What if your smartphone on fire

Tips that will be useful not only to owners of Samsung GALAXY Note 7, because it can happen with any smartphone.

Why smartphones are ignited

Explosion or smartphone ignition occurs due to a problem with the battery. According to statistics, at risk one of the 10 million devices with lithium-ion batteries, which are installed in almost all the gadgets in the market. Such batteries consist of a flammable chemical components. But they are smaller and easier to safer analogues.

Manufacturers seal components, preventing their contact, equipped with a battery protection system from overcharging and proprietary charger, but smartphones are sometimes still explode.

Two main reasons - short circuit caused by a defect or damage of the battery and overheating of the battery.

There is also a probability of failure due to overcharge.

In lithium-ion batteries have a feature: when one area is not enough battery cools rapidly, starts a chain reaction, because of which the entire unit is overheating. In other words, the excess heat in a single point causes a reaction only accelerates widespread increase in temperature. This leads to a fire or even an explosion.

In the case of the Samsung GALAXY Note 7, which have been withdrawn from the market because of the explosion, the problem was a manufacturing defect. The lithium battery has a thin film (they are positive and negative electrodes), the space between them is filled with electrolyte and a separator is installed, an insulating circuit from opposite electrodes.

In the same batch for batteries Note electrode layers 7 were located incorrectly. Thin smartphone heating body and contributed to their displacement, due to which the short circuit occurred. As a result - overheating and ignition of the electrolyte and / or explosive decompression.

In another party electrodes were also defective: places the insulating layer is too thin or even absent. Even due to minor deformations electrodes curl, which also led to a short circuit, the battery heating and burning.

Security measures

• Use only the bundled batteries. If you need to replace the battery, do not skimp: the new phone and the repair of an apartment will cost more.
• Do not leave the smartphone in the sun, do not place a battery or any other source of heat. Especially if the gadget at this time is charging.
• If the device is abnormally overheated during charging time, immediately unplug it from the wall outlet.
• Do not charge the smartphone to hide it under your pillow. The housing unit in the charging time should be well ventilated. Charge the smartphone is recommended at least 30-50 cm from the head.

Alarms and your actions

The first mandatory rule for all occasions: first, disconnect the phone from the power supply by pulling the power cord. Then proceed on the situation.

If the battery is overheated, so that you are not able to hold the smartphone, disconnect the charger and remove the battery as possible. If the smartphone is equipped with a nonremovable battery, the only thing you can do - try to turn off the device and move it to a safer place. For example, if you're at home, even better would be problematic smartphone on the tiles in the bathroom than on a wooden floor by the couch.

If housing starts to deform or smokes device, first disconnect the charger cable. Then only you can try to minimize the damage to the room where you are. The smartphone will most likely not be saved.

In the event of smoke or fire, the smartphone is your task - to preserve their health and minimize property damage. Consider that the gadget is not, and you still have.

If your smartphone smokes or lights up, in any case, do not inhale the smoke emitted! Cover the airways or hold your breath. To extinguish best to use foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide extinguisher. If you do not have a fire extinguisher on hand will come down:

• a metal pan or lid (do not use glass or ceramic dishes);
• cooking soda;
• the land of the flowerpot;
• dense blanket or cloth.

Note: if the state of emergency to find you near the gas appliances, it is better to try to quickly move the smartphone to another room with a concrete or tiled floor or the street. But so that this does not other people or animals affected.

Firefighters are not advised to fill in the smartphone with water, since in some cases it can only exacerbate the situation.

Speaking of fire. If a fire happens, you panic and are unable to cope with the fire immediately call 112.