Firefighters have been called to Deerbrook Mall after a small fire was reported inside. "There are presently no UL-certified hoverboards," says UL consumer safety director John Drengenberg. In Europe, these products should be certified by CE/Rohs certification and in America by UL2272. The blue board is the best option as it has the highest lifetime guarantee. Look into organizations that respond to inquiries openly, without any hesitation or irritation. But today, Hendo, Swagtron, and several other hoverboard brands are safe to use for kids between ages of 8 … With their stamp of approval, it is safe to assume that the risks are minimal. The components inside being of good or low quality will give you a general idea of whether it’s a good idea to buy. Thereby, causing a puncture mark to form on the surface of the battery. We cannot ignore the fact that hoverboards are becoming one of the trendier must-haves amidst youngsters these days. Once you notice that it is fully charged, remove it immediately to prevent overcharging. Charging Hoverboard Sparks Maryland House Fire, Officials Say. Tomoloo is working to change the stigma by producing high-quality boards that are accredited and certified safe by US authorities. So, to prevent your hoverboard from burning or catching fire, you ought to take care of certain things. Hoverboardforu.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Knock-off or substitute chargers despite being cheaper are more likely to cause impairments in the hoverboard and cause it to erupt. Using an inefficient charger, which is not part of the package, a third-party USB charger, a charger with multiple spelling errors and ones that are fake or don’t have a UL certification will surely result in rapid oxidation, damage to the gas vent and discharge. Update, February 20 at 1:15 p.m. PT: The CPSC has officially warned that hoverboards that don't meet voluntary safety standards pose "an unreasonable risk of fire," and has threatened to recall or ban imports if manufacturers don't follow those standards. Despite the obvious deathtrap they may seem to be, it looks like the demand has not gone down. As hoverboards become the number one item on almost every child’s (and some adults) Christmas wish list, reports have emerged over the past week that some models have shorted out and caught fire. Do not drop it, throw it, kick it, whack it or damage it by a sharp object. In both cases, if an explosion occurs, everything won’t burn down, and the flames are less likely to spread. Not every hover-board is unsafe and it also not the case that every time a cheap hoverboard will fire up. Also, remember to get yourself and others out of the harm’s way as soon as possible. In the UK, the government is already cracking down on hoverboards. BRENTWOOD, Calif. (KGO) -- A Brentwood family is lucky no one got hurt after a hoverboard that was a Christmas present started a fire. However, impacts and jolting of gadget or battery may dislodge the separator causing a burst. Always keep it in your line of sight whenever it’s on-charge. "What you have is a product coming in here where no one knows which safety standards are applicable. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 12 incidents in the United States where the lithium ion batteries in these hoverboards reportedly caught fire as of December 2015, destroying bedrooms and even entire homes. When you want to charge your hoverboard, be patient and let it cool down first. Also, keep the item at a respectable distance from flammable material of any sorts. Testing the material for resilience and strength is also an aspect to consider. Some recommended products of this site may use affiliate links. Perhaps next time, we could reserve the name "hoverboard" for a gadget that actually floats above the ground. Electrolyte boiling leads to the cell undergoing infiltration and then follows an unavoidable burning. He didn’t conclude his talk on the reasons why the hoverboard caught fire. Another reason is the consumer electronics industry has gotten much better about safety standards, to the point where most of us don't think twice about leaving a phone connected to a charger. "Back to the Future Part II" got it partly right. Please share with your friends! And since there are so many different ways these Chinese companies could have cut costs among the different components they trade with one another and piece together to form the final product you see, it's hard to narrow down the actual point of failure. Besides, there's another problem with certifying batteries instead of the hoverboards themselves. We've been living with potentially deadly explosions in our pockets and laptop bags for years. While one of the most popular gifts this past holiday season was the hoverboard, the safety of these products has lately been questioned. The