Lithium in Your Luggage?
Dec 31st, 2007 by John Stodder
Security expert Bruce Schneier reports, just in time, on a new FAA rule for bringing spare lithium batteries with you on a plane.
Effective January 1, 2008, the following rules apply to the spare lithium batteries you carry with you in case the battery in a device runs low:
- Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries.
- You may not pack a spare lithium battery in your checked baggage
- You may bring spare lithium batteries with you in carry-on baggage – see our spare battery tips and how-to sections to find out how to pack spare batteries safely!
- Even though we recommend carrying your devices with you in carry-on baggage as well, if you must bring one in checked baggage, you may check it with the batteries installed.
The following quantity limits apply to both your spare and installed batteries. The limits are expressed in grams of “equivalent lithium content.” 8 grams of equivalent lithium content is approximately 100 watt-hours. 25 grams is approximately 300 watt-hours:
The quantity limits would usually apply only to people hauling around professional video equipment. Schneier wonders why this rule, why now? Is there some terrorist threat lurking in spare lithium batteries hidden in luggage? Turns out the worry is fire, based on this event.
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