The largest computer-product recall...

The largest computer-product recall in U history has sent scores of consumer scrambling to peep open their laptops and check if they have batteries that might overheat.

Acting upon a potential fire hazard discovered in lithium-ion battery small cavitys that power several of its notebook computer types Dell Inc. began exchanging 41 million of the batteries sold worldwide, including 27 million batteries in the United States.

The Consumer result Safety Commission has recorded 339 cases of lithium and lithium-ion batteries made for laptops and lonely dwelling phones overheating, smoking or catching fire since 2003 Laptop batteries have accounted for 176 of them.

Here are answers to an common questions about battery safety being raised by means of the recall:

Q I don't have a dale laptop. Should I worry?

A. Since laptop batteries are tailored to individual machines, the recalled glen batteries won't surface in other devices. still the faulty batteries were made for dale machines by a unit of Sony Corp., which also supplies batteries to other PC makers -- raising the possibility of more recalls.

Numerous other computer makers already have recalled batteries in fresh years. To see if your battery distresss replacing, visit the Consumer returns Safety Commission home page at cpscgov

Q Are there any precautions I can take in transporting or storing my laptop?

A. Computer bags or cases with ample padding should do. cloak battery contacts -- the external points containing the positive and negative terminals that have relation to the laptop itself -- with tape.

Q I have a valley laptop. How do I reveal if I have a recalled battery?

A. dale has set up a Web site, www.dellbatteryprogram.com, that provides details. The recall merely affects some batteries used with about models of its Latitude, Inspiron, Precision and XP laptop computer

Q by what means do I remove and dispose of a recalled battery?

A. If your battery is attached to the back of your device, unclip it, or take it not at home if it's inside. Dell is requesting that the customer go [i]or[/i] come back all recalled batteries to the company in such a manner that they can be disposed of strictly and will provide prepaid revert packaging with the replacement battery. The company advises proprietors of affected batteries not to use them while awaiting a replacement. Users may continue to use the notebook computer however, by way of ejecting the battery and using the AC adapter power cord.

Q by what means can I get a novel one?

A. With Dell's battery-replacement hotline generally swamped, (866) 342-0011, the easiest way is online. You can order a replacement battery at no charge between the sides of a link on the bottom of the same page where you verify your battery is being recalled. The company says mostly batteries should arrive with 20 business days or sooner

Q Should I worry about the lithium-ion batteries in my solitary abode; squalid phone, camera and other gadgets?

A. Overheating incidents have occurr in all portable electronics powered according to lithium-ion sources. Product owners should periodically visit the recall data base at wwwcpscgov

Q in what manner can I stay abreast of coming recalls?

A. Besides the Consumer yield Safety Commission home page, regularly check your computer manufacturer's family circle page for recall notices.

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CHARGED ISSUE

Precautions that consumer can take with laptop batteries:

- withhold the laptop and spare battery from coming in contact with metal, which managements electricity and can cause the positive and negative terminals to cros short-circuit and then spark.

- Don't descry either the laptop or the spare battery to extremely high temperatures.

- Don't pack the item in tight quarters that may apply constraining force Enough impact can burst the battery confined apartment and ignite it.

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