Whether you are going on a vacation or a business trip, you will most likely bring some extra batteries with you. It may be your phone, camera, tablet, notebook, or even the external charger. However, in recent years, airlines had implemented safety guidelines for lithium battery being transported on aircrafts to prevent any fire-related incident occurring. Here is something you may need to consider:
1. How many batteries can each passenger bring?
The regulations for each airline vary. In general, airlines use the battery’s configuration, and Watt-hour (Wh) rating or Lithium Content (LC), to determine the amount each passenger can bring. You can always refer to the airline’s website for more information on the regulation.
2. Is external charger or spare battery allowed to bring along?
You can bring external charger or spare battery with you, however, you must put it in the carry-on bag instead of checked bag. Also, there is a limit for both the capacity and amount of the external charger or spare battery.
Using Cathay Pacific as an example, the battery’s capacity may be categorized in 3 categories, which include under 100 Wh, 100-160 Wh, and above 160 Wh. The amount you can bring for each category of batteries vary.
1. How many batteries can each passenger bring?
The regulations for each airline vary. In general, airlines use the battery’s configuration, and Watt-hour (Wh) rating or Lithium Content (LC), to determine the amount each passenger can bring. You can always refer to the airline’s website for more information on the regulation.
2. Is external charger or spare battery allowed to bring along?
You can bring external charger or spare battery with you, however, you must put it in the carry-on bag instead of checked bag. Also, there is a limit for both the capacity and amount of the external charger or spare battery.
Using Cathay Pacific as an example, the battery’s capacity may be categorized in 3 categories, which include under 100 Wh, 100-160 Wh, and above 160 Wh. The amount you can bring for each category of batteries vary.
For more information, please refer to https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/travel-information/baggage/controlled-and-banned-items/lithium-batteries.html
3. How do we calculate the battery capacity?
Most of the batteries uses milliampere hour (mAh) as the unit. To convert it to Wh, we can use the formula below:
E(Wh) = Q(mAh) × V(V) / 1000
You can also use the following online converter to do this:
https://milliamps-watts.appspot.com/
http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/mah-to-wh-calculator.htm
4. How should we bring the battery?
All batteries must be presented properly, you can either put them in the original retail packaging, tape the terminals, or place each one of them in a separate plastic bag.
5. Is there any battery that is not allowed to bring along?
Any passenger cannot bring battery with the capacity above 160 Wh in both checked bag and carry-on bag. Examples of batteries with capacity above 160 Wh are industry equipment, mobility devices and scooters. If you want to bring alone lithium-ion battery powered wheelchairs or similar mobility aids, you need to contact the airline before departure.
Most of the batteries uses milliampere hour (mAh) as the unit. To convert it to Wh, we can use the formula below:
E(Wh) = Q(mAh) × V(V) / 1000
You can also use the following online converter to do this:
https://milliamps-watts.appspot.com/
http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/mah-to-wh-calculator.htm
4. How should we bring the battery?
All batteries must be presented properly, you can either put them in the original retail packaging, tape the terminals, or place each one of them in a separate plastic bag.
5. Is there any battery that is not allowed to bring along?
Any passenger cannot bring battery with the capacity above 160 Wh in both checked bag and carry-on bag. Examples of batteries with capacity above 160 Wh are industry equipment, mobility devices and scooters. If you want to bring alone lithium-ion battery powered wheelchairs or similar mobility aids, you need to contact the airline before departure.