MacBook Battery Fire

MacRumors · 02:19 PM

Apple's laptop batteries are once again feeling heat after one MacBook owner's laptop caught fire, apparently stemming from the battery.

Quote:

As I was running I saw a fire. At first I thought that the lamp had fallen and set fire to the curtain. As I got closer I realised it was my mac book .... burning! I picked it up and blew on it and swung it around to put the flames out. The book shelf it was sitting on was burnt and there were a couple of magazines that were on fire too.

According to the user, the laptop was charging at the time but not in use (asleep with lid shut). Last summer, multiple PC vendors (develop Li-Ion battery standards.

Apple has historically used Li-Ion batteries in its iBook and PowerBook laptops, but has opted for Lithium Polymer batteries (Li-Poly) in its MacBook and MacBook Pro computers. One of the supposed advantages of Li-Poly batteries is reduced combustibility.

While the incident is certainly disturbing, it is unknown how widespread the issue is. Currently, there are no safety recalls affecting the MacBook or MacBook Pro, and Apple has yet to respond to the incident.

Jesus · Mar 12, 2007, 02:14 PM

Oh no, here we go again. It can't be sony again, it would be ludicrous. It would be great if the mavbook user, or for that matter, Apple could find out who manufactured those cells. I hope no one was hurt.

shabbasuraj · Mar 12, 2007, 02:17 PM

YAY lawsuits!!!!!

e12a · Mar 12, 2007, 02:19 PM

you know Apple's gonna send PR reps like mad to his service..

i see a brand new C2D Macbook Pro for him...maybe more.

epicwelshman · Mar 12, 2007, 02:20 PM

Who voted this positive? Batteries that caught fire... oh yay, time for partying. Stupid.

psychofreak · Mar 12, 2007, 02:22 PM

I don't know why people hate recalls; my dad's vaio lasts 30 minutes on a charge, and he was really irritated when he found it wasn't on the recall list...

nateDEEZY · Mar 12, 2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epicwelshman

Who voted this positive? Batteries that caught fire... oh yay, time for partying. Stupid.

Probably the same people who vote negative on good rumors..

zblaxberg · Mar 12, 2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e12a

you know Apple's gonna send PR reps like mad to his service..

i see a brand new C2D Macbook Pro for him...maybe more.

no way! get this man an iphone stat!

acearchie · Mar 12, 2007, 02:19 PM

yikes! Luxcky he wasnt using it at the time!!!!

p.s how do these things happen??? Do they just go pop or does it happen gradually?

!

morespce54 · Mar 13, 2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acearchie

yikes! Luxcky he wasnt using it at the time!!!!

p.s how do these things happen??? Do they just go pop or does it happen gradually?

!

yes. even if it's only happens once in a while, it's still scary...
I'm leaving my book on the "sleep mode" all day long at home... when I'm at work... I think I'll change that habit...

BRLawyer · Mar 12, 2007, 02:20 PM

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

4God · Mar 12, 2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

Would you still say that if it were your Macbook?

BRLawyer · Mar 12, 2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4God

Would you still say that if it were your Macbook?

Sure. I would go to Apple and get a new one...and not pretend that it happens to every MB out there.

Evangelion · Mar 12, 2007, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

Question: Were your thoughts/comments like that when we heard of the "Exploding Dell-battery"? Did you say back then that "OK, let's just relax, this is statistically irrelevant. Move along"? For some reason I don't think so. What I think that happened is that you said/thought "More proof that PeeCees suck!" or something like that.

Am I right, or am I right?

BRLawyer · Mar 13, 2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evangelion

Question: Were your thoughts/comments like that when we heard of the "Exploding Dell-battery"? Did you say back then that "OK, let's just relax, this is statistically irrelevant. Move along"? For some reason I don't think so. What I think that happened is that you said/thought "More proof that PeeCees suck!" or something like that.

Am I right, or am I right?

No, I am just saying that one case of fire cannot be misinterpreted as a widespread problem. Apple did the recall, period. I am sorry for the guy, and I am sure he will get a new machine...but to say that this is a new recall case is ridiculous so far.

The Dell was, as in the previous Apple case, a general problem identified in a batch of batteries...all concerned companies acknowledged it, end of story.

And yep, PCs suck big time...you know it...even more so with Vista now.

iW00t · Mar 12, 2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

Come back to me again when the "second one" leads to a fire in the middle of the night and results in a lost home and 3 dead children.

The liability payout for that will be more than what Apple makes in a quarter...

BRLawyer · Mar 13, 2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iW00t

Come back to me again when the "second one" leads to a fire in the middle of the night and results in a lost home and 3 dead children.

The liability payout for that will be more than what Apple makes in a quarter...

Again, I am not talking about individual rights or Apple's liability...so let's not get emotional, please. Of course he must go after the hardware maker and ask for whatever he is entitled to...I am just saying that one case does not equal many.

caccamolle · Mar 12, 2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

of only one you have just heard, but you have no idea whether there are more.

PDE · Mar 12, 2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

Well, statistically relevant or not, I'm sure it was quite relevant to this user and could have killed him and his family. I think that's very serious and needs to be taken very very seriously.

andrewface · Mar 13, 2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner.

This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens...

exactly...
ps dont leave you macbook on your couch

aricher · Mar 12, 2007, 02:23 PM

The recent photos below are from a co-worker's MacBook Pro. His was asleep on a desk - he said he heard a loud "pop" and the found this:

He took it into the Apple Store and they replaced it right away.

andiwm2003 · Mar 12, 2007, 02:28 PM

imagine that happens on an airplane over the atlantic. my guess in a few month we won't be allowed to use any laptop in flight anymore.

also makes me nervous knowing that my notebook is sitting at home alone plugged to the outlet..........

wincc · Mar 12, 2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

imagine that happens on an airplane over the atlantic. my guess in a few month we won't be allowed to use any laptop in flight anymore.

also makes me nervous knowing that my notebook is sitting at home alone plugged to the outlet..........

I went with British Airways from London to Sydney a month ago and the crew told us that Dell and Apple notebooks were not allowed to be used....

ChrisA · Mar 12, 2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

imagine that happens on an airplane over the atlantic. my guess in a few month we won't be allowed to use any laptop in flight anymore.

also makes me nervous knowing that my notebook is sitting at home alone plugged to the outlet..........

In use or turned off, plugged into AC or not. It does not matter much. The energy is stored inside the battery and if something shorts the battery it will get hot and possibly catch fire. I know of a case where a DSLR camera turned off and stored in a bag started a closet on fire.

If you want to see what I'm talking about try this experiment: Remove the battery from your car. Place it on the ground. Place a screwdriver across the terminals. Notice that now you now longer have a screwdriver. See... not plugged in, not in use, battery was not defective. Same can happen to a notebook battery even if the notebook is unplugged and not in use. All you need to something to cause a short.

How many notebook computers has Apple sold? I assume "millions". If so then I'd expect to see several "one in a million" freak accidents and this may be just one of those.

anim8or · 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aricher

The recent photos below are from a co-worker's MacBook Pro. His was asleep on a desk - he said he heard a loud "pop" and the found this:

He took it into the Apple Store and they replaced it right away.

Any chance you could ask if he has ever noticed a black mark on his macbook pro between the battery and the battery release buttons, right where his has popped!

Iv noticed a few times that i get this black sort of charcoal mark that wipes clean in that area and first thot it ws my carry case rubbing off against the hot battery... i have since stopped using the carry case and the mark is still appearing!!!

I cannot afford to have anything happen to my laptop or send it for repair/replacement as it has all of my degree work on it.

Also did the was the battery replaced or the whole macbook pro???

Mar 12, 2007, 02:14 PM	#2
Jesus macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On a Higher Spiritual Plane known only to Gods and those who consume large quantities of hallucinogens	Oh no, here we go again. It can't be sony again, it would be ludicrous. It would be great if the mavbook user, or for that matter, Apple could find out who manufactured those cells. I hope no one was hurt. __________________ µ

Mar 12, 2007, 02:19 PM	#4
e12a macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2006	you know Apple's gonna send PR reps like mad to his service.. i see a brand new C2D Macbook Pro for him...maybe more. __________________ [inquiring about MBP types]"we either have the regular, or the ultimate edition." -Apple sales rep "could you just tell me the specs?"

Mar 12, 2007, 02:20 PM	#5
epicwelshman macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nassau, Bahamas	Who voted this positive? Batteries that caught fire... oh yay, time for partying. Stupid. __________________ ashhenderson.com, epicwelshman \| photoblog and flickr MacBook (black) \| 8GB iPod Touch Nikon D40x, D90, 18-55mm, 50mm f1.8, 24-70mm f2.8, 70-200mm f2.8, SB-600 x2

Mar 12, 2007, 02:20 PM	#11
BRLawyer macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Currently in Switzerland	Sorry, but ONE case of battery fire published on the Net means nothing to me. The recall is completed and Apple has dealt with the problem in the most transparent manner. This is simply irrelevant in statistical terms...problems will always occur, but to say that one case of fire means a "return of the haunted batteries" is just silly...move along, citizens... __________________ iMac 24" C2D 2.8, 4Gb, 500Gb+1.25Tb, JBL Creature II, Creative XMod, OS X 10.6.2; iBook G3 Dual-USB 500MHz, 384Mb, 15Gb, OS X 10.4.11

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Mar 12, 2007, 02:17 PM	#3
shabbasuraj macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2004	YAY lawsuits!!!!!

Mar 12, 2007, 02:22 PM	#6
psychofreak Retired Join Date: May 2006 Location: London	I don't know why people hate recalls; my dad's vaio lasts 30 minutes on a charge, and he was really irritated when he found it wasn't on the recall list...

Mar 12, 2007, 02:19 PM	#9
acearchie macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006	yikes! Luxcky he wasnt using it at the time!!!! p.s how do these things happen??? Do they just go pop or does it happen gradually? !

Mar 12, 2007, 02:23 PM	#21
aricher macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chi-il	The recent photos below are from a co-worker's MacBook Pro. His was asleep on a desk - he said he heard a loud "pop" and the found this: He took it into the Apple Store and they replaced it right away.

Mar 12, 2007, 02:28 PM	#22
andiwm2003 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA	imagine that happens on an airplane over the atlantic. my guess in a few month we won't be allowed to use any laptop in flight anymore. also makes me nervous knowing that my notebook is sitting at home alone plugged to the outlet..........