31, 2007
The TSA does not do things for security, it’s security theater. It’s supposed to make people feel safer, not actually make them safer. Go read Bruce Schneier’s blog (http://www.schneier.com/blog/). That being said, as is pointed out in his blog, and as someone else mentioned, this isn’t a TSA rule, it’s and FAA one. Lithium batteries have apparently been banned as cargo for a while now because the normal fire suppression systems in airplanes can’t put out lithium fires. This is a safety issue, they want to make sure that no one has a bag full of lithium batteries that either accidentally or purposefully catches fire because the planes aren’t equipped to put that kind of fire out.
NeutralOrclev December 31, 2007
Just want to mention this link which is a scan of a FAA document giving some background on why lithium batteries are being limited:
Neutralhttp://www.faa.gov/about/offic.....ab-02a.pdf