11-04-2016, 03:51 AM
quote:
Originally posted by birdmove
We have some Black and Decker rechargeable devices that use lithium batteries. These can use either a thinner battery (that doesn't hold a charge very long) or a thicker battery (that'll go near an hour in our B&D weed trimmer). But, the USPS won't fly lithium batteries. Oddly enough, they will fly, say, a new trimmer WITH a lithium battery by air from Amazon.
The IATA regulations for shipping lithium batteries were recently updated. Read that to mean 'made more restrictive.' They can still be shipped by air, but only if their capacity is small enough, and only in small enough quantities. The rules are different for batteries shipped with, or installed in equipment, than for batteries shipped separately. Batteries shipped on their own, if you believe the authors of the IATA regulations, are much more likely to suffer a catastrophic failure, and therefore have more restrictive rules. I have had some luck in using a retailer's 'ship to store' option, such as with Home Depot or Walmart, to get battery packs for tools. It is sometimes commingled with their goods in their regular container shipment. If your battery pack has greater than 100Wh of capacity, your only other option if using a mainland supplier is to use a freight forwarder to send it via Matson or Pasha.
Often, what I end up doing is buying the batteries that I need while visiting my family on Oahu, and bringing them back in my carry on. Unless the airline objects, you can carry two batteries of up to 160Wh in your carry on. I have not tried that since the Samsung issues. I imagine that they may be a bit more testy about it now. I may have to try shipping the next one back with Young Brothers.
I very much wish that Parcel Select would allow relaxed shipping rules for batteries and similarly restricted items, since it reportedly travels entirely by surface. It would make feeding the equipment which I use to make a living much easier.
http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c3_026.htm#ep900090
https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/ha.../?hazmat=7