TSA and external batteries

Hi all,

Do you remember the last time we wrote about being stopped by Airport Security (TSA)?  For those of you who missed it, please check it out here: So I got stopped at #TSA ~ #TravellingTips #TravellingTales

I recently had another opportunity fly and keeping in mind what happened last time, I decided to see what would happen if I took our "Executive" battery along for the ride.

On arriving at the TSA, we had to perform the usual drill: put iPad in separate bins, take off shoes....etc. Not sure of what to expect, I left my 34.2ah battery (127wh) in my bag and shoved it through the X-ray machine. Well, I ended up walking through the body scanner and picking up my backpack (with my battery inside) on the other side. They didn't stop me, there were no delays and everything went quiet smoothly! All I kept thinking was: "Damn, I am not going to have much to blog about!"

Besides my disappointment at a lack of blog content though 😂, I am happy to report that it seems that even our Executive may at times makes it through TSA.

So with nothing else to blog about, I thought I would use this space just to answer a recent question by one of our battery users. He was asking us how we calculate our battery capacities (thinking all our batteries where over the 100W max for airlines). We calculate our battery capacities by multiplying the voltage of the individual cells inside the battery by it's total Ah.
For example  - with our "executive" battery, the cells inside are each 3.7v so we take 3.7v x 34200mah which would then = 127wH.

If you do these calculations with all of our batteries, you will actually see that technically, the only two batteries that are not TSA compliant are our "CEO" which is ~195wH and our "Executive" which is ~127wH.  All the rest of our batteries (which we call the platinum batteries) are good to go for TSA.

Why am I telling you this? Are we telling you to break the law or that you won't ever get stopped at TSA if you carry our CEO or Executive?  No.  Remember, your 'mileage' may vary, and you could end up having your battery confiscated or worse. Also remember...there is a reason they call me Mikegyver!! 😂

I have always wondered though, what the difference is between taking two 24aH batteries on a flight (177wH in total) and one big battery (like our Executive) that is 127wH. We would love to hear your thoughts on this one or any stories you might have of getting any of our batteries through TSA.
So what do you think? Is it the same as taking two batteries or one large one?  Is it worth the risk?

Stay powered up "SAFELY"!  

Mike

MCT-corp.com

So I got stopped at #TSA ~ #TravellingTips #TravellingTales

In my last blog I mentioned that I will be taking two of our own 24Ah batteries with us on a long trip.  Airline policy states that batteries must be below 100WH.  I originally wanted to bring our “Executive” 34.2Ah battery along but it is easily beyond the TSA standards of 100WH and so I decided to take along two 24ah (88Wh) batteries rather that we like to call...

The "Boss"

Upon arriving at the TSA inspection point, I did the usual ~ take off belt, shoes, and put all our belongings into the trays ~ thing.  I asked the TSA agent if I needed to also take out my iPads, and he said “no”.  So I held my breath and shoved my backpack full of electronics and gadgets into the X-ray machine. I figured I’d be stopped, since the last time (probably 3 years ago) when I went through security, I saw the agent stop my bag in the x-ray machine and take an extra long time examining it’s contents.  To be honest, my computer pack could be construed as VERY suspicious as it has all the makings of something sinister with all the wires, and adapters, and any gadget you an think of in there!  Plus, this time it’s a whole lot worse with not one but TWO batteries in the mix.

Sure enough, my backpack was pulled from the X-ray machine for manual inspection.  After what seemed an eternity, the TSA brings the bag back to me and asks if I have anything inside that can harm him… quickly I answered “no”.  He  then rummages through my bag and pulls out 3 iPads (gotta keep the kids busy you know!). He says they need to be put separately in the bins which makes me shake my head and wonder out loud to him why the other TSA agent said it was OK to leave them in the bag? He responds that it is not ok for THAT many iPads…  I wait for him to pull out the batteries…  and to my surprise, he doesn’t.  He proceeds to close up my bag and threw it along with the iPads through the X-ray machine again. For what seems like the longest time with me expected them to pull my backpack out again for another manual inspection at any minute, my bag emerged out the other side and I was allowed to collect my belongings…
That was it...nothing further and I remember thinking...Strange.  But I had a flight to catch and so I packed up as fast as I could and left the area.

They didn’t even appear to blink at the fact that I had two batteries!  Now I can’t help to wonder if I had brought a larger battery along, if it would have mattered!

Anyone out there who got a battery larger than 100wh through TSA , let us know!! (hopefully it was one of ours!)

Until next time,

Mike Lee

MCT-Corp.com

For interesting outdoor gadgets, follow The Smart Lad