HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants
Just a note to everyone who carries around a spare smartphone Li-ion in their rear pocket: buy thicker underwear. The scene you see above was all caused by an obviously volatile HTC Touch Pro battery, one that the pants-wearer claims is an authentic HTC cell and not a cheap-o alternative from eBay. As the story goes, a foul odor led him to a laundry pile, where he uncovered eight moist socks, a torched battery and a ruined pair of pants. Look, we're glad this guy's okay and all, but seriously, can you imagine what this testy little thing would've done when tossed into the dryer? It's a blessing in disguise, kiddo.
[Via phoneArena]
[Via phoneArena]



















Li-ion + water don't mix. How "moist" were those socks.
SHouldve just kept the battery in his jacket chest pocket.
@ImaYam yeah because that would much safer. let's put the volatile electronics closer to the vital organs. am i missing the sarcasm?
Liar, Liar ... What's next?
Yeah, that is what I thought... How is this HTC's fault at all?
I am sure if I short ANY battery terminals with sweaty socks.. they are going to burn out. Its science 101
@ y3k.nik
Because Li-ion packs contain more safety circuitry than your average house appliance. Lithium and water are a bad combo but the cells are obviously completely sealed to begin with - if water could leak in none of these batteries would last a month. Next is the over/under current, over/under voltage, and temperature regulation which make sure the thing kills itself QUIETLY if anything offends it's delicate sensibilities.
Put your laptop and cell phone battery in the kitchen sink and when you get home you should have two fully functional paper weights.
"Well, they're safer than a tube sock... "
@wyatt
My butt's kinda vital, too. I sure would miss it.
Hugh Jass!
My HTC TyTn II battery swollen up a few weeks ago and was ready to explode or something...
Despite normal usage and the fact the the battery broke the back cover of my phone, HTC refused to replace the battery for free or do anything about the back cover.
Can you believe these guys?
This really burns my ass.
Just wear double underwear, like me.
This would ruin any chance to get a girlfriend, but it's definitely worth it!
SOMEONE doesn't have his priorities straight...
This is how the front of my pants looked the first time I saw that new Juicy Fruit Girl commercial...
Brilliant move leaving batteries in your pocket and throwing your pants in the laundry.
Darwin Award nominee.
Let's see.... exposed battery contacts combined with moist electrolyte (aka sweat) laden socks. Methinks the blame falls on Mr Dumb Laundry Basket for shorting a high capacity battery with no good means of heat release.
My TouchPro hangs a lot and heats up in my pocket until I reset it, I hope I don't have a incident on my motorcycle now after seeing this.
I'd probably stopped typing while on your motorcycle too.
Just sayin'
Was it just the battery, or the entire phone? I use my TP as a media player when I jog or I'm at the gym, I don't want it going post-nuke on me!
If you read, it was just the battery. I'm pretty sure your fine unless you decide to wash your phone.
Yeah I didn't hit the link, but good deal then, my battery never leaves the phone.
I washed my old nokia phone dozens of times, battery and all.... That thing was built like a champ, and was stupid proof at that.
I picture my touch pro turning into a black hole if ever washed.
Yep it's HTC's fault and Microsoft's fault for not putting a battery temp monitor cut off switch modulator regulator, just like it's Apple's fault for the power cord not having a power cord shortening monitor regulator device.
Yes, I see what you are doing...you're trying to justify the volitale magsafe plug
Now, while I don't really blame Apple too much for that, it is on a separate level from this. The plug shorting is something that can happen from normal wear and tear.
This happened not because of normal wear and tear, but because you submerged a battery full of lithium, an alkali metal, which means it is highly volatile when it comes into contact with water. Downright explosive if you have enough of it. Don't you remember highschool chemistry?
And really, pulling Microsoft into it? I lol.
The point is, Apple is bashed quite frequently here, and there's always a Microsoft or competitor 'plug' in the Apple bash article. It's only fair to flip it. Maybe at the end of this HTC article in typical engadget fashion, they could have jabbed 'bout time to get an iphone' etc. Let's keep the bashing balanced at least.
Well, this only happened because he had the battery out of the phone. That wouldn't happen with an iPhone, because you can't remove the battery! See how Apple really has the user experience in mind there? It's all for your protection.
Happy? we plugged an Apple product.
The irony of having "Safe" being part of the name of what caught fire.
Are your pants on fire or are you just happy to see me?
Neither
Damn you Microsoft and your OS for creating a fire breathing monster!
Wow, someone who really DOES own and carry a second mobile-phone battery... Interesting.
Yes, I have one for my TILT and 8525 that I carry around, its completely awesome to have for those times when you are out and about for long periods of time. Don't have one for my n79 or e71 yet......their better battery life hasn't made me feel the need for it yet.
I stick a second battery in my jacket pocket if I know i'm going to be using GPS a lot, since that just sucks down battery like there's no tomorrow.
I keep a spare for my centro in my wallet...
Were the pants okay?
Other than that flaming asshole......they're fine.
That's some thin denim...
That's how my jeans look like after I had some bad-ass chili!
Yes, bad-ass fits perfectly!
What are those, Lees, Arizona, Jordache?
Nice!
This is very disturbing to me as a Touch Pro user. The battery does get extremely hot. It's happened multiple times while in my pocket and also while charging the phone itself.
One time it got so hot that I couldn't remove the battery cover. It was like it was superglued to the battery itself!
Anyways I hope this issue is fixed in the Touch Pro 2....
The only time mine gets hot is on an 11 hour drive with Sprint Navigation running or having the WMWiFi Router running all day. But opening the keyboard helps a little. The WMWiFi Router shuts itself off if it gets too hot (or the battery gets too low). It also stops charging if the battery gets too hot as well.
This problem was this guy's own fault. They take kids away from people who do this kind of crap.
Obviously he doesn't really use that second battery that much since he "forgot" it in his pants pocket and only the foul odor made him check. If he used his phone so much as to need to carry a spare around, he would have been looking for that thing before hand.
thats what you get for buying a phone with such pathetically shitty battery life
Mine actually has amazing battery life.
Agreed 100%. My Touch Pro got 10 hours on a full charge until it needed a recharge. Only talked for an average of 30 min. eBayed the piece of crap... sorta feel bad for the buyer...
amazing as in Shit?
if shit is amazing these days, then i guess so.
So by amazing: you can keep, Skype, AIM/MSN open all day, emails update every 15 mins, listen to mp3s around 1-2 hours each day, and itl last you 3 days?
i dont THINK SO, i had a TP for 3 months buddy, and even after all the roms and radios, it just (sucks less).
Id be amazed if you could make it 3 days with just calling/sms
peoples standard for quality these days is Really LOW
if im paying 350$ for a phone, it better be FUCKING GOOD
I used to have an HTC Sprint Mogul and man would that battery get realllly hot on occasion.
See what happens when you have a user replaceable battery? Your ass catches fire! That can also be cause by to much "extra curricular" activities but we won't go there. Anyways - YA for non removable batteries :)
If I am reading this correctly, the extra battery went through the washer and he noticed the smell after he pulled it out and had it in a pile of wet clothes? (i.e. before it went into the dryer). If so, the reaction probably started in the washer and it was continuing to 'burn' after he took it out.
Water + Li-ion = Bad idea
Some people would call Li-ion the most dangerous battery ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3o_2mwRPdw
On the flip side, they provide good power output for their size and they are fairly safe as when handled properly; i.e. not physically damaged, over charged or submerged in water!
never-mind; I read down through the 2nd link and it was just in a pile of clothes... the 'wet socks' info isn't found in the other links. :o)
I wish I could have hot swappable batteries! Stupid Iphone! (Although id trade a hand for it) Id gladly put my bum at risk for some precious juice.
Hot swappable is OK. Really really hot swappable - not too keen on that idea.
MIMS=
"This is why I’m hot ,This is why I’m hot..because my batt just burn my pants "..LOL
Um.. is that brown spot from the batteries too?
Now that's a phone that really was blowin up.
those are cheap pants, good riddance
Sorry as a Touch Pro owner i just want to get this straight...
He had the spare battery in his pocket when he put the jeans in the wash?
Or did the battery just go off?
Or did the phone blow up with it?
Just need to know so i can keep an eye on my phone
thats one badass battery.
Rule #1: don't put li-ions and keys/pennies into the same pocket.
My ass, My ass, My ass is on fire....
Wouldn't he have noticed the thumping in the washer long before the battery made it inot the dryer? As if that'd be healthy for anything involved either.
That's a HUGE ass.
Hugh Jass!!!
This might provide some insight into the issue.
http://proceedings.ndia.org/5670/Lithium_Battery-Winchester.pdf
http://electronic-components.globalspec.com/Specifications/Electrical_Electronic_Components/Batteries/Lithium_Batteries
doesnt really have much to do with touch pro so much as a spare battery in a pile of moist clothes. i do have to say my touch pro gets pretty darn hot sometimes, i get worried and just turn it off just in case when it gets too hot.
You should flash it with some of the custom software (like Juicy 7 or MightyRom).
Someone has been telling lies!
this was posted on PPCGeeks.com like 3 months ago...