| Toshiba Issues Third Sony Battery Recall
As if consumers haven't heard enough on the subject, Toshiba on Friday issued its third recall related to malfunctioning Sony batteries that could overheat and potentially explode. This time around, only 1,400 batteries are affected for the company's Satellite A100, Satellite A105 and Terca A7 laptop models. According to an advisory from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries and contact Toshiba to receive a free replacement battery." In the meantime, the laptops can be used safely without the battery when plugged in. More information is available from Toshiba's Web site. .
Nokia warns on battery overheating risks
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia said 46 million batteries used in its phones could overheat and it would replace them free to consumers while negotiating with battery maker Matsushita over who would bear the costs. "Nokia has identified that in very rare cases the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries...could potentially experience overheating initiated by a short circuit while charging, causing the battery to dislodge," it said in a statement on Tuesday. The world's top cellphone maker said about 100 such incidents had been reported globally but no serious injuries or property damage had been reported. It said it was working closely with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., who made the batteries in question between December 2005 and November 2006, to investigate the problem.
Hey charger! OLPC gets power boost from Aussie coder
A 21-year-old Australian is playing a key part in developing the charger unit for the XO-1 -- the laptop which is the center of the One Laptop Per Child project. Joel Stanley has been working in the Boston offices of MIT, which is the home of the OLPC, as part of the Google Summer of Code (GSoC). Stanley was one of 12 Australians chosen to participate in the code program which began on May 28 and wraps up on August 31, 2007. "My project is to revolve around the power systems of the XO laptop, specifically the gang charger units - large recharging units that can replenish many laptop batteries at once, running off mains or solar power by the way of an internal battery - and also the tinderbox; a XO with it's insides hanging out, connected to a multichannel voltmeter that logs the power usage on the XO's power rails," Stanley's blog states.
Douglas donates battery, charger
An American Red Cross chapter in Louisiana is getting a helping hand from Douglas Battery Manufacturing Co. in Winston-Salem as the agency braces for the heart of the 2007 hurricane season. The company is donating an industrial forklift battery and charger - a $6,200 value - to the Northwest Louisiana chapter, which serves nine shelters in the Shreveport area. The custom-made battery will be delivered next week. "One of the hard-learned lessons from hurricanes Katrina and Rita is that the logistics of moving emergency supplies to these shelters is an enormous task if not equipped properly," said Don Brummett, a volunteer with the chapter in Shreveport. A forklift dealer in Shreveport provided an electric forklift to the chapter, but it did not have a battery.
External Battery powers laptops and charges other devices.
While providing up to 4 hr of power for operating laptops, myPower(TM) ALL Plus MP3450 can simultaneously charge other small portable electronic devices through on-board USB port. Rechargeable lithium polymer universal battery comes with 9 adapter tips, retractable USB cable, and voltage selector switch for setting appropriate voltage for particular portable device. Automatic reset upon adapter change provides added safety to protect connected device.
Related categories: Electrical Equipment & Systems .
UPDATE: Nokia Says 46 Million Phone Batteries Could Overheat
LONDON (Dow Jones) -- Nokia Corp. on Tuesday said up to 46 million batteries used in its phones contain a fault that could lead to overheating following reports of 100 incidents. The world's largest maker of mobile phones said the problem occurs while the phone is charging and has offered to replace affected batteries free of charge. Nokia (NOK) said the advisory is on its BL-5C battery, produced by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., a unit of Matsushita (MC) , between Dec. 2005 and Nov. 2006. The battery is found in models ranging from the basic 1100 to the advanced E50. Nokia said it has several suppliers for that line of batteries, and the advisory only applies to the 46 million made by Matsushita during that time period. There have been about 100 incidents globally and no injuries or product damage, Nokia said.
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