As technology advances across the board, one of the most popular segments of it is the category of wireless headphones.
Bluetooth headphones sales have beaten the traditional wired headphones in US markets.
Part of this is due to headphone jacks disappearing on smartphones while the other part of it is that many of us preferred not to be tangled in wires.
When you lie in bed listening to music, it’s certainly much more comfortable sans wires.
If you fall asleep while listening, you might wake up hours later to the tug of those wires. But with wireless, there are no tethers to hold you back. It’s so much more convenient in any situation to be wireless.
The drawback to going wireless though is that it requires batteries to power them up. In most cases, these batteries are lithium-ion batteries.
And as you are probably well-aware, Samsung had quite the issue with the release of the Galaxy Note 7 models and their lithium-ion batteries exploding and catching fire.
So asking if headphones can explode is a very legit question. Especially when a woman flying from Beijing to Melbourne had her wireless headphones catch fire.
What does that mean for you and your wireless headphones? Is there a safe way to use them without them exploding?
Don’t panic! Instead, keep reading so you can get the best and safest enjoyment from your headphones.
It isn’t all that common for them to explode and if you follow our safety advice below, you’ll be able to live in the wireless world without fear of fire or explosion.
Can Headphones Explode?
Yes, headphones can explode. While it sounds like some horrible urban legend, in recent news, an Australian woman was on her way from Beijing back to Melbourne when the incident occurred mid-air. Accordingly, the woman fell asleep while wearing her headphones.
Two hours later, she woke up to a loud bang and then felt a burning sensation. She immediately removed the headphones, telling news outlets that they sparked and were on fire.
Thankfully, flight attendants were quick to spring into action by pouring water onto the headphones to put out the small fire that had come about from the headphones.
The headphones turned into a melted lump on the floor, meanwhile the poor woman had burns on her face and hands.
The other passengers coughed and choked on the fumes from the burnt materials for the duration of the flight back to Australia.
While fires are scary, a fire on an airplane is an even scarier situation. Especially when the fire breaks out from your own personal device like headphones.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau did not reveal the brand of the headphones that the woman was using at the time of the explosion. It was mentioned that the lithium-ion battery was responsible for catching on fire.
After this happened, people looked again to Samsung for they had become infamous for the outbreak of electronics that exploded.
It all started with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. It was even banned on airplanes due to the risk.
With so many reported cases of catching fire, the company was forced to pull it, losing billions and billions in revenue.
Samsung had pinpointed the problem to the lithium-ion battery. This is a rechargeable battery type used for its high-energy density and small memory effect.
The unfortunate part is that these are more susceptible to thermal runaway which can cause a combustion.
It’s not very common though who wants to be in the company of something that could potentially explode?
Within lithium-ion batteries, there’s a pressurized flammable form of electrolyte. If a battery cell short circuits, it can potentially overheat the adjacent cells which will cause the battery to burst into flames.
Countering the hazard of this, battery packs usually contain safety features that disconnect it when the voltage rises beyond safe levels.
Lithium-ion batteries aren’t without risks. Manufacturers have to test them more rigorously than other batteries.
You might be tempted to peg this on shoddy and cheap practices, but even the best manufacturers in the world can’t make these types of batteries completely flawless.
Does this mean you should be afraid of using your lithium-ion-powered headphones or any other devices powered by them? No, but you should be aware at the very least. It’s a very low chance that a fire or explosion could take place but knowing the risks and what to look for will help keep you safe.
Keep reading to find out more and keep safe while using lithium-ion powered wireless headphones!
Why Headphones Could Explode
With the world turning to wireless means for just about everything, it’s important to know more about the built-in batteries that power our lives. These batteries are no doubt convenient, but they can occasionally cause problems.
In some cases, they might only harm the device, but if you happen to be holding or using said-device, it can be catastrophic as that Australian woman on the airplane found out.
Samsung was flagged for the Galaxy Note 7, and even those ultra-hot hoverboards lived up to the hotness in unexpected ways by exploding too.
Why is this happening? It’s just the way the batteries are. While manufacturers work hard to keep this from happening, even with stringent checks and requirements that should allow the battery to disconnect, sometimes things just don’t go as planned.
That’s why when you use wireless devices like battery-powered headphones, you should be fully aware of what they’re made from.
You can also take some very important steps in protecting yourself so you can enjoy your wireless headphones without worry. Keep reading and we’ll explain more about lithium-ion batteries and how to use them safely.
How Can You Keep Your Headphones from Exploding
Fortunately, you can avoid become a headline in the world news by taking a few precautions when buying and using wireless headphones.
■ Don’t Buy Cheap, No-Name Brands
It seems tempting, especially when the prices are so low. But with those hundreds of cheap knock-offs, you can expect that costs are cut when making them.
That means that inexpensive audio components are often used which will compromise the sound quality.
And if that’s what’s happening, you can be fairly certain that the manufacturers of these no-name brands are cutting corners on the lithium-ion batteries they use.
You can buy no-name brands when it comes to some things in your life to save some money like sugar, flour, and other goods at the store.
But when it comes to something that you will have on your head or body, you should always go for quality, well-established brands to ensure your safety.
■ Pack Smart
We’ve all done it. We’ve run off to the airport, snatching our headphones off the kitchen counter and shoved them into our carry-on bags without thinking about it.
It’s what we’ve done for decades with the wired headphone styles which eventually lead to kinked wires and some scuffs.
But with the kind of wireless headphones that run on lithium-ion batteries, they can get crushed or have pressure applied to them which may cause them to short circuit and catch fire.
To prevent this from happening, take the time to put your wireless headphones in a protective case.
If yours didn’t come with one, you can buy them and have complete peace of mind knowing that your wireless headphones will be safe.
■ Try Not to Drop or Damage Your Headphones
It might be easier said than done when you forget that you left your wireless headphones sitting on your sofa and then sit upon them.
But when you are the proud owner of quality wireless headphones, be sure to try keeping them put away in their protective case every time you’re done using them.
By doing so, you keep from sitting on them, dropping them, stepping on them or causing any damage to them that could affect the lithium-ion battery and cause them to burst into flames.
■ Use the Right Charger
Any wireless headphones that are worth your time and money will come with a micro-USB cable to charge them.
You connect this to your smartphone charger. Read all the directions in the manual that come with your wireless headphones.
Most manufacturers advise that you avoid using those fast-chargers and stick with name-brand chargers.
Cheap chargers that aren’t powered enough can damage the battery and ones that have too much power send more current which could cause your headphones to explode.
■ Avoid Extreme Temperatures When Charging
Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to changes in temperatures whether it’s very hot or very cold.
Particularly when it’s very hot, it can add to the thermal stress. This can damage your batteries and possibly cause a fire.
■ Look for Noticeable Visible Changes in Your Headphones
If you have a lithium-ion battery that is failing, one of the telltale signs is that it will expand. Check your wireless headphones before every use.
If you notice any signs of swelling, you should responsibly throw them away before they burst.
Other things to look for are cracks and damages that you may have caused if you didn’t store them in a protective case.
Always be aware when you use them if they have damage because you’ll be putting yourself in a risky situation.
While it wasn’t mentioned, the Australian woman on the plane may have saved herself the pain and troubles if she inspected her wireless headphones before using them.
She could have been using an off-brand, which is not mentioned either, but regardless of the brand you choose, always do a check of your wireless headphones first to see if anything looks wrong. Odd smells should also alert you to any problems.
■ Choose Wired Headphones
The one surefire way to avoid catching fire via wireless headphones is to use wired headphones instead.
While they might not be as high-tech, they can still provide enjoyable listening experiences.
Plus, you’ll never have to remember to charge them.
This is the only way you can avoid potential explosions. While they are rare indeed, many of the other items you may use could contain lithium-ion batteries so it’s important to know that if you go for wired headphones, you may just be getting up close and personal with another lithium-ion-powered product.
Conclusion
It is very rare to have wireless headphones explode but yes, it does happen. And when it does, it’s all over the news, sending everyone into a panic.
The thing is, we should always be cautious with our wireless devices. Because they employ technology that allows us to live our lives free of wires, we must be vigilant in knowing what to look for to prevent a fire or explosion.
When you choose to buy quality name-brand wireless headphones, you’re eliminating some of the risk for explosion, though it doesn’t stop there.
You should always use them as directed in the manual that comes with the purchase of your wireless headphones.
Using the right charger to power them up and keeping them safe in a protective case will help you avoid the potential for disaster.
If you throw your wireless headphones around and don’t take good care of them, you run the major risk of damaging that battery.
Even if the battery is made to the highest of standards, when it is compromised, it can be a dangerous item.
Avoiding wireless technology is another way to go but with the world turning away from wires, those things will soon be obsolete.
Practicing safety when using wireless items will keep you and your belongings from catching fire though so always use our recommended list of checkpoints above to ensure peace of mind while going wireless.