Old PSP batteries are exploding, so if you still have one of Sony’s handheld consoles tucked away in your attic, you’d better go check that it’s not about to cause a house fire.
The words “PSP Battery” started trending on Japanese Twitter last weekend. Kotaku reports that multiple users were taking to social media to alert other PSP owners that their batteries were swelling up, cracking cases, and in some cases, even exploding.
At issue are the lithium-ion batteries used to power the PSP. Sony’s most successful handheld console was initially released back in 2004, which means some of those original batteries are old enough to get their driver’s license. While this is an accomplishment for battery technology, the age of these batteries has produced certain complications.
One of those complications is the tendency for lithium batteries to expand as they age. There are many causes for this, ranging from mechanical damage to the electrodes to excessive temperatures, but age also plays a factor. Especially if those batteries are extremely old and haven’t been recharged in years.
There are many, MANY examples on Twitter of Japanese PSP owners showing off their bulging batteries, cracking PSP cases and sometimes even cracking open the battery casing itself to spill its chemical contents.
North American PSP owners are reporting similar problems, but not as often simply because the PSP never sold as well in North America as it did In Japan.
Sony says that if your PSP battery starts to swell, stop using it immediately. There is a risk of fire and explosion from lithium batteries when they start to swell, and they should be disposed of in a safe manner. Contact your local waste disposal office to determine how to discard these batteries safely, and in the meantime, keep them in a fireproof container.
Source: Twitter, Kotaku
