RSSExploding cell phone didn't kill Korean man
By Nate Mook | Published November 29, 2007, 3:29 PM
It was a story destined for big headlines: A cell phone battery exploded and caused the death of a man in South Korea. Fortunately for handset maker LG Electronics, it just wasn't true.
After further examination, and perhaps a little common sense, it turns out the battery didn't break the man's spine and ribs.
The news spread after the quarry worker was found dead yesterday with his cell phone melted in his shirt pocket. A doctor and police reportedly told officials the battery in the phone exploded. Now, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation says the man's injuries -- including a broken back and damaged heart and lungs -- could not have been caused by a phone.
LG added that it is not possible for its batteries to explode with enough force to cause such damage. A final report by the Institute is expected in two weeks.
When chemists work hard to store lots of energy in a small package they are either building batteries or explosives, sometimes both.
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|Maybe the bloke's battery exploded and caused him to fall to his death.. That would still be a good solid law suit
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|Dsmn...
I guess that means that won't be able to find any to give as holiday gifts...
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|S'cuse me, but would you be so kind as to edit your post to make a little sense?
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|Was it made by Sony?
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|Firestone
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|If the phone did explode with that much force, perhaps we have found a more efficient fuel source!
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|Maybe the phone had a meltdown in his pocket, startling him into plummetting to his death in the quarry.
Maybe he fell on his phone, shorting it out.
Maybe...
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|If it wasn't the phone battery that broke his back and damaged his heart and lungs then s*** is he unlucky.
To have a phone battery explode on you at the same time as somehow breaking your back in coincidental circumstances is pretty unlucky.
Give this man a Darwin Award.
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|They should know by now not to use Sony batteries.
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|photo's please... jk
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|Did the battery in the LG phone really explode?
I'm curious to see how much damage an exploding cell phone battery causes. I guess this is something they should try out on MythBusters? :)
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|They don't explode... they pop and fizzle like small fireworks, but the result is more accurately described as 'burning'.
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|That's incorrect. While they do actually burn, after they burn, they do 'pop' or explode. Some can actually pop violently, while others may just burn out. If you'd like to test my theory, throw any cell phone battery into a 'low burning' fire ie: a fire that isn't raging hard. I've also seen something like that happen with a moto v300. My friend said his phone felt unusually warm and took it out of his pocket, he gave it to me and it felt like overclocked Ram, or a northbridge with no fan (hopefully you can picture it), the it started smoking and I dropped it. A few seconds later it popped....sounded like plastic bag busted, not super loud but, attention grabbing.
Granted...I don't think it would have broken his back or ribs, even with the explosion, but it'd sure have burned him real good if he hadnt noticed it or if it was in an overcoat.
My theory is that it popped in his pocket, he got startled and fell from someplace high. Construction workers generally wear a heavy leather jacket (depending on where you work anyway).
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|I expect that vague memories of something I'm far
to responsible to know anything about (involving-
for example-6 volt electrolytic capacitors and 20
volt power supplies) would work with batteries.
Tip of the day: do not seal some cells (wet, dry,
etc) into a sturdy metal case and short 'em out
with something like a 2 ga welding cable
http://www.surpluscenter...amp;search=weld%20cable
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