professor gave two remedies to it. Keeping your battery in a shallow cycle status will reduce the risk of any problems. Specifically, look out for non-compliant plugs that do not have a fuse. These boards have displayed a high propensity towards catching fire and exploding on the spot. Practically every hoverboard you see is a counterfeit, in that sense. However, a green motherboard has better heat managing capabilities, higher-quality elements, and well-spaced components. The UK divisions of retailers Amazon and Costco are specifically telling customers to destroy charging cables that have plugs that weren't built to UK safety standards. As of 2015, the hoverboard is a real form of transportation that lets trendy kids get into trouble while effortlessly zipping along the sidewalk. (Costco is providing replacement cables, while Amazon is offering full refunds.). The warranty provided by the company is also an indicator of safety being provided. The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) is a hoverboard testing firm which certifies the self-balancing scooters to be safe. This out of the blue, hazardous combustion has resulted in many accidents. When boards were catching fire left and right, the initial culprit, was the influx of manufacturers from abroad. The intensity of the lithium-ion battery malfunction literally results in an uncontrollable inferno that has the tendency to re-ignite even after extinguishing it. "We said to the companies, you need to come together, create a voluntary organization and set a safety standard," says the CPSC's Wolfson, recalling how we went from big battery scares and recalls in the mid-2000s to the relatively safe laptops and phones we have today. Once these battery packs reach maximum capacity they stimulate short-circuiting, sparking, smoke, flames, fire and, in extreme cases, explosions. Faulty wiring is also a factor to acknowledge. And much of the advice we've seen issued by local fire departments and government agencies isn't likely to help. There were no injuries reported. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Since you're so restricted when it comes to which type of charger you can use, it's pretty unlikely that any of these fires occurred due to someone mistaking a laptop charger for a hoverboard one. Separators are placed inside hoverboards to prevent the anode and cathode from overlapping. Now playing: Watch this: How to buy a hoverboard that won't catch fire 2:59 Whether you call them hoverboards, self-balancing boards or explosions waiting to … Do not buy a product without manufacturer or branding information, a charger without production details or packages that come with misspelled instructions. That's clearly not the issue everywhere, though, as Mashable recently tore down a Swagway hoverboard that appeared to have a cut-off switch installed. So, make sure to use only one plug per socket during the recharge process. Such as houses burning down, humans being getting caught on fire, property damage and even the loss of human lives. Hoverboards keep catching fire and ... BuzzFeed News reported that a woman in a London suburb was sent to hospital Nov. 7 after her hoverboard caught fire while recharging. "Right now there are thousands of workshops making identical hoverboards in China, and the only obvious differentiator is the costs," says Jay Sung, CEO of popular electric-scooter company EcoReco. Another possible culprit is the cut-off switch, a safety feature that keeps an electronic device from overcharging, which the UK's National Trading Standards consumer protection agency says can often fail in these hoverboards. Here's why that happens. do not conduct tests and experiments on it or load it with excessive weight as this will only add fuel to the fire. You can accomplish this by charging it daily and often, after every use. But the hoverboard-like devices run on powerful lithium-ion batteries that charge quickly and, if charged too long, can overheat and catch fire. It wouldn't be the first time a popular product was deemed too unsafe to sell. Additionally, it will extend the battery life. Where Can You Get Hoverboards-How to Choose? Sean Kane, a longtime product safety researcher, says cases like the hoverboard are precisely why his nonprofit organization The Safety Institute is advocating for more general categories of safety standards like "computers" and "personal mobility devices" instead of the specific ones that exist today. The cause: overheating lithium-ion batteries. The liquid present inside the volatile lithium-ion batteries is highly flammable. Firstly, buy only from a trusted manufacturer. Technically, the US Government has declared these as unsafe products to be used. But there is no single reason because of which the hoverboards are catching fire, and there are no sure ways of