Poll of the Day > Do you think it's safe to use this?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I bought one of those power banks the other day. I plugged it up to charge and forgot about it for a few hours, and when I came back it had melted the tip of the charger cord. I had some trouble disconnecting it. The power bank itself looks fine, except for a small bit of damage to the case where the cord was plugged in.

I want to return it, but I also have an event all weekend and I could really use the bank. Anybody think it would be a bad idea to use it?
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yes (in reponse to bad if...question). the melted tip means it got too hot, it will only get worse
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bought it or found it in a dumpster?
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Bought it from a guy in a dumpster.
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Yeah, I have an anker Astro e7 power bank. The thing is the size of a patio brick, can run 3 devices for days. It's the biggest power bank you can bring on an airplane.

It's still never once been warm to the touch. Not using it to power 2 devices at once on one of the hottest days of last summer, not when charging, not when sitting in my sling pack in the sun.

Return that thing before it explodes.
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I was planning to return it anyway; I was just wondering if it could be used in the meantime. I'll play it safe.
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I don't know if the sanitation department accepts returns but it's worth a shot
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Jen0125 posted...

bought it or found it in a dumpster?

he saw a girl with a power bank on her shirt and bought it to impress her
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I wouldn't even risk it.
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keyblader1985 posted...

it had melted the tip of the charger cord.

That's a serious fire hazard. Lithium ion batteries are also known to explode when defective or damaged.

I wouldn't use it anywhere you're not prepared to have a big fireball.
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Yellow posted...

keyblader1985 posted...

it had melted the tip of the charger cord.

That's a serious fire hazard. Lithium ion batteries are also known to explode when defective or damaged.

This. Look at how much damage those exploding Samsung phones were doing to people. That battery was the size of a match book. Now look at your power bank. Even a smallish one can do some real damage if it breaks the wrong way. If it's heating to the point where it melts charger tips, those cells have to be swelling. One tiny crack or a bad drop, and that's basically an incendiary grenade.
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Yeah, definitely do not use that thing at all. Maybe wrap it in something flame retardant until you can return it, just to be on the safe side.
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