Negligent Parent or manufacturing Flaw?? The War begins....3yr Old Severely Burned Exploding-Ecig

[innerHONOR]

Just wanted to see the thoughts on this issue. I am of the opinion that when we bring items with risks into our lives we are liable for any catastrophe unless it is caused by a manufacturing defect. I am not personally familiar w/ White Rhino ecigs so I cant speak about the quality of their products. But this is a problem... How do we address this issue??? Raise awareness about the dangers of rechargeable batteries, boycott shoddy products and the producers or will we allow them to ban ecigs altogether. This is a problem. What is our solution...?
http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/...-After-Exploding-E-cigarette-Ignites-Car-Seat

 

[nosmoke12]

I'm no expert on any of these subjects but in my mind, I hope they don't blame the e-cig, maybe they'll see it as just an accident. Can these batteries just explode if left on the charger too long? It said it blew up while it was charging in the car so maybe that's the cause of it? I mean it awful that this happened to the child, but I don't see how it's worse than fires started from analogs, and at least the kid wasn't being exposed to 2nd hand smoke. Idk how everyone will see this story, just my opinion

 

[mooreted]

Some sane regulations would be nice so that a level of product safety like that used for laptops and cell phones could be implemented. People need to be educated on battery safety and that it's not a good idea to buy cheap products at gas stations and convenience stores. We should indeed boycott cheap knock-offs. If they can't sell their cheap crap they'll stop making them.

 

[DrkSide]

I don't see a problem with some basic regulations that cover the safety of the devices. However, seems that it could have been user error in this case. Just a basic look on their site does not produce a car charger so it could have very well been a problem with the charger or the device may have just developed a short. If the device had been left in the vehicle and gotten hot while charging could have brought on the issue.

 

[yzer]

I don't see a problem with some basic regulations that cover the safety of the devices. However, seems that it could have been user error in this case. Just a basic look on their site does not produce a car charger so it could have very well been a problem with the charger or the device may have just developed a short. If the device had been left in the vehicle and gotten hot while charging could have brought on the issue.

I looked at the White Rhino site. Some of their devices have USB charging and USB is available on most recent car makes.

 

[TM79]

Thanks for posting this innerHonor (from a Wilmington native). I agree with the above comments that quality control does need to be implemented in the production of these products. I looked at their website and their products look like your run of the mill cheap, Chinese made crap. But then again, it seem like most of the PVs and batteries are made in China. I certainly feel for the lady in the story and certainly for her child. That must have been a horrific experience for him.

I hate to say that we "need regulation," since the industry seems to be in the crosshairs of the FDA and every other ignorant group trying to regulate something that they don't understand, but we do need regulations on quality control. Personal safety should be the goal of any producer in the industry. I don't know about the rest of you, but I work in 100 degree weather at times and don't think twice about having my cell phone in my pocket. However, I do get nervous about my PV. And honestly, it's my cheaper models that I take to work (probably more likely to blow up). The Provari doesn't leave the house (and even the Provari batteries and chargers are made in China...)

 

[mooreted]

Thanks for posting this innerHonor (from a Wilmington native). I agree with the above comments that quality control does need to be implemented in the production of these products. I looked at their website and their products look like your run of the mill cheap, Chinese made crap. But then again, it seem like most of the PVs and batteries are made in China. I certainly feel for the lady in the story and certainly for her child. That must have been a horrific experience for him.

I hate to say that we "need regulation," since the industry seems to be in the crosshairs of the FDA and every other ignorant group trying to regulate something that they don't understand, but we do need regulations on quality control. Personal safety should be the goal of any producer in the industry. I don't know about the rest of you, but I work in 100 degree weather at times and don't think twice about having my cell phone in my pocket. However, I do get nervous about my PV. And honestly, it's my cheaper models that I take to work (probably more likely to blow up). The Provari doesn't leave the house (and even the Provari batteries and chargers are made in China...)

Just because something is made in China doesn't mean it's bad. Joytech and Kanger, for instance, make good products.

 

[yzer]

This is a problem with low quality Li-ion battery powered devices in general, not only e-cigarettes. This incident could have happened just as easily with a cheap cell phone.

 

[mare ze dotes]

I wonder why they cant keep thisfrom happening? It has to be a matter of technology?

 

[evan le'garde]

It's got nothing to do with e cigs

eg. LED Torches, Head Torches Batteries and Flashlights | Flashaholics

You can get these types of batteries for all sorts of devices. The above link is just one example. Plus if you are going to use unprotected batteries in a mech mod you're asking for trouble.

 

[CreepyLady]

Hmmm - The first question in my head is so will she go back to lighting and smoking analogs in the car? I would hope the fire scare would deter this- but find it doubtful. Probably safer to purposely light something on fire and blow around second hand smoke in the car.

The second is - Was it sitting in a hot car for a while or was something pushing the button? I feel like there was probably some level of misuse or poor storage involved to cause this....or maybe it is just a really crappy device...but the site seems OK- ish. Hmmmmm

 

[yzer]

Lots of exploding cell phones...

Chuck Schumer: Watch out for exploding cell phone batteries  - NY Daily News

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

This is at least the third incident in which the user used a car cigarette outlet to charge an e-cig battery, and had a bad result.

Some late model vehicles include a power outlet which produces a regulated 5.0v output. The cigarette lighter may, or may not.

I think vendors should warn users that plugging the adapter into a cigarette lighter is dangerous, and also warn users not to make a regular habit of charging their e-cig (or any other type of) battery using your vehicle's noisy electrical system that's regulated by an alternator that may or may not be in the best of shape.

Maybe it's time for the regulations to exclude car adapters altogether.

That said, "Kinzie" doesn't look like the kind of person who reads manuals and understands the risks of using modern Li-Ion battery powered electronics. Plug and go seems to be the mentality of today's modern citizen. Instant coffee, microwave popcorn and what not.

 

[phorumph]

There were news on Samsung smartphones batteries exploding. And those are not cheap products... Also many laptop batteries exploding news. Those are not cheap products also.

It happens. I could see how a battery can overheat in a car while charging, even with the A/C on if it is in direct sunlight.

I wonder if the stainless steel casing of 18650 battery mods can contain an explosion.

 

[fabricator4]

Just wanted to see the thoughts on this issue. I am of the opinion that when we bring items with risks into our lives we are liable for any catastrophe unless it is caused by a manufacturing defect. I am not personally familiar w/ White Rhino ecigs so I cant speak about the quality of their products. But this is a problem... How do we address this issue??? Raise awareness about the dangers of rechargeable batteries, boycott shoddy products and the producers or will we allow them to ban ecigs altogether. This is a problem. What is our solution...?
http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/...-After-Exploding-E-cigarette-Ignites-Car-Seat

Parent needs to take a large amount of the responsibility for this. Just because you can charge a battery in the car does not mean that it's a good idea to do so, and what's the bet that this is another case of the wrong charger being used - just because it has a 510 connection on the charger does not mean that any 510 battery can be screwed onto it. A car is a confined space, and lithium battery charging in a confined space with driver and passengers just is not a good idea in any case.

Manufacturers need to use safer chemistry batteries however this would increase the cost and reduce the capacity.

Several orders of fail in this, resulting in one more piece of negative publicity.

 

[NiNi]

Call me crazy, but I wouldn't charge on a USB port or lighter plug in a car. I won't charge on the USB port of any of my PC/Laptops. I've charged all my vape batteries on a charger through a wall socket, only when I'm home, in a Pyrex dish. It's not paranoia, just common sense.

 

[BHRLarry]

I bought the car charger when I started a month ago but I do not think I will ever use it.

 

[momtomater]

Holy crap. Well after hearing that this isn't the first time it's happened in a car I won't be charging mine on our 20 hour drive in a couple weeks.

Batteries explode. Not just in e-cigs. How did the mom not get hit by any of it? Was it in the backseat with the kid? I

 

[mezzio]

A battery explosion can happen with anything. I've had a battery in a cell phone blow up, I've and and seen several NiCd, NiMh, and LiPo batteries explode in RC accidents, its just a risk people need to understand when using ANY rechargeable battery.

The problem lies in the general public's perception of the device using the battery on whether its the fault of the device, or that of the person using it. A LiPo explodes at an RC track because of a crash that punctures the pack, no one bats an eye, even if it causes injury, its generally ruled a freak accident even if it causes injury. Even if its a case of someone being negligent by using a soft pack battery instead of a hard pack usually required at tracks.

An e cigarette explodes because the user improperly charges it, its deemed the fault of the device, regardless of whether or not the user was completely ignorant in how they used and charged it. You can tell ones ignorance simply by seeing the news article. Someone who knows battery safety, who reads directions, and understands the risks of batteries isn't going to go running to their local news station to cover a story.




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[bluecat]

I wonder why they cant keep thisfrom happening? It has to be a matter of technology?

I have seen people smoking a cigarette while filling up their gas tank. No technology will fix that. I think it comes down to being informed or it was just a 1 in 1 million.. which nothing can protect against.