avoiding a fire. Several witnesses tell Eyewitness News it was a hoverboard that caught fire. According to owners and witnesses, some of the hoverboards exploded while charging, others while riding and one while it was simply sitting near a kiosk in a Washington shopping mall. More of these toys are being recalled after two girls in Pennsylvania died in a hoverboard-related fire. Wires/ Wiring:. Tomoloo, an electric hoverboard brand based in China, that’s breaking a lot of barriers in the US market. Battery:. The science behind hoverboard fires is actually pretty simple, and fairly well understood. How Do You Make a Hoverboard Step By Step? One incident was reported in Mississippi in 2017 whereby a Smart Balance Hoverboard exploded and caught fire which resulted in a property damage. Most of the time you cannot rely on the sellers to guarantee you that the product is not a threat. "They wrap a piece of paper around the battery that says 'Samsung' when it's not Samsung.". Even a defective or absent cut-off switch can be at fault. (Fires aren't the only reason that hoverboards are dangerous. And those companies are merely distributors for a sprawling array of factories in China that supply components to one another practically interchangeably. (As of December 2015, Amazon asked that all hoverboard sellers provide proof they comply with UN 38.3, UL 1642 and UL 60950-1, specifically.). Though most electronic devices use lithium-ion batteries, the placement and concentration of the batteries in a hoverboard are making them catch fire. The hoverboard you want should have a battery indicator and a highly durable outer-casing. Your email address will not be published. (In other words, a lithium ion battery can be smaller, lighter, and/or last longer than say, a lithium iron phosphate one.). Even leaving your hoverboard to be drained of energy to 0% or if they are overcharged may result in catastrophe. Most hoverboards are battery operated. Do not let it come into contact with any liquid and make sure to cover your skin. The professor is a genius. Furthermore, remove any electronics near you to prevent them from catching fire. Why are Hoverboards Catching on Fire? In July 2016, the CPSC updated that number to at least 60 reports of hoverboard fires totaling over $2 million in property damage. New Concerns About Hoverboard Safety. However, it indeed presents a monumental risk to the safety and welfare of innocent users and anybody in the vicinity. How Much Do Hoverboards Cost? This was right around August 2016 to March 2017. And you might not be able to find a hoverboard that's been tested in its entirety by a reputable independent firm like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) even if you looked hard. Discuss: Here are the reasons why so many hoverboards are catching fire, Stimulus package: Tax breaks for families, have banned hoverboards on passenger flights, at least 60 reports of hoverboard fires totaling over $2 million in property damage, from thousands of interchangeable factories in China, recalled millions of laptop batteries in 2006, has now seized and reportedly destroyed 32,000 hoverboards, Before you even think of buying a hoverboard, read this, The Lexus hoverboard is real, but it isn't coming to a skate park near you. Hoverboards were catching fire when they were first introduced to the marketplace. If your hoverboard starts smoking up, encase it in a non-flammable packaging immediately. These self-balancing scooters don't actually hover like the ones in the movie. But fear not, there are certain precautions consumers can take to ensure that no harm comes to them or their loved ones. "When this happens, especially when the batteries are charged, a lot of heat is generated inside the cells and this leads to electrolyte boiling, the rupture of the cell casing, and then a significant fire," Carnegie Mellon University materials science professor Jay Whitacre told Wired. Thanks! Similarly, many officials now warn against overcharging hoverboards, but when was the last time you had to think about overcharging a gadget? But China has also become famous as a place where tiny factories can pile onto a hot new idea like the selfie stick or the miniature R/C helicopter, churning out copycats in record time. With modern laptops and smartphones, you simply plug them in and leave them there, trusting that they'll automatically shut off the flow of electricity when they're done. There are existing standards for motorized scooters and toys, says Kane, but the hoverboard just doesn't fit. In April 2017, another charging hoverboard caused a house fire … (Incidentally, Swagway is now facing a lawsuit from when one of its hoverboards caught fire.). In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has now recalled half a million hoverboards, and is pushing for voluntary standards like the ones that made laptops and phones safer today. Like it? Original story published December 22, 2015. When this separator fails, the liquid electrolytes warm up very quickly and the battery explodes. Maria Guerra But unlike cell phones, it's not like we have known reputable hoverboard manufacturers that merely got a bad batch of batteries to go with their own carefully designed proprietary components. Not only is it illegal to ride one on public roads or walkways, but the UK National Trading Standards body has now seized and reportedly destroyed 32,000 hoverboards in December 2015 -- the vast majority of the 38,800 devices that the organization has been tracking since it started investigating the devices in October of that year. : All Tech Considered Reports of the boards burning up have focused attention on shoddy lithium-ion batteries. What’s Making Hoverboards Catch Fire? Also, some self-balancing scooter companies now claim to follow that standard. Some of the first hoverboards were catching fire, so companies and distributors like Amazon did a recall on hoverboards. Update, March 2016: Underwriters Laboratories now has a testing procedure for hoverboards, UL 2272, and we got an early look at how it works. "There are some factories right now that will say they use Samsung batteries, but don't," a sales manager for Chinese hoverboard manufacturer CHIC told Quartz. The home was engulfed in flames after the hoverboard charging on the first floor exploded and caught fire. Your email address will not be published. 2020 Prices and Guide. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Moreover, they labeled this gadget as a serious fire hazard. Nevertheless, you can never be too safe. How Long Does it Take to Charge a Hoverboard? Well, it’s the most common question comes into the buyer’s mind when they plan to have a hover-board. There's no easy way to tell what kind of battery is inside a hoverboard -- or if it's a counterfeit. Companies like Hover X’s might offer a 90-day warranty and that’s when the warning bells should start going off. Do not let it come into contact with any liquid and make sure to cover your skin. Shocking moment 'hoverboard' catches fire and proceeds to explode outside owners house. Required fields are marked *. In the case, a fire does occur due to a battery fiasco, these hold the ability to contain possible fires. Also, they could potentially catch on fire and burn your house down. ... "Some Hoverboards Catching Fire… You will also be able to question the seller thoroughly and clarify any ambiguities. Red and yellow motherboards are not a reliable option. When buying a hoverboard, taking a closer look at its constituent parts is the key to assuring protection. ... Other incidents of hoverboards catching fire have been recorded, some while a rider was still on it. Here's the really scary part: there's no single reason why these hoverboards are exploding, and there's no sure-fire way to avoid potential catastrophe if you want to buy one yourself. But in February 2016, the organization officially warned that hoverboards pose a serious risk, and threatened to block imports or recall hoverboards that don't meet voluntary safety standards. How to Prevent the Fire and Exploding? Until those parts have actually been tested together, it's more of a legal cover-your-ass measure for the manufacturers and retailers than anything else. See the UL's testing procedure in the video below. (Best Soccer I ever Watched), A 11-months-old girl is a Pro on a Hoverboard, EASY HOVERBOARD TRICKS(Popular Video with 1.32 Million Views), 10 Hoverboard Games You Can Play with Your Loved Ones. Hoverboards are flying off the shelves this holiday season but there are new questions about their safety. The hoverboard is a high energy consumption item. Additionally, for both self-assurance and precaution check how transparent the brand is about its warranty, product details, and overall company information. There are many reasons for blowing up or catching on fire, all of them are mentioned right here. EcoReco's Sung suggested that to save costs, some hoverboard manufacturers might not even include a cut-off switch to begin with. Never ever leave the hoverboard charging for an extended period or overnight, as it is a recipe for disaster. 5 Best Hoverboard Batteries That Will NOT Roast Your Hoverboard, 8 Best Pink Hoverboards in 2020 Reviews with Comparison, 8 Best Hoverkart in 2020 Reviews with Comparison, 10 Best Hoverboards Under $100 Reviews[2020 Update], 6 Best Dirt Bike for 10 11 12-Year Old Kids Complete Guide, 7 Best Hoverboards For Girls in 2020 Reviews with Comparison, Best Hoverboards for Adults: 8 Picks Worth Your Money, HoverBoard Soccer Challenge!! Will hover-board catch fire? After you are sure that the board is not in any way flowing with an active current you can plug in the charger. The fact that they keep exploding. In addition to that, countries worldwide are seizing and destroying these boards in the millions. If the hoverboard battery is no competent, the defective and flawed battery may also lead to an... Manufacturing:. Why Are 'Hoverboards' Literally Catching Fire? Much like your laptop, tablet or phone, these hoverboards use lithium ion battery packs for their power, and it just so happens that the liquid swimming around inside most lithium ion batteries is highly flammable. You don't necessarily need to stab a lithium ion battery to set it on fire. Most modern batteries now incorporate all kinds of safety measures, such as emergency vents, and many products filled with lithium ion batteries have to endure a barrage of drop tests, crush tests and electrical stress tests before they can pass. Make sure to do your research on the company and create a comparative list of brands and approved patent lists. The fuse may cause hoverboards to jerk, produce embers and burst into flames. The reason for these incidents would be the overheated, rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs or second-tier battery packs installed in these self-balancing devices. Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a hoverboard catching fire in Louisiana in 2017, which resulted in approximately $40,000 in property damage to a consumer’s home. That's not a reflection on the quality of Chinese manufacturing in general, by the way. Update, January 21 at 2:27 p.m. PT: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is now investigating at least 40 reports of hoverboard fires across 19 US states. 8 Best Hoverboard Accessories of 2020 Reviews, The Weight Limit of Hoverboards: Everything You Need to Know. In 2017 alone, The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall of several boards and brands selling this item over the years. Hoverboard fires were common when they were first released, which is why they started to pull the product off the shelves of retailers and online distributors. There's no particular brand of hoverboard to avoid -- they all seem to come from thousands of interchangeable factories in China -- or any label on the box that guarantees a product won't explode. Thirdly, only use supplementary gadgets and accessories that the company provides from which you’re buying your hoverboard. By the time the hoverboard fad took off in the United States, there were already too many Chinese companies building hoverboards to tell who came up with the idea first. "We want to be able to deliver for the public, but we hope they'll be able to appreciate that what's going on right now is a very thorough science-based investigation," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson in late 2015. Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a hoverboard catching fire in Louisiana in 2017, which resulted in approximately $40,000 in property damage to … Wires can tear if loose metal shards inside prick them. Actually, hover-boards will burst into flames or not, it depends on various factors e.g. Swagway, one of the more popular brands, claims its entire hoverboard is UL-certified because it has a UL-certified battery and a UL-certified charger inside, but that's not accurate. Practically every high-quality Apple product comes off a Chinese assembly line, not to mention those of Lenovo, a Chinese company that's one of the top worldwide computer vendors. You are better off investing in a reputable high-quality hoverboard or an external universal charger for maximum welfare. The primary cause of the explosion of the hoverboard is the battery. Meanwhile, one consumer group has declared hoverboards should not be sold at all. You might want to think twice. Often, you’ll come across companies providing warranties of up to a year, these are good choices. Hoverboards have become one of the hottest news stories this holiday season, and not just because they're selling like mad. You should always only buy from a reliable vendor. Call 844-333-4457 to request a replacement. There are good reasons that lawn darts and magnetic Buckyballs, both popular toys, were banned. A final precaution is to particularly focus on the details printed on the package. Some had wires that were soldered onto batteries and when given enough friction or disturbance, jolted into flammable action. Jessica Horne lost her family's Louisiana home after her 12-year old son's Fit Turbo hoverboard exploded. This article shows you the most useful hoverboard safety tips and precautions. Amazon and Target both temporarily suspended sales, and Overstock.com has stopped selling hoverboards at all. How to succeed with hoverboards without catching on fire There's no silver bullet, but here's what you need to know before buying one. The Reasons of Hoverboard Catching Fire The batteries The wires and the wiring The manufacturing quality These eruptions can even take place if your hoverboard hits a rough object or surface. You can see what a lithium ion battery fire looks like in our Droid Turbo 2 torture test video: It shouldn't be a revelation that lithium ion batteries are volatile, because fires like these aren't exactly new. It could also be that the CPSC pushes to ban hoverboards altogether. Update, January 21 at 2:27 p.m. PT: The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is now investigating at least 40 reports of hoverboard fires across 19 US states. Also, Overstock has completely discontinued them and even the US Postal Service refuses to ship them. Is hoverboard safe? Some hoverboards in the construction and manufacturing phase may become prone to crumpled or exposed wires. "It's a product without a safety standard," says Wolfson. Swagway provides a comprehensive outlook on its company whereas Jetson Electric only states certain facts. ", For now, retailers like Amazon and Target are making sure individual components of these hoverboards -- namely the batteries and the chargers -- have been certified for safety. The fact that everyone calls them "hoverboards" is annoying, but you know what's more annoying? But before you breathe a sigh of relief, you should probably know that while batteries and chargers can be certified individually, it doesn't mean those hoverboards have been certified as a whole. When an increased number of cell phone batteries were bursting in 2004, many blamed cheap counterfeits made in China -- batteries produced with far less stringent standards than phone manufacturers might have wanted. Update, July 9 at 3:43 p.m. PT: The CPSC has officially recalled half a million hoverboards due to lithium-ion batteries that were found prone to overheating. Drone Nerds Self Balancing Scooters/Hoverboards The recall number for the brand is 18-027 and there were about 700 units in circulation. The chargers being used to power these boards may also play a part in the bigger picture. If money is an issue, SwagTron1 is light on your wallet and UL certified. That's a popular theory when it comes to the hoverboard fires, too. And in July 2016, the CPSC followed through on that threat, recalling half a million hoverboards in the United States. As such, US airlines have banned them. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Furthermore, remove any electronics near you to prevent them from catching fire. Despite the low initial costs, you don’t want to end up paying expensive medical bills, property damage bills or dealing with lawsuits. Regardless of this fact, you need to treat your board as carefully as possible. (There have been several other hoverboard fires reported in the UK, and at least one in Hong Kong.). If the battery short-circuits -- say, by puncturing the incredibly thin sheet of plastic separating the positive and negative sides of the battery -- the liquid electrolyte can heat up so quickly that the battery explodes. Firstly, when purchasing a hoverboard make sure to double-check if there is a certified Underwriters Laboratory holographic certification mark stamped on it. Do not mess around with the hoverboard i.e. In 2004, a spike in the number of cell phone battery explosions prompted this CNET report, and Dell recalled millions of laptop batteries in 2006 after just six incidents of fire. It is preferable to make an in-store purchase rather than online shopping as it will give you an opportunity to test out what you intend to buy. The fires have started in all sorts of different circumstances, too. Furthermore, check out customer reviews, ask friends, check blogs and expert opinion polls. While the US Consumer Product Safety Commission was on the case as of December 2015 to figure out the actual root causes of these incidents, they didn't have the answers when we first published this story. So, always charge away from water sources since it may cause electrical shocks. Update, June 8 at 4:02 p.m. PT: The first hoverboards meeting UL's new safety standard are now on sale in the United States. When Florida resident Timothy Cade's hoverboard caught fire, it wasn't connected to a charger. Your safest bet is to opt-out of getting cheap boards that cover price ranges of $0-$350. Especially in a rough and careless manner, and yet these boards aren’t built to withstand much wear and tear. For instance, officials have been warning that you should only use the charger that comes in the box. It is also important to ensure that not only one part bears the insignia but that the entire board has UL approval. More recently, Boeing had to ground the 787 Dreamliner airplane until it could find a way to keep its lithium ion batteries from overheating.
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