Posted on: 02:10 Tue, 25 Aug 2015


Over the weekend, 9iceunity.com saw the
news of how a power bank
exploded on the body of it’s user.
This happened while he was
charging his phone with the
power bank in his pocket. We
may ask, Why? Why would a
power bank all of a sudden
explode? You guys requested we
do a piece on why power banks
explode, my curious mind was
also yearning to learn this too. So
I hereby present to you: The
likely causes of a power bank
explosion.

(1.) Poor Battery Quality

Batteries are the major
components of power banks,
infact that’s the most expensive
part when you try to cost it
individually. Most of the power
banks in the market are made
from Lithium-ion or Lithium-
Polymer batteries, though the
former is a cheaper option.
Manufacturers, (in a bid to keep
prices down) tend to use the
Lithium- ion batteries to save
costs. In worst case scenarios,
some manufacturers go to the
extent of using recycled
batteries. This increases the
chances or likeliness of explosion
at a later time.

(2.) Wrong Circuit Design:

It doesn’t just end with the
quality of battery. The internal
circuit design of a power bank is
another likely cause of explosion.
For a power bank a good circuit
design entails the following :

* Power protection: A well made
power bank should have power
protection. This is a mechanism
that ensures that the battery
stops charging once it has
reached full capacity.

* Short circuit control: A good
power bank should have it’s
circuit fully insulated to prevent
short circuit. (Short circuit means
touching of wires)

* Temperature control: The ideal
power bank should have a kind
of temperature control such that
once it hits a particular
temperature, it shuts down to
cool off.
If one or more of these are not
built into the power bank, the
chances of a likely explosion in
the future are high.

(3.) Improper or Wrong Usage

What can cause a power bank to
explode could be traced to us –
the users. How do you handle
your power banks? Exposing
power banks to high
temperatures or humidity can
lead to what can cause explosion
. Overcharging of power banks is
bad practice. Especially when it
doesn’t have power protection
like we explained above. Other
bad practices include spilling
water on it or leaving it near a
heated area, like under the sun.

So now you know the likely
causes of a power bank
explosion. Meanwhile be careful
of dirt cheap power banks, also
do not use power banks in your
pockets. Have a nice day.