Spare Lithium batteries banned in checked luggage from January 1st 2008

Sounds like somone needs to take a couple of short flights with a bunch of small cheap batteries all over the place and report back to us with what gets removed?

- Mikko
 
That would be sweet if you could use the charger as a device since I have the Dolgin 4 position battery charger. :)

The thing though is that you all know it will vary from airport to airport. Some may let it slide while others will be to the letter of the law.

Either way it's one more obstacle that we'll have to deal with.

Heck, can I even FedEx plain batteries ahead to my destination?
 
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They allow for "installed in a device" to be checked in. There is no requirement for the device to be a camera :-)
 
Still, I'd have to check it which until now I either ship it ahead or carry it on the plane.
That charger was one of the best investments I've made after the camera itself.

Out in Yellowstone this February I'll be going through batteries like there's no tomorrow. Was even thinking about ordering a couple more DVXUser batteries just to be safe.
 
Well,


FYI - I just made it from Tampa to Norfolk without a hitch ... with 4 DVX sized batts floating hapharzardly around a canvas bag along with cables and such (yes, a no-no) inside a checked bag with personal items. YMMV --

Just catching up on the site since being on vacation in FLA -- 1st time to read this thread. If I knew I would have heeded -- I was too consumed with babying and hand carrying my new HVX inside it's new bodyarmor.


--
 
I think this is right...
DVX battery .... 5600mah at 7.2 volts

Watt = Amp X Volts

5600mah = 5.6 ah

5.6ah X 7.2 volts = 40.32wh

TSA says 100 Watt hours = 8 grams lithium

40.32 X .08 = 3.23 grams lithium per DVX 5600 mah battery
 
Just had a battery/TSA experience this week. Because of the news articles about Lithium Battery restrictions I decided to take the HVX200 rather than the HPX500 camera. I usually travel with 4 batteries. I put one on the camera and the other three were loose in the camera bag. At the checkpoint, I was told I could only take three. I would have to leave one behind. I was upset at the prospect of losing a battery because they would throw it away and there is no way to retrieve it once they confiscate it. Luckily I was traveling with someone and they allowed that person to carry it on. One other item..they wanted the batteries in a sealed plastic bag. I just happened to have a few in the camera bag. If I didn't have the bags I imagine they would have taken the other batteries. I was traveling from San Francisco to Las Vegas. On the return trip, the TSA in Las Vegas didn't even open up my bag.
I don't know about traveling with my larger batteries and the HPX500. Three batteries just won't work on the road and finding space to hand carry them will be a real hassle. Hope there is a solution for pros flying with gear being considered...
 
Check with your battery supplier, many have already released statements on their batteries and how the rules apply to them. These statements can normally be printed from the manufacturer's websites.

For HPX500 (and other broadcast cameras):
IDX: http://idxtek.com/P-006.pdf
Anton Bauer: http://www.antonbauer.com/battery_trans_info.htm

The rules in short:
The rules state that you are fine to carry on as many batteries as you want that contain up to 8g of lithium each (about 100WHr of power) .. DVX batteries are well below this.

You can also carry on 2 larger batteries that are over 8g of lithium, as long as the total of those two batteries (together) isn't over 25g.


You can't check any spare lithium batteries in your luggage though.


As you found; the rules are being (mis)interpreted in different ways in various places.


- Mikko
 
I guess the best thing is to carry a copy of the rule, a printout of the amount of lithium contained in your batteries and go early in case you have to go up the chain to get them through the check point.

We've already seen that the rules are being interpreted in different ways.

I wonder if there will be an official document stating how much lithium are in DVXUser batteries that I can take with me when I fly out next month?
 
Re-reading the rules (that seem to have been clarified a little), they now specify that non-spare batteries means they are installed in "the devices they power" .. so no, on a charger doesn't count as "installed".

- Mikko
 
The problem is not so much calculating the amount of lithium, as all the batteries have mah and voltage ratings on their labels, but vague rules that nowhere clearly state that one can have any number of batteries in cabin as long as they are under the 8 g limit each.
BTW, my wife works as an instructor/ trainer for one of the major airlines, they received the same vague information as posted for the general public.
 
Just to clarify (although I'm almost 100% positive on this) - I can take as many spare batteries as I want in my carry-on as long as they are under 8g (approx 100wh)? Pre-planning some travelling that will involve a few tekkeon 3450's (60 wh or so)

eta - just found this little chart that helps make it a little clearer http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html
 
strangely I cant find any similar restriction on European flights :shocked:

Even though I understand the reasoning behind this restriction, the chances of sitting in a plane whos batteries explode is lower than many other life taking risks....

If however LiIon batteries take over the whole battery market and become the primary source of storable electricity, then I would start worrying myself.

I wonder who decided on the 2 and 8 gram rule and why ... I just saw this .wmv and the flames that shoot out are very high powered directional blares that can burn a hole into many substances...
 
Last week i flew back to Philadelphia from Manchester. In my bag i had 3 extra DVX batteries and 2 extra light batteries. I asked the lady about the new restrictions and she said that it was a DOT restriction and didnt apply to TSA.

According to that TSA link on the first page "TSA has and will continue to work closely with the FAA on potential aviation safety and security issues, and TSA security officers are thoroughly and continually trained to find explosive threats. TSA does not have plans to change security regulations for electronic devices powered by lithium batteries."

Notice the last line, it says TSA will not change secruity regulations? Umm, but it sounds like they are checking for it? ODD.

Tomorrow i fly out of Philly to go to SC for 4 days, so i'll see what Philadelphia Int. Airport has to say. I'll give an update when i am back.
 
timbook2 said:
strangely I cant find any similar restriction on European flights
Click to expand...

haha, I also noticed from traveling in europe last month, they dont make you take off your shoes like they do here. At least they didnt make me at the Munich Airport.
 
I am waiting for the day when you cant fly with your own clothes anymore because they might be impregnated with a substance that you can rinse out in the lavatory during flight....you know what I mean.....so you arrive at checkin and have to completely strip, then west in airline paper clothes .....;-)

the absurdity never stops! and dont try to be funny with check-in personel !!!! you might loose your flight because you made a joke about the us immigration questionnaire where you are supposed to tick if you ever committed crimes against humanity!
 
mgilbert said:
I think this is right...
DVX battery .... 5600mah at 7.2 volts

Watt = Amp X Volts

5600mah = 5.6 ah

5.6ah X 7.2 volts = 40.32wh

TSA says 100 Watt hours = 8 grams lithium

40.32 X .08 = 3.23 grams lithium per DVX 5600 mah battery
Click to expand...

yup :)
 
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