Postage of Lithium Batteries by air now banned

calsan · 03-03-2015, 09:30 PM

I just tried to post a camera to another Pentax Forums member today and was told that as of this year, postage of any lithium batteries by air is now banned.

Australia Post guidelines:
Dangerous & prohibited items - Australia Post

Two airlines ban rechargeable batteries from cargo

This means that if you wish to post someone an old digital camera, you would first have to remove the batteries. This is obviously not economic, as replacement batteries will usually cost more than the value of the old camera.

Aaron28 · 03-03-2015, 09:47 PM

saw this on the news tonite...as I understand it is in regards to bulk shipment on li batteries not single batteries.... or no phones, laptops, etc would be allowed to fly that wouldn't be good for business

SpecialK · 03-03-2015, 09:59 PM

We've had this issue in the US for a year or two. It takes some special labeling and particular taping of all edges of the box (not just a strip across it) etc. just to travel by ground.

vonBaloney · 03-03-2015, 10:20 PM

Originally posted by Aaron28

saw this on the news tonite...as I understand it is in regards to bulk shipment on li batteries not single batteries.... or no phones, laptops, etc would be allowed to fly that wouldn't be good for business

In the US, they were banned from mailing by air at all (years ago), then they made an exception for one or two batteries in a package or a battery that was installed in the equipment that uses it (so you could send a phone or a camera with a battery in it). I think they were still banned for international shipments. And now this year the rules have again changed to I don't know what. Seems like they are trying to get some international synchronization...

AdrianM · 03-04-2015, 03:00 AM

Originally posted by calsan

This means that if you wish to post someone an old digital camera, you would first have to remove the batteries. (

It just means that they have to go by road, not air.

calsan · 03-04-2015, 03:18 AM

Yes, but I was trying to send it to the USA.

pete-tarmigan · 03-04-2015, 07:31 AM

Originally posted by calsan

Yes, but I was trying to send it to the USA.

It will have to go by "surface" shipment, which includes by sea and by land.

tim60 · 03-04-2015, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by pete-tarmigan

It will have to go by "surface" shipment, which includes by sea and by land.

But some post offices no longer offer surface shipping to some countries. e.g. I was not able to find a USPS price to surface post to Australia. And Australia Post does not offer surface to quite a lot of countries - even countries with significant sea trade shipping with Australia - so ships are sailing there every few days carrying other cargo.

wombat2go · 03-04-2015, 01:55 PM

Hi Calsan,
I see off brand Li50 batteries for the K10d here for as low as about $11. One $13 comes with a charger.

I have been using off brand in the Olympus and the Pentax K-01 for quite a while now along with the originals, they seem OK

alamo5000 · 03-04-2015, 04:14 PM

What are modern batteries made of? Say the one for the K3? Or a Wasabi battery?

I thought lithium was used in all sorts of modern batteries?

honey bo bo · 03-04-2015, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

In the US, they were banned from mailing by air at all (years ago), then they made an exception for one or two batteries in a package or a battery that was installed in the equipment that uses it (so you could send a phone or a camera with a battery in it). I think they were still banned for international shipments. And now this year the rules have again changed to I don't know what. Seems like they are trying to get some international synchronization...

In the last 3 months I have tried to get K3 rechargeable batteries from China via Hong Kong from 2 different suppliers neither one showed up. One refunded the other is trying to re-ship. I am waiting. During the same time period I received 3 batteries from N Y USA no problem partially by air post I'm sure. Last summer I got a deal on 80 Energizer lithium ultras again from the USA partially Air Post came no problem.

tim60 · 03-04-2015, 08:54 PM

Originally posted by alamo5000

What are modern batteries made of? Say the one for the K3? Or a Wasabi battery?

I thought lithium was used in all sorts of modern batteries?

That is exactly the problem. Lithium batteries are very high energy per unit mass which makes them desirable in many products. They are also high energy for volume, again good. But if short circuited, which can accidentally happen under all manner of circumstances they have very high current leading to high temperature and fires. The 787 groundings wire related to that bad characteristic. I believe that once stated a fire in a Li battery is impossible to extinguish.

03-03-2015, 09:30 PM	#1
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Postage of Lithium Batteries by air now banned I just tried to post a camera to another Pentax Forums member today and was told that as of this year, postage of any lithium batteries by air is now banned. Australia Post guidelines: Dangerous & prohibited items - Australia Post Two airlines ban rechargeable batteries from cargo This means that if you wish to post someone an old digital camera, you would first have to remove the batteries. This is obviously not economic, as replacement batteries will usually cost more than the value of the old camera.

03-04-2015, 08:04 PM	#11
honey bo bo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 768	Originally posted by vonBaloney In the US, they were banned from mailing by air at all (years ago), then they made an exception for one or two batteries in a package or a battery that was installed in the equipment that uses it (so you could send a phone or a camera with a battery in it). I think they were still banned for international shipments. And now this year the rules have again changed to I don't know what. Seems like they are trying to get some international synchronization... In the last 3 months I have tried to get K3 rechargeable batteries from China via Hong Kong from 2 different suppliers neither one showed up. One refunded the other is trying to re-ship. I am waiting. During the same time period I received 3 batteries from N Y USA no problem partially by air post I'm sure. Last summer I got a deal on 80 Energizer lithium ultras again from the USA partially Air Post came no problem. Last edited by honey bo bo; 03-04-2015 at 09:43 PM.

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03-03-2015, 09:47 PM	#2
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	saw this on the news tonite...as I understand it is in regards to bulk shipment on li batteries not single batteries.... or no phones, laptops, etc would be allowed to fly that wouldn't be good for business

03-03-2015, 09:59 PM	#3
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	We've had this issue in the US for a year or two. It takes some special labeling and particular taping of all edges of the box (not just a strip across it) etc. just to travel by ground.

03-03-2015, 10:20 PM	#4
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by Aaron28 saw this on the news tonite...as I understand it is in regards to bulk shipment on li batteries not single batteries.... or no phones, laptops, etc would be allowed to fly that wouldn't be good for business In the US, they were banned from mailing by air at all (years ago), then they made an exception for one or two batteries in a package or a battery that was installed in the equipment that uses it (so you could send a phone or a camera with a battery in it). I think they were still banned for international shipments. And now this year the rules have again changed to I don't know what. Seems like they are trying to get some international synchronization...

03-04-2015, 03:00 AM	#5
AdrianM Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 589	Originally posted by calsan This means that if you wish to post someone an old digital camera, you would first have to remove the batteries. ( It just means that they have to go by road, not air.

03-04-2015, 03:18 AM	#6
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548 Original Poster	Yes, but I was trying to send it to the USA.

03-04-2015, 07:31 AM	#7
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Originally posted by calsan Yes, but I was trying to send it to the USA. It will have to go by "surface" shipment, which includes by sea and by land.

03-04-2015, 01:20 PM	#8
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,742	Originally posted by pete-tarmigan It will have to go by "surface" shipment, which includes by sea and by land. But some post offices no longer offer surface shipping to some countries. e.g. I was not able to find a USPS price to surface post to Australia. And Australia Post does not offer surface to quite a lot of countries - even countries with significant sea trade shipping with Australia - so ships are sailing there every few days carrying other cargo.

03-04-2015, 01:55 PM	#9
wombat2go Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Hi Calsan, I see off brand Li50 batteries for the K10d here for as low as about $11. One $13 comes with a charger. I have been using off brand in the Olympus and the Pentax K-01 for quite a while now along with the originals, they seem OK

03-04-2015, 04:14 PM	#10
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	What are modern batteries made of? Say the one for the K3? Or a Wasabi battery? I thought lithium was used in all sorts of modern batteries?

03-04-2015, 08:54 PM	#12
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,742	Originally posted by alamo5000 What are modern batteries made of? Say the one for the K3? Or a Wasabi battery? I thought lithium was used in all sorts of modern batteries? That is exactly the problem. Lithium batteries are very high energy per unit mass which makes them desirable in many products. They are also high energy for volume, again good. But if short circuited, which can accidentally happen under all manner of circumstances they have very high current leading to high temperature and fires. The 787 groundings wire related to that bad characteristic. I believe that once stated a fire in a Li battery is impossible to extinguish.

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