Charging an old cell phone: This can go disastrously wrong

Pretty much everyone has one or maybe even several old smartphones in their drawer. This can be handy as a backup if the current device is broken or lost – or you just want to take a nostalgic look.

Many users are currently doing this on the Internet under the hashtag #2016, for example on TikTok. The smartphones will pulled it out and turned it back onas a mini journey through time, so to speak.

However, experts warn against this.

What can happen with old cell phones

Taking a ten-year-old cell phone out of the drawer and charging it without hesitation can be dangerous. Experts from Mouser Electronicsa distributor of semiconductors and electronic components, give three reasons for this:

1. Increased risk of fire: Batteries may have invisible damage or be slightly swollen inside the device. This means that just switching on the device is a fire hazard. Thermal instability can occur, especially with cell phones, “which have been stored in poor conditions for years.”
2. Battery wear: The lithium-ion batteries lose performance over time, even if they lie unused in the drawer. Chemical stability decreases and, in addition to possible overheating, electrolyte can also leak during charging.
3. Poor data integrity: Even if switching on occurs without problems, it is not yet guaranteed that all contents on the memory can be read. “Outdated operating systems and security systems, as well as incompatible software, can prevent access to stored files, which can result in corrupted data or permanent data loss.”

Therefore, you should know a few safety measures before plugging it in and turning it on.

What you should do before charging your old cell phone

The experts advise you to take various precautionary measures to safely reactivate your old smartphone:

• Battery check: Before charging, you should check whether the battery or the smartphone itself is swollen or otherwise damaged. This is especially true if the device is stored poorly over a long period of time.
• Battery replacement: If you are unsure or can see clear damage, consider changing the battery. However, this is not easily possible with all models.
• Call in specialist personnel: If you are unsure, then you should not carry out complex repairs yourself. You should leave work on the battery to professionals.

CHIP also has a few tips if you still want to charge your cell phone at your own risk.

• Firstly, you should have the old device Do not leave unattended when chargingin order to be able to react quickly in an emergency.
• Also, do not place the phone on a flammable surface in case a fire occurs.
• If you are unsure, you can also light it outdoors, for example on a balcony – this means that the toxic fumes do not collect in the living spaces in the event of a fire.
• If the cell phone actually catches fire, pull out the power adapter immediately.
• If you want to be on the safe side, then ask Have a bowl of tap water readyinto which the burning device can be completely immersed. A fireproof grill glove should be handy. The device must initially remain in the water, as it can start to burn again if it comes into contact with oxygen.