Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/12/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]LUG: I don't know if you have heard about the new TSA rules effective tomorrow. This will be a problem when I go to India. ANNOUNCEMENT: On January 1, 2008, a new rule limits how many spare lithium (rechargeable) batteries you can take on an airplane. 1. No lithium battery spares are allowed in your checked baggage. 2. Up to two spares are allowed in carry-on bags. 3. Batteries that are installed in their devices are not spares and are not affected by the new rule. Details The formal regulation limits you to 25 grams of "equivalent lithium content." According to the Transportation Department's SafeTravel site, 25 grams translates to about 300 watt-hours of battery capacity. The typical spare battery for a laptop or video camera is in the 100-200 watt-hour range. Some of your "what if" questions are answered on <<http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html>http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html>the SafeTravel site. The reason for the rule is that there have been cases of a battery catching fire. The TSA reasons that if the fire broke out in the passenger cabin, it would quickly be noticed and the flight attendants would put it out with fire extinguishers. In the baggage compartment, it probably would not be noticed until the blaze was out of control. Tina Tina Manley ASMP, NPPA, EP, PI http://www.tinamanley.com