Charge your phone's battery to 80 percent!
Hundreds of thousands of mobile phones break down every year in Türkiye, and some of them can cause fires. Drawing attention to the overheating and fire risks of lithium-ion battery mobile phones, experts say that it is vital to have information about what to do in case of fire.
Pointing out that mobile phones with lithium-ion batteries generate heat while working, OHS Specialist Dr. Rüştü Uçan stated that "The normal operating temperature of such devices is between 5-40 degrees, but the device enters the danger limit when the temperature exceeds 50-60 degrees. When this limit is reached, there may be a risk of fire and explosion of mobile phones in some cases, especially in hot areas, although the security systems of the phones are activated. In case of overheating, Dr. Uçan said that "Charge the phone's battery to the 80 percent. Close any applications running in the background. Delete apps you do not use. Use it on airplane mode. Turn off power saving mode."
Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan warned about safe phone use, overheating and fire risks and explained what should be done.
Mobile phones with lithium-ion batteries generate heat when working
Pointing out that hundreds of thousands of mobile phones break down annually in Türkiye, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "We also encounter some fire incidents related to these. Mobile phones with lithium-ion batteries generate heat while the chips, graphics cards, and batteries inside are working. The normal operating temperature of such devices is in the range of 5-40 degrees; however, the device enters within the danger limit when the temperature exceeds 50-60 degrees. When this limit is reached, although the security systems of the phones are activated, in some cases, especially in hot areas, there may be a risk of fire and explosion of mobile phones.”
Can a heated phone be refrigerated in the refrigerator?
Stating that even if the temperature drops below zero, there is a slowdown in these batteries, which causes capacity losses, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said, "It is necessary not to take the wrong attitude such as cooling the mobile phone in the refrigerator."
Pay attention to the 80 percent rule!
Making suggestions for safe charging, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "Use original chargers. Do not use damaged chargers. Dispose of them. Do not charge your phone at the points where the sun's rays come directly. If you notice that your phone is overheating, unplug it from the charger immediately. Charge your phone's battery to 80 percent full."
What to do in case of fire?
Explaining what to do when a fire starts in lithium-ion battery mobile phones, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "It is not possible to extinguish it with water. Type D fire extinguishers should be used, but they are not usually found at home. In this case, when you see a fire, you should take the phone safely from the charging place and let it burn on its own. It is necessary to take the burning mobile phone from the charging place and move it away from the environment with a pair of tongs or any holder."
Mobile phones should not be kept in the sun!
Emphasizing what needs to be done to prevent mobile phones from overheating, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan gave the following information:
"The rules such using non-original or damaged chargers, not using screens and mobile phone protectors are not followed, and if the weather is hot and the mobile phone is under the sun, there are serious risks of burns and breakdown. The humidity that rises with the heated air is also the cherry on the cake. Even if it is protective, even if the battery does not burn, a phone screen that has been under the sun for a long time may experience fading and deterioration in its colors over time. This type of damage that reduces screen image quality often results in repairs that require replacing the entire screen. Prolonged heating can damage the internal components of the device and lead to poor performance. This can lead to more use of the phone by the user and an increase in the amount of heat exposed. Also, battery heating can affect the charging time of the phone, shortening the battery life."
Stating that there may be several reasons why the phone turns off when the battery is full from time to time, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "If your phone overheats, it can turn itself off to prevent damage to the battery.”
What to do in case of overheating?
Assst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan also listed the things to be done in case of overheating as follows:
"Charge the phone's battery to 80 percent.
Close any applications running in the background.
Delete apps you do not use.
Use airplane mode.
Download a reliable virus program.
Turn off power saving mode."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)