The Exploding 18650 Battery!

November 10, 2019

Just this morning, around 10:30, as we were on our way to the supermarket.  I was driving and my wife was sitting on the passenger side.  When she suddenly noticed some smoke coming out of my EDC (Every Day Carry) bag.  The bag was placed between the driver and passenger seat. 

Then, just before I turn my head to look, we heard a "Phoooof" sound, just like the sound of a .22 caliber pistol being fired.  And as I saw my bag, smoke and fire were building up.

Our vehicle was in the middle of the street because we were about to turn left to another street.  There was an island on my left.  

I immediately opened my door and throw the bag on the island.  I think I stepped on my bag a few times to put the fire out (I was in a little bit of a panic mode at that moment, so I was not sure if I really did that, eheheh.)

My immediate thought was that the battery of the flashlight inside the bag short-circuited, and that had caused the smoke and fire.  But as a dumped the content of the bag on the ground, I saw that my flashlight was intact.  Then I realized what had really happened.  

My EDC bag contains the following items.

First of all, being a Letranite, I always carry the Rosary (made of metal).

Some loose change/coins (metal)

A six-inch lightning chord (both ends are metal)

Few keys with keychain (metal)

The flashlight (also metal)

An ID/cardholder (synthetic leather)

Some bills (paper)

And an extra 18650 spare battery for the flashlight, which in my stupidity, I did not put in a case.

So, with all the metal content of the bag, the two terminals of the spare battery got in to contact, which created first the smoke, and finally made the battery short-circuit and explode! Bhhaaammm!

Fireworks!

It was a good thing though that the vehicle was not moving at that moment, and there were only few other vehicles on the street.  So, we really did not cause any traffic.

When I was sure that the fire was out, I took back the bag, and it's content, which by then was all on the ground.  I piked all the coins (it's a pity to leave them there), the Rosary, the cardholder which was burned, and of course the bills.   

We had to open all the windows of the car to let the smoke out.  Which I can really say smells terrible.  It's like having your face in front of a really old smoke-belching vehicle whose engine had not had an oil change in decades!  But much worst. 

But, I am still thankful that only my bag, the cardholder, and the spare battery were damaged.

The car still has a bit of that foul smoke smell, and hopefully, it will all be gone tomorrow.

So, that's it, our misfortune of the day.

Lesson.  Be very careful with your battery.  Put them in a case!