Red Bricks and Air Travel

[Peter Cote]

I am traveling internationally for a shoot. Are Red Brick fine for airline travel if they are in checked luggage? I plan on carrying the Epic body and most delicate equipment as a carry on including Redvolt batteries. Is this acceptable for most airlines?

 

[Terry VerHaar]

This may help:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...fo/media/airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

And here's a previous thread on the matter:

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...ERY-TRAVEL-RESTRICTIONS&highlight=safe+travel

 

[Brandon J.F.]

I am traveling internationally for a shoot. Are Red Brick fine for airline travel if they are in checked luggage? I plan on carrying the Epic body and most delicate equipment as a carry on including Redvolt batteries. Is this acceptable for most airlines?

You must carry the spare batteries with you. Make sure there is tape over the connectors and you can only take a maximum of 3 bricks. 1 of the 3 must, technically, be attached to the camera though that is not always enforced. You can not put spare bricks or RED VOLTS in your checked luggage. Bricks and RED VOLTS can go in your checked luggage if connected to a device

 

[Glen Powell]

Perhaps you should read this:
http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

A;though RedBricks fall into this category:
http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html

You aren't allowed to put them in checked baggage - just carry on.

G.

Edit: you guys beat me to it while I was typing...

 

[Peter Cote]

Cool thanks guys, I originally thought it was the opposite and they had to go in checked luggage. I wonder why one has to be attached to the camera. I hope not because it makes it much more of a pain to lug the Epic around with a battery plate and brick.

 

[Jeff Garton]

Redvolts can go in checked baggage? I suppose if they are mounted on a charger maybe. It clearly states "Spare lithium batteries (both lithium metal and lithium ion/polymer) are prohibited in checked baggage." This is how I have interpreted the rule. I carry REDvolts on-board and rent AB Dionics90s/HCs at my destination. I wish the FAA would write more specific regulations. Even the folks at the airport have a hard time interpreting them. I would love to check my Redvolts, they all have cases and are well protected from being damaged, but I don't think its allowed. I would love to be wrong, though...

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

I am traveling internationally for a shoot. Are Red Brick fine for airline travel if they are in checked luggage? I plan on carrying the Epic body and most delicate equipment as a carry on including Redvolt batteries. Is this acceptable for most airlines?

Besides checking the threads already noted above, you need to do more research based on where you are going.
There is no indication from your post as to what countries you are going to - where you land is important.

TSA / FAA regs are not necessarily what you will encounter as you travel internationally.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Batteries rated between 100 and 300wH are considered "Larger" lithium ion batteries. Batteries rated over 300wH are NOT allowed at all. As I recall RED VOLTS are rated at 95wH.

You are allowed one larger lithium ion battery installed in a device, plus up to 2 spare larger lithium ion batteries. These are in addition to any smaller lithium ion batteries. For smaller lithium ion batteries, just follow the Basic rules.

http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html

Since 2008 you are not allowed to pack spare lithium ion batteries in your checked luggage.

Effective January 1, 2008, you may not pack spare lithium batteries in your checked baggage.

http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_main.html

The key word here is "spare". If the battery is connected to something then it's OK to check it. So, it appears that you could put 4 RED VOLTS in a Quad Module and be OK. You could check this according to page 2 of the PDF below. What is interesting is that it also says you can check "larger" batteries if they are connected to a device.

http://safetravel.dot.gov/documents/airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

The benefit of RED VOLTS appear to be that they are considered standard sized batteries and there is no restriction on quantity, but you do need to carry them on if they are not connected to a device in your checked luggage.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

In case you are flying internationally here is what I found on British Airways site:

Lithium ion batteries, with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh for portable electronic devices. No more than two spare batteries may be carried in carry-on baggage only. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Equipment containing such batteries may be in checked or carry on baggage.

All spare batteries, including lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, for such portable electronic devices must be carried in carry-on baggage only. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/Forbidden_Items_List.pdf

Here is what I found on Austrian Airways site:

Consumer electronic devices, containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries (e.g watches, calculating machines, cameras, cellular phones, lap-top computers, camcorders)

• For personal use.
• Spare batteries must be - individually protected to prevent short circuits by placement in the original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals, and - may only be carried in hand baggage.
• Each installed or spare battery must not exceed the following: - for lithium metal or lithium alloy batteries, a lithium content of not more than 2 g - for lithium ion batteries, a watt-hour rating of not more than 100 Wh.

NOTE: see also the conditions for Spare lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries

Pre-notification required: No
In hand baggage: Yes
In checked baggage: Yes

For the operation of consumer electronic devices, and

• with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh.
• No more than 2 spare batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage only: - these batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.
• Equipment containing such batteries may be in checked or in carry-on baggage.

NOTE: for lithium ion batteries with a watt-hour rating of not more than 100Wh see ‘Spare lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries’

Pre-notification required: Yes
In hand baggage: Yes
In checked baggage: No

Spare lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries for consumer electronic devices

• Batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.
• In addition, for lithium batteries, each must not exceed - for lithium metal or lithium alloy batteries, a lithium content of not more than 2g, or - for lithium ion batteries, a watt-hour rating of not more than 100 Wh.

Pre-notification required: No
In hand baggage: Yes
In checked baggage: No

http://www.austrian.com/Info/Flight...e acceptance of Dangerous Goods.ashx#selected

Couldn't find anything specific on the Air France or KLM sites.

 

[Mike Van Laanen]

I noticed a lot of language in the above guidelines about the batteries being placed "individually protected". What type of bag/case do you use for the RedVolts? The Red Case is nice for storage, but takes up a lot of room in a carry-on bag. Would love to find a protective bag as opposed to some gaffer tape on the connections.

 

[Mark Pugh]

To avoid checked bags being opened,, and things go missing, I don't check in any Lithium Ion batteries at all. It's a pain, but...

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

In case you are flying internationally here is what I found on British Airways site:

Lithium ion batteries, with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh for portable electronic devices. No more than two spare batteries may be carried in carry-on baggage only. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Equipment containing such batteries may be in checked or carry on baggage.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/Forbidden_Items_List.pdf

Worthy of note for British Airways:
Restricted items requiring notification to British Airways

Lithium ion batteries – with a Watt-hour rating exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagrest/public/en_gb



This link is helpful: http://www.antonbauer.com/support/transportationinformation



If you feel so inclined, add this to your reading list:

http://www.iata.org/SiteCollectionD...idanceDocumentontheTransportofLiBatt_2010.pdf

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Yeah, for every airline in Europe I checked the maximum is 160 wH and airline notification is required. It is likely an EU law.

 

[Peter Cote]

Besides checking the threads already noted above, you need to do more research based on where you are going.
There is no indication from your post as to what countries you are going to - where you land is important.

TSA / FAA regs are not necessarