Exploding batteries continue to be one of the great dangers of using the latest technologies such as smartphones, smart watches or wearables. Although it is true that the safety of batteries has improved greatly in the last decade, until their chemical composition is changed, the risk of fire will continue to exist.
Now, we have a new example of what can happen with a simple failure during the production process, with Anker announcing the recall of three devices due to the possibility of their internal batteries causing a fire. Anker is one of the most popular accessory manufacturers in stores like Amazon, where its products occupy the top sales positions.
Specifically, the three affected products are the Anker 321 external battery, the SoundCore A3102 portable speaker and the AnkerWork A3302 office hands-free; Of these, the first is without a doubt the most popular and one of the best-selling external batteries on Amazon, offering both USB-C and USB-A connection, a capacity of 5,200 mAh and compatibility with charging up to 12W, all with a low price of less than 22 euros.
Unfortunately, some units of this external battery suffer from a production fault, which can cause the battery overheats, even melting the plastic cover and causing smoke and a possible fire. Due to the danger it could pose to the user’s life, Anker has announced a product recall with replacement, in addition to warning users to stop using the battery immediately.
An important detail is that not all Anker 321 batteries have been affected; only those that are part of a batch used in products after March 2023 They pose a danger, and the rest of the units can be used without major concerns. It must be taken into account that the Anker 321 has been sold in Spain since August 2022, so there are many units that do not pose a danger to the user.
How to check if our Anker external battery is defective
Anker
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Add to that the fact that only certain units actually use defective batteries. Specifically, they are the PowerCore 5K model, and they were only used in the black model (it is also available in white), with the model number A1112. Anker has published some photos that allow us to check if we have an affected model. On the back of the device, it should read “Anker 321 Power Bank (PowerCore 5K) Model A112”and it has to be the black model.
If we have one of these defective batteries, the first thing we have to do is store it in a safe location. Anker has made a form available to users that they can fill out with their information, including the device serial number, to check if they have been affected and what steps they can take next. Once Anker has confirmed that our battery has been affected and is going to send us the replacement, we can take the device to a clean point in our area that is prepared for batteries.
At the time of publication of this article, Anker has not confirmed to EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre whether affected units were sold in Spain, and what specific steps Spanish users should take in response to this recall call.
