Batteries the Focus of AT&T Investigation

An anonymous reader writes "AT&T is focusing on the batteries supplied by Avestor as the cause of its 2006 equipment explosion in a suburban Houston neighborhood. The carrier says it has 17,000 of those same batteries still in its network. Some photos of the equipment that was shredded in the blast are also available."

Comments

Sounds alot like

[JamesRose]

"It's 1 year later, and we still don't have a clue waht the hell is going wrong, it could happen again any time, so what we're going to do is blame a relatively cheap component manufactured by a third party and replace it.

Re:Sounds alot like

[Anonymous Coward]

So going after the most likely cause, a rechargeable battery that vented hydrogen gas, is somehow wrong?

Cars blow up, too. And so do transformers filled with oil. And steam boilers at factories. Those are real disasters. I think this "reporting" is just a lame attempt at mudslinging AT&T.

Re:Sounds alot like

[Firethorn]

My thought would be: What else in the cabinet could cause such an explosion? I mean, the equipment should be fused; there should be enough circuit breakers and fuses in the lines to prevent electricity from creating such a large bang; so a short or capacitor shouldn't do it. Properly constructed circuit boards aren't even all that flammable, much less explosive enough to destroy a cabinet.

What's the most reactive chemical area around? The battery. It's a lithium type - and warns that it could catch fire/explode if damaged.

It's certainly not a 'cheap component' - it's stated to be more expensive than other battery types.