Pavilion G6 computers and video games

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Jan 3, 2018 · , sent to the company Apr 6, 2018 · , published by CPSC Apr 20, 2018

   The product, in the report: HP Pavilion g6 laptop and HP laptop charger. Damaged by fire, so no serial number is visible now.

   Laptop Battery exploded and started a house fire. Report below is available:

   EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fire Investigator [REDACTED] delivered the evidence for the above loss [REDACTED] Berkeley office on September 6, 2017. The following items, identified per chain of possession, were collected from the residence at the above loss location: DP-#1) HP laptop CPU and charger DP-#1a) Laptop battery DP-#1b) Charger and debris from fire DP-#1c) Sprinkler head [REDACTED] of [REDACTED] inspected the evidence on September 13, 2017. The evidence was non-destructively examined visually and through radiographic imaging. Scene photographs were also reviewed. Based on the non-destructive examination and the review of scene photographs, the most likely ignition source for this fire loss is the energy released from the HP laptop battery pack. There are several possible causes of failure of these batteries including: manufacturing defect, overheating, overcharging (of specific cells), or mechanical damage to the battery cells. This brief does not intend to fully outline my investigation. At your direction, a more detailed report will be provided. Select photographs and radiographic images are embedded in the body of the report. Additional photographs and radiographic images will remain in my file and will be available upon request. [Redacted] Page Claim 2 # [REDACTED] LABORATORY SUMMARY DP-#1) HP Laptop CPU and Charger: Photo 1: Photo depicting the incident laptop and charger remains from DP-#1. This evidence item consisted of an HP Pavilion g6 laptop and HP laptop charger. The charger exhibited directional and external damage. The wall side cord was severed just after exiting the A/C to D/C converter box. This severed wire had beads on th e stranded copper conductors consistent with an electrical arc suggesting that the charger was plugged into an electrical outlet. It is unknown at this time if the other end of the charger was connected to the laptop. A radiographic image of the charger Photo 2 (left) and 3 (right): Photos depicting the charger remains from DP-#1. Photo 3 shows the beaded electrical conductors on the severed wall side cord of the charger. [Redacted] Page Claim 3 # [REDACTED] The laptop appears to have been closed during the fire. Most of the damage is concentrated at the battery compartment at the bottom rear of the laptop and to the left side of the screen. Additionally, there is a section on the bottom of the laptop, remote from the battery compartment, which appears to have peeled open from heat. There are pieces of copper foil stuck to the bottom of the laptop which appear to have been ejected from a lithium -ion battery. These battery ejections could have caused the peeled open section on the bottom of the laptop. A radiogr the laptop. The laptop batteries were not included in this evidence item. Photo 4: Photo depicting the bottom of the incident laptop from DP-#1. DP-#1a) Laptop Battery: Photo 5: Photo depicting the lithium-ion battery array from evidence item DP-#1a. This evidence item contains six 18650 sized lithium-ion batteries connected in series which were in turn connected to a small printed circuit board. The size of this ba ttery array appears [Redacted] Page Claim 4 # [REDACTED] consistent with the size of the battery compartment of the laptop from DP-#1. The positive terminal end caps from two of these batteries were missing along with a portion of their internal contents. A radiographic image of these batteries revealed that the density of the two batteries with the missing end caps was far less than the density of the remaining four batteries, which confirms that a portion of the internals of those two batteries were ejected. Photo 6: Photo depicting the missing end caps from two of lithium-ion battery array from evidence item DP-#1a. Image 1: Radiographic image depicting the lithium-ion battery array from evidence item DP-#1a. Note the two batteries on the left with significantly lower density and missing end caps. [Redacted] Page Claim 5 # [REDACTED] DP-#1b) Charger and Debris from Fire: Photo 7 (left) and 8 (right): Photos depicting the debris from evidence item DP-#1b. This evidence item contained the remains of a three-conductor power cord and a various fire debris. Upon review of the scene photographs, the power cord serviced a soldering iron that as reportedly not plugged in at the time of the fire. Melted plastic on the distal end of the cord suggests indeed that it was not plugged in at the time of the fire. Among the debris of this evidence item were pieces of the laptop monitor, bits of copper foil, and other pieces from the laptop. The pieces of copper foil are most likely part of the internal components ejected from the lithium-ion batteries from DP-#1a. DP-#1c) Sprinkler Head: Photo 9: Photo depicting the sprinkler head from evidence item DP-#1c. [Redacted] Page Claim 6 # [REDACTED] This evidence item contained a sprinkler head. This sprinkler head appears to have activated. The sprinkler head also exhibited signs of mechanical damage most likely caused by fire department overhaul and/or evidence collection. This sprinkler head was rated for 160° F. CONCLUSION Based on a non-destructive examination of the evidence collected from this loss and the scene photographs, the mostly likely cause of the fire in this case is a fault or failure of the HP lithium-ion battery pack leading to the ejection of the contents of two of the battery cells and the combustion of the HP laptop. A search of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website revealed that there are three separate recalls for HP Pavilion battery packs, two of which had been expanded in their scope (one was expanded twice). Because of the damage to the battery pack identifying information, it is unclear at this time if the battery pack was included in one of these recalls or their expansions. Recommendations: [REDACTED] recommends performing destructive testing on the evidence collected in this case to further refine the ignition scenario hypothesis. In addition, [REDACTED] will be placing HP on notice of this loss and inviting them to have their own expert attend the destructive testing. Our assessment of this case is based on an analysis of the physical evidence and an evaluation of all possible causes. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions or if we can be of further assistance.

   Model

   Pavilion G6 Laptop

   UPC

   ??

   Serial number

   ??

   Bought from

   Fry’s Electronics

   Bought

   Sep 6, 2012

   Where

   Martinez, California: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Pavilion G6, made or sold by HP Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources