Originally Posted by
KathrynFlyingAway
We carried all of our "obviously" lithium batteries by carry-on, and the screeners didn't seem to look at those.
In our checked luggage we had a flash for the camera that contains 4 AA-style lithium rechargeables. i.e. not ones with exposed connectors.
When we packed, the batteries were in the flash, the flash was enclosed in the otherwise-empty cloth camera bag.
When we arrived home the flash was loose in the suitcase, it's battery compartment open, and the 4 batteries scattered around the suitcase. There was a TSA card in the suitcase.
The TSA may have left the batteries out of the flash, or, by not putting the flash back in the bag, the movement of the flash may have caused the battery compartment to pop open.
Either way, I think that was a battery search, and post-search the batteries were less protected than pre-search.
Hmm, I was not aware AA size lithium rechargeable batteries existed as loose cells. I thought there were only NiMh and Nicad as rechargeables. The only Lithium AA batteries I am aware of are primary (non-rechargeable) cells by Energizer, which I use quite a few of. Can you tell me what brand these batteries were? I would like to investigate them.
Also, what kind of strobe was this? Most strobes that hold single AA cells use (4) cells for a total of 6 volts (nominal), using either primary alkaline, non rechargeable lithium, or rechargeable NiMh, or Nicad.
Rechargeable lithium-ion chemistry is 3.6 volts, so typiclally come in assembled packs of 2 or more cells, not loose cells. If you could further clarify it would be helpful.