Lithium-Ion Battery High-Pitched Noise (Causes & Fixes)

As our portable electronic devices continue to get thinner and lighter each passing day, manufacturers have figured out a way to store much energy in a small pack. This explains why lithium batteries are commonly used in electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. lithium batteries can last for longer hours after charge and have a lifespan of about two to five years.

However, lithium batteries are not supposed to make noise. So if you begin to hear strange noises from your lithium battery then there is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed quickly. Hearing noise from your battery is dangerous as there can be a risk of fire or explosion.

The simplest way to get rid of the noise in your lithium-ion battery is to replace your old battery with a brand-new set. You can also contact your device company’s technical support for assistance, particularly if it’s within the warranty period.

In this article, we will help you understand why your lithium-ion battery makes noise and how to get rid of those annoying noise.

Your lithium battery should never hiss, but if you hear a hissing noise from your lithium battery then it may be about to explode, catch fire and cause other catastrophic failures. 

If you notice the battery in your electronic device is making noise the best line of action is to remove the battery from the device. If your battery is very hot and you can’t take it out of the device. Then the best line of action is to take your device outside as quickly as possible. 

If the hissing noise persists while it’s outside, place it far away from any inflammable substance. You can place it on concrete and perhaps call your local fire department.

Lithium-Ion Battery High-Pitched Noise

Causes of the High-Pitched Noise in Lithium-ion Batteries 

Uneven Discharge of Metallic Lithium 

Voltage noise occurs when your battery suffers a short circuit. The increased voltage noise usually occurs when the metallic lithium anode and the heterogeneous discharge thereof. The short circuit causes the lithium to deplete to its lowest resistance which ultimately leads to uneven depletion hence inducing electrochemical noise signals. 

If your battery is drained even once, then you have damaged it permanently. You can’t do this without destroying your lithium-ion battery. When your lithium-ion battery has been drained completely before charge you will plausibly hear noise from the battery in your device. Sometimes the noise may emanate when the device is charging. 

What to Do When Your Lithium Battery is Making a Hissing Noise? 

If the hissing noise in your battery stops unevenly, do not attempt to use the device or charge it. This indicates your battery is damaged and it’s unrepairable. Trying to use it will possibly cause fire or explosion. You can take your device to a safe place where there is nothing incombustible and take out the battery pack. In some instances, a gas may vent from your battery pack or it might ignite or seem to explode.

When this happens you need to treat your lithium-ion battery like a regular fire. Use a foam fire extinguisher, sodium carbonate, or water to douse off the flame. However, if the flames cannot be doused then allow the fire to burn out while you control the spread 

If your battery stops hissing, place it in a fireproof container and take it to recycling. Ensure to let the recycling workers know you are giving them a failed battery. Do not throw your battery in the trash as it may start a fire.

If your lithium-ion is making weird noises the best line of action is to replace the battery with a brand-new set. If the noise stops then the battery is the cause of the noise but if the hissing noise persists then it may be coming from your electronic device.

You can contact your device company’s technical support for assistance, especially if your device is still within the warranty period.

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Laptop charger making buzzing noise

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the Possible Signs of Lithium-ion Battery Fire?

A failing lithium-ion battery may make a hissing, cracking, or popping noise. Sometimes you may notice a strange odor emanating from your battery, this is a bad sign that needs to be taken seriously. However, if your pass off toxic fumes or smoke when they fail it is likely a fire might have already started. 

Can a Lithium Battery Explode without Charging?

If the battery is not controlled it can lead to a chain reaction of cell failures hence causing the battery to heat and spin out of control. External factors such as keeping the battery close to a heat source or fire can make it explode.

Can My Lithium-ion Battery Start a Fire?

One of the primary risks associated with lithium-ion batteries is fire. Lithium-ion batteries may not likely catch fire.  But they can probably start a fire due to damages inside the battery or external faults. And when they eventually catch fire the repercussion can be very serious. 

How to Stop Your Lithium-ion Battery from Exploding?

Here are a few things you can do to prevent your lithium-ion battery from exploding. As it is a very difficult task to detect when your battery will catch fire.

  • Avoid storing your battery in high-temperature areas.
  • Do not keep all items containing lithium-ion batteries together. Even though keeping lithium-ion batteries together might not increase the risk of fire, they can easily catch fire or explode and aggravate the situation when there is an accident.
  • Do not overcharge your lithium-ion battery. Allowing your battery to completely drain before charging or overcharging can negatively affect your battery. Also using a counterfeit charger will increase the risk of damage. 
  • Keep your EV battery in a shade.
  • Store your battery in a dry place 
  • Allow your lithium-ion battery to cool. After using your device do not quickly put it on a charge make sure to let it cool a little bit.

Can a Lithium Battery Explode?

Most of the rechargeable batteries used in devices such as laptops, cellphones, tablets, and electric cars are lithium-ion batteries. Even though lithium-ion batteries are safe they can explode or burst into flames.

What Kills Lithium Batteries?

Heat is the major killer of lithium-ion batteries. Very high and low temperatures can kill your lithium-ion battery. A reduced temperature can cause a reduction in the transformation of active chemicals in the cell.

Can a Lithium-ion Battery be Overcharged?

Overcharging your lithium-ion battery will create unstable conditions within the battery, hence increasing the temperature and causing a thermal runaway. lithium-ion battery packs need to have a protection circuit to stop the excess pressure buildup and also cut off the flow of ions the temperature is very high.

What will Happen If You Breathe in Lithium Battery Fumes?

Too much exposure to lithium-ion battery fumes can lead to the buildup of fluid in the lungs(pulmonary oedema). This is a medical emergency associated with shortness of breath. It can also cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. 

Can I Use Water to Put Out a Lithium-ion Battery Fire?

Unfortunately, traditional fire extinguishers like foam and water do not work on lithium-ion battery fires. The only way you can extinguish a lithium-ion battery fire is to let the battery cool down. You can simply isolate the lithium fire with a fire blanket. 

Conclusion 

Hearing strange noises from your lithium-ion can be worrisome as it can be an indication that your battery is about to catch fire or explosion. You need to be very careful when hearing noise from your electronic device battery. Luckily enough have discussed a few procedures in the above article to help you remedy this problem. Read the article clearly and stick to the above procedures to help you achieve better results. 

Josephine

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