MacBook Battery Fire

[stewford]

Overheating MacBook

I had been using the MacBook while being a passanger in a car, once I had completed my work I decided to shut the computer down. I didn't realise at the time but I closed the lid part way through the shut down process and placed the laptop back in its bag. On arrival to my meeting I pulled the laptop out of the bag which was at finger burning temp, it seemed to be locked in a state of running everything at full speed. It took a further 10 minutes to cool down enough to restart.

 

[anim8or]

BACK UP!

Does anyone read these forums or do they just skim over them....

I'll say it again for the hard-of-inteliigence.

I DO BACK UP ALMOST EVERYDAY, DONT HAVE TIME TO BE WITHOUT COMPUTER AS HAVE TO HAND IN FINISHED FILM IN 8 WEEKS FOR ANIMATION DEGREE!!!

as for the comment on what i study!

I study animation, anyone out there with experience of video editing (never mind hi res animation editing compiling etc) will know how storage intensive such a medium is. I back up always, i have a 400GB external that goes everywhere with me and one at home for backing up!!!!

Lets get back to the point, who cares about my backing up process etc.

POINT: I asked if anyone had a similar issue as me, if so what did they do.
The marks could have been caused by carry case, but since i have stopped using it and then came across the popping battery (NOT the one on fire) i was concerned.

Have since contacted apple they are sending me a new battery and asked me to dispose of the old... yes not send it back but dispose of it! Obviously they are concerned enough to find out the cause without the need for sending the whole portable in for repair ot tests. Hopefully the battery was the problem and my concerns will be left unfulfilled.

 

[Butthead]

From everything I've read about them, Li-Polys are every bit if not more dangerous than Li-Ion, due to physical battery construction differences. That, and Li-Poly have greater energy density; hence potential for greater release of energy (fire potential).

For the Adm here and everyone else that claim Li-Poly were supposedly better than Li-Ion as far as danger from potential fires, maybe you should read up on their 1st consumer uses in RC planes & heli at this link: http://www.rcgroups.com/batteries-and-chargers-129/?

Potential dangers of Li-Poly are well known, even if Apple or other manufacturers are not forthright about that at present (a few lawsuits later and that may change ).

 

[daneoni]

This first sentence really doesn't make any sense. Did he run because he saw a fire? "As I was running..." implies his running was unrelated to the events with the computer, like he just runs laps in his house and noticed his Macbook burning on the shelf as he passed it. Thinking the curtains were on fire would make sense if you were outside your house and saw a fire at the window.

I think he was running towards his gf to see why she was screaming? and when you're just waking up the brain/vision takes time to become fully alert/functional.

These are my theories/interpretations.

 

[iquitelikemacs]

nasty

Did you see the state of that guys sofa and floor? I'm not surprised his laptop caught fire, it was probably full of cheese.

 

[SeaFox]

I DO backup, almost everyday!!!!! What i meant by the statement that you quote from me is that backups are useless if one has no computer to work on them, so if i were to send my laptop for repair then i would have a back up but nothing to work on!
Jeez!

I have heard of people being given "loaner" machines by Apple while theirs are away being repaired. Given the severity of the damage from a battery-related issue, they night just give you a brand new laptop instead.

In which case you would be able to restore your work and continue working.

 

[Cameront9]

What temperature do you need to have for a magazine to spontaneously catch fire?

That would have to be one serious overheat.

I would guess Farenheit 451, the temperature at which paper burns. (Thanks to Ray Bradbury for helping me always remember that!)

However, their may have been some perfume sample or some chemical in the plastic-like cover of the magazine that could have ignited.

Still, I would seriously doubt the magazine was the source of the flame...

 

[swingerofbirch]

When controversy arises I am the first to sound the alarms that it is no time to be an Apple apologist. I often say that we Apple enthusiast's must hold Apple's feet to the fire if Apple is to remain glorious. But in this serious situation, the fire metaphor seems glib. Therefore I implore us to hold Apple to task and ask it to take a good, hard look in the mirror. I know this doesn't sound as urgent as holding Apple's feet to the fire, but given the circumstances, I think it's more apropos.

 

[PDE]

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.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Then you should unplug your fridge, stove, microwave, ... heck, you should turn off all the power to your house every time you leave. There's a chance that this could happen to any electrical device.

the difference being that none of those components have batteries in them. I'm sorry but there is more evidence in the last year of faulty batteries then a rash of fridge, stove, microwaves buring down people's homes.

Car accidents should never happen, stuff should never break, kids shouldn't get cancer.

Yah well I've also never heard of a car battery causing your car to explode either.

Don't forget to turn off every other electrical device you own.

Whatever fanboi. The simple fact is that 90% of the hardware in one's house is time tested and proven. The same can not be said of Apple's hardware.

does anyone know if Apple's hardware is UL tested?

 

[SeaFox]

I think he was running towards his gf to see why she was screaming? and when you're just waking up the brain/vision takes time to become fully alert/functional.

Ah, I hadn't seen that part. He says that the battery was bulged and smoking, concluding this means it was a battery issue. But if an electrical connection close to the battery caught fire, the heat may have caused a perfectly fine battery to rupture as well.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Does anyone read these forums or do they just skim over them....

I'll say it again for the hard-of-inteliigence.

I DO BACK UP ALMOST EVERYDAY, DONT HAVE TIME TO BE WITHOUT COMPUTER AS HAVE TO HAND IN FINISHED FILM IN 8 WEEKS FOR ANIMATION DEGREE!!!

as for the comment on what i study!

I study animation, anyone out there with experience of video editing (never mind hi res animation editing compiling etc) will know how storage intensive such a medium is. I back up always, i have a 400GB external that goes everywhere with me and one at home for backing up!!!!

Lets get back to the point, who cares about my backing up process etc.

POINT: I asked if anyone had a similar issue as me, if so what did they do.
The marks could have been caused by carry case, but since i have stopped using it and then came across the popping battery (NOT the one on fire) i was concerned.

Have since contacted apple they are sending me a new battery and asked me to dispose of the old... yes not send it back but dispose of it! Obviously they are concerned enough to find out the cause without the need for sending the whole portable in for repair ot tests. Hopefully the battery was the problem and my concerns will be left unfulfilled.

Ignore them. These are the same twits who told me I was full of it what my MBP had to go in for repairs 5 sep times, and I was without it for a total of about 3 weeks. But hey. I can be without my computer. No big deal. Never mind I have to take a vacation day every time my computer does go in for repairs because I simply CAN NOT work without the thing....which is why I stopped using my MBP for work and went back to my trusty as a rock Thinkpad T40.
Ignore the fanbois. They are people who don't know the concept of a job critical system.

 

[Rot'nApple]

My must meet requirements would be:
A BETTER Replacement Computer
Some Apple Software

My Dream requirements would be:
WWDC Ticket w/air and hotel
30 inch cinema display
Meeting with Steve Jobs
GOOD Discounts on all future Apple Products
iPhone with service.
tickets to all Future Macworlds.

Apple might reward someone all that is on your "Dream Requirments" for laptop fire compensation if that MacBook had burned down his house!

Hey did you hear the re-release of that hit single by that group 'The MacBooks' called "Burning down the house"?!

 

[Rot'nApple]

My must meet requirements would be:
A BETTER Replacement Computer
Some Apple Software

My Dream requirements would be:
WWDC Ticket w/air and hotel
30 inch cinema display
Meeting with Steve Jobs
GOOD Discounts on all future Apple Products
iPhone with service.
tickets to all Future Macworlds.

Apple might reward someone all that is on your "Dream Requirments" for laptop fire compensation if that MacBook had burned down his house!

Hey did you hear the re-release of that hit single by that group 'The MacBooks' called "Burning down the house"?!

 

[brianbobcat]

No, but this is worrying. Do you use external KB or mouse?

Nope always just the MBP's KB. Occasionally I will use either my external display, not in lid closed operation though, and my bluetooth mighty mouse, but everytime I've had this happen the bluetooth's been off since I've been running it off battery and thus want to save the battery and don't even bring my mice out of the house.

Wifi on the other hand I believe is always on. Any other suggestions?

-Brian

 

[Rot'nApple]

My must meet requirements would be:
A BETTER Replacement Computer
Some Apple Software

My Dream requirements would be:
WWDC Ticket w/air and hotel
30 inch cinema display
Meeting with Steve Jobs
GOOD Discounts on all future Apple Products
iPhone with service.
tickets to all Future Macworlds.

Apple might reward someone all that is on your "Dream Requirments" for laptop fire compensation if that MacBook had burned down the house!

Hey did you hear the re-release of that hit single by that group 'The MacBooks' called "Burning down the house"?!

 

[cal6n]

Look at where it started burning... by the connector between the battery and the logic board. This is an electrical fire, but it is NOT an exploding battery. Something caused a short circuit at the connection, possibly even user error. Don't rush to sensationalist judgement over these pictures.

Wrong.

The connector on a macbook's at the other ends.

 

[iJawn108]

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.

Not quite a Darwin award, but not the brightest LED in the bundle.

that one made me really LOL


He doesn't mention which model of MacBook from what I could see. Was it a C2D. I hope this doesn't show up more accross the line. Who knows it could even be fake.

 

[koobcamuk]

I DO backup, almost everyday!!!!! What i meant by the statement that you quote from me is that backups are useless if one has no computer to work on them, so if i were to send my laptop for repair then i would have a back up but nothing to work on!

Jeez!

But your other sigs have said you have a wealth of other computers. It is why I keep my iMac. If the MacBook dies, at least I have something from which to work.

 

[lietsche]

Battery popped

This EXACT thing happened to my 17" MBP's battery to the point that I was wondering how you got a hold of my pictures. The genius I went to quickly called for a battery replacement, but since there were none in stock needed to order it. I ended up needing to wait almost a week for a replacement, and even at that needed to call applecare to ask where the replacement was. Eventually the very helpful applecare lady called the manager of my local retail store and had them swap out my ever-enlarging-despite-not-plugged-in-to-any-power battery for a regular retail one. Now to be fair, I did leave my laptop in the car once or twice last summer, but that was 6 months before I battery went all expando on me.

-Brian

this happened to me today, same thing, MBP 17"
the computer does not seem to be affected.

the battery suddenly had a battery life of 5-10 min two weeks ago, but as for working purposes I had no time to change it. I should have taken it out, but this I know only now...

so folks, if your battery life suddenly is gone, take it out immediately.

going to the store tomorrow.

 

[hesdeadjim]

Ignore them. These are the same twits who told me I was full of it what my MBP had to go in for repairs 5 sep times, and I was without it for a total of about 3 weeks. But hey. I can be without my computer. No big deal. Never mind I have to take a vacation day every time my computer does go in for repairs because I simply CAN NOT work without the thing....which is why I stopped using my MBP for work and went back to my trusty as a rock Thinkpad T40.
Ignore the fanbois. They are people who don't know the concept of a job critical system.

What was ultimately wrong with the MBP? Just wanted to know.

I remember when my PB had to go in for 2 weeks to get it's Logic Board replaced. I would have been extremely upset because I usually need the PB for my job but fortunately I was in a lull.

From that point forward, I always have a backup solution just in case. Right now, I have an old iMac that would suffice although it would decrease my productivity. I also have looked at getting loaners as a solution. If you talk to Apple and are willing to get the Procare (a minor investment in my eyes if it's critical), they will generally give you a loaner. Also, other companies will rent out Macs.

And the original poster wasn't very clear that he was backing up in his first post and most don't read all the posts (me included).

 

[bilbo--baggins]

Looks like we all need to check our smoke detectors are in good working order...

Perhaps the next MacBook revision could come with a built in sprinkler?

 

[koobcamuk]

Looks like we all need to check our smoke detectors are in good working order...

Perhaps the next MacBook revision could come with a built in sprinkler?

Or maybe we could pull some CO2 from the air and have a canister inside the macbook incase the damn computer caught fire...

 

[mashinhead]

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.

so weird, when i went to buy mine there was another guy there who brought his in for the exact same problem. I was standing right next to him so i saw it real close. The battery did the same thing and warped like that.

 

[SiliconAddict]

What was ultimately wrong with the MBP? Just wanted to know.

I remember when my PB had to go in for 2 weeks to get it's Logic Board replaced. I would have been extremely upset because I usually need the PB for my job but fortunately I was in a lull.

From that point forward, I always have a backup solution just in case. Right now, I have an old iMac that would suffice although it would decrease my productivity. I also have looked at getting loaners as a solution. If you talk to Apple and are willing to get the Procare (a minor investment in my eyes if it's critical), they will generally give you a loaner. Also, other companies will rent out Macs.

And the original poster wasn't very clear that he was backing up in his first post and most don't read all the posts (me included).

They never told me. In the end the replaced the entire system the 5th time because of a screw. When it went into depot for the 4th time someone was a little too enthusastic about tightening the screw and torqed it to the point that when you try and unscrew it, it just sits and spins. The threads were toast. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but I wanted to upgrade the hard drive to my Seagate 160GB. Took it into the Apple store again, and spoke with the store manager. He took it into the back, after 20 minutes he came out and said after looking at the log of all the issues I've had they would replace it outright. Since then *knock on wood* no problems at all. If you want to know all the issues I had:

-Battery expanding....replaced

-Battery just died a week after getting it replaced.....replaced

-System crashed occasionally and would not go to sleep...replaced system board. (About 9 days, even though they had the part onsite.)

-System would wake by simply shaking the unit...same shaking you get while walking with the laptop in the bag....replaced system board (about 7 days)

-Got it back....same behavior before I even left the store....replaced system board and sensor. (About 4 days)

-Bad screw....replaced system.

All told I didn't have my system for about 3 weeks total in all of this. thankfully the batteries were a walk in replacement. the other stuff....gah. I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy first gen Apple anything. And even when the come out with a rev B version I will wait a few weeks.

So far though the current system, see below, has been flawless.