- In this report
- Overview
- CR Quick Recommendations
- Ratings
- Brand repair history
- Tech support
- Computer store Ratings
- Brands
- Preventing laptop battery fires
- Extended warranties
| FORUMS |
ELECTRONICS FORUMS  Get real-world advice from others about choosing a new computer, printer, peripherals, etc. |
November 2006
Put a damper on laptop battery fires
With the widely publicized recall of more than 4 million lithium-ion batteries in Dell laptops and an unspecified number of Macs, you might wonder whether your machine could burst into flames at any moment.
Odds are, you don’t have much to worry about, but you can protect yourself and your machine by taking some simple precautions:
- Don’t leave your laptop in direct sunlight or in a car.
- Avoid placing your computer on a soft, mushy surface, such as a bed. That can block air from circulating beneath the unit and keep its heat from dissipating.
- If the battery is exhausted, recharge it fully using the AC adapter before powering up the computer.
- Buy a battery that bears the name of a well-known manufacturer. That way, you’re more likely to learn about recalls.
- Know that contrary to some pundits’ advice, it’s OK to keep your laptop computer plugged in all the time.
- Finally, stay tuned to media reports to see whether there are further recalls. Sony, which made the batteries in the recalled Dell and Apple laptops, supplied a number of other manufacturers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
