Hoverboards are a popular vehicle among teenagers over the world. Even young kids ask their parents to get them a self-balancing scooter for fun riding. But many people are unaware of its safety issues like blow up due to its heat sensitivity nature.
If you are considering buying a hoverboard for kids then you should know about the chances of a self-balancing scooter blowing up.
Most of the hoverboards on the market use lithium-ion batteries to fit in their compact body. These lithium-ion batteries are small but store a great amount of power and are very sensitive to heat. On overnight charging, they get overheated and explode which can cost you big damage.
After many recalls of hoverboards, UL 2272 started to test hoverboards for safety assurance which greatly reduced the number of explosions, but still, there is a chance that your hoverboard will explode if not taken care of.
But fortunately, there are many factors that should be considered to prevent blow-ups. For your ease, I have provided the detail on the major reasons for hoverboard explosions and how to prevent them.
After manufacturing and UL testing, there is a number of cases of hoverboards catching fire. These self-balancing scooters may look solid but they’re fragile from the inside. The reasons for blowing up or explosion are mentioned below;
3 Basic Reasons why Hoverboards blow up
Battery
The major reason behind the explosion is the Liothion-ion batteries mounted inside the cool Swegways. These batteries comprised of 4.20V different cells separated by just a few polyethylene/polypropylene sheets. On over-heating, these sheets get melted and cause a short circuit which eventually leads to blow up.
Now, hoverboards come with a system that shields against overcharging. But, sometimes this function fails to protect against extra charging or the cooling system of the hoverboard stop functioning which leads the batteries to burst.
Wiring
After the battery, another primary reason for hoverboards to catch fire is faulty wiring which can spark easily and explode the scooter anytime. If the wires left naked by chance during the process of manufacturing, then your hoverboard will be very vulnerable to fire because the open wires will be at great risk of sparking or create a short circuit.
Manufacturing
Some companies manufacture hoverboards in bulk and miss little details while enclosing the scooter cassie. Such manufacturers don’t always check the safety of the vehicle. The parts inside the body may shake and intervene with the wires and make the scooter dangerous to use. A slight hit or a bang can cause a short circuit and the board can blow up.
Also, for cutting the manufacturing cost, some companies use low-quality battery cells which are very unstable and blow up on slight heating.
How to Prevent Hoverboard Fires?
Hoverboards are something, young teenagers can’t resist riding at a fast pace. But using these hoverboards for teenagers can be crucial sometimes. Parents of such young teens must know that even UL 2272 certified self-balancing scooters can catch fire if they were not used properly.
Another reason behind the cases of a hoverboard catching fire is that people get cheaper hoverboards that do not really have UL 2272 certification. But fortunately, you can minimize this risk by taking the following precautions;
1- Avoid Cheap Hoverboards and check UL 22772 certification
It’s always better to avoid the risk rather than playing with fire. Cheap hoverboards that often come under $300 do not really guarantee the safety of your teen. We understand you will never want to spend $1000+ on just a self-balancing scooter, but remember nothing is more important than your safety. If you are looking for one to get for your child then check the best hoverboards for 10 year olds that are not only affordable but also safe to use.
Now hoverboard brands are considering the concern and manufacturing the latest models for beginners as well as for experts to rove over the roads. These models are not only user-friendly but also fire-resistant. Therefore, check the UL certification and customer reviews before making a purchase.
2- Buy UL Certified charger
When purchasing a charger, always look for UL 2272 certification. Usually, these chargers have the UL logo printed on them. The UL ensures that the hoverboard adapter is safe to use overnight with overcharging protection. If you doubt the quality of your charger then switch it with an external universal charger.
3. Never overcharge the hoverboard
Generally, hoverboards take 3 hours to get fully charged. If you leave it on charging more than its recommended time then the risk of its exploding might increases. This is because the hoverboard’s batteries get overcharged. You must know that even the best quality batteries get exploded or died on overcharging. So, never leave your self-balancing scooter plugged in or unmonitored.
4- Never leave your fully-charged hoverboard stored for too long
When the hoverboards get fully charged, don’t store them right away, and leaving them unused is not really a great idea because the fully-charged battery increases the risk of exploding as the stored energy inside the battery can burst at the seams. So, I recommend you to take your hoverboard for at least a small ride to minimize its charging to 90%, then you can store it or keep it laying around for a longer time.
5- Do not keep your hoverboard in a hot area, keep it cool
The self-balancing scooters’ batteries are very heat sensitive so if they are kept in a relatively hot or warm area, they will burst out. It’s not just the hoverboards’ batteries, in general, all batteries are of the same nature but the lithium-ions are quite more unstable and increases the chances of battery explosion in a hot environment. So always make sure you never leave your hoverboards in a room that easily gets warm in summers or never leave it under the direct sunlight.
Keep the hoverboards somewhere cool and away from other objects that could catch fire. Normally, it’s not expected that our cool hoverboards will explore but unfortunately, there is always a chance for them to catch fire which could burn down your entire house. So, be very careful with choosing the place to keep your hoverboards
6- Use your hoverboard nicely
When hoverboards are manufactured, UL conducts its drop test to ensure its durability, but if you will play rough with your hoverboard and smashing it around then eventually all hoverboards break down no matter how good their quality is. On crashing or bashing up, the electric wires and battery of the scooters also get damaged and catch fire
7- Avoid riding carelessly
If you are a beginner then do not try to ride at a very fast speed. It might lead to unintentional accidents due to slight carelessness. Initially, practice maintaining your body balance at a slow speed on learning mode then eventually try expert level, after mastering using the scooter.
Wrapping Up
We hope this information will be helpful for you to prevent and minimize all the potential risks of hoverboard fires or explosions. With this much details, now you are capable enough to easily access the new models of self-balancing scooters for beginners on market and make judgments for the device on your own irrespective of reviews. Use this knowledge wisely and good luck with your search for an ideal hoverboard that does not blow up.