Safety of Awesome Hoverboards
Are you planning to bestow a hoverboard upon someone this Christmas? This self-balancing scooter is the in-thing despite many concerns linked to its safety. A lot has happened since the device shot into the market. In 2015, many fires were reported, not only in the United States, but also in Europe and Asia. Stories of hoverboards exploding while charging or simply standing hit the airwaves. What riders need to understand is that the boards run on Li-Ion batteries, which are volatile. In relation to fire and other safety risks, awesome hoverboards come with certain features. Riders should also use the scooters in a certain way.
The Battery-The Definition of Awesome Hoverboards
Hoverboards are powered by Li-Ion batteries, just like phones and laptops. The fluid in the batteries is extremely volatile. The positive and negative terminals of the battery could contact leading to short-circuiting. When the electrolyte heats up in such a scenario, an explosion is inevitable. So how do you avoid that?
Simply buy certified boards. Following crackdown by respective governments, regulations are coming up. For example, the United States now has the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2272 regulation for battery safety. This certification focuses on heating and overcharging of battery. Drop tests are also included as they define how the hoverboard will react upon impact.
Where to Get a Safe Hoverboard
Some consumers are not sure they can get awesome hoverboards with all these concerns. The truth is that with strict adherence to safety regulations, several manufacturers are now developing boards that guarantee safety to a certain extent.
If you are looking for a safe board, avoid random sites and mall kiosks like the plague. If you have a feeling the seller is not fully conversant with the product, you may want to look elsewhere. Would you be able to trace them in case the self-balancing device developed a problem? Do not buy from sketchy dealers-that is the advice of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Any hoverboard that has passed the UL certification comes with a label as proof. As you look for this label, remember there are crafty manufacturers out there who will attempt to put a fake logo. Luckily, security and anti-counterfeit agencies are always on the watch so such fakes rarely reach the consumer.
Do you already own one?
If you have a hoverboard, you can take a few measures to enhance safety. Fire is the most significant risk here so you need to be keen about how you charge the gadget first. Never extend the charging beyond the recommended level in the manual. Normally, the charging process takes about two hours.
As impacts can interfere with the integrity of the battery, strive to maintain smooth rides as much as possible. This means that you should avoid collisions with kerbs, rocks, and stairs and so on. Of course, you don’t want to drop it.
As you ride the machine, do not forget to put on your safety gear. Most importantly, check whether your government allows use of the hoverboard before stepping out. Most places have regulations on how to use the awesome hoverboard so you had better acquaint yourself.
Conclusion
Is the hoverboard going to replace your car or the bus? Hoverboards do not have handlebars and have small wheels, making stability a big challenge. Before the introduction of the UL certification, hoverboard fires were a huge concern. With so many potential risks associated with riding this machine, we recommend using only the certified products. You can check out many awesome hoverboards from reliable providers as listed here. You will get valuable support from the point of purchase onwards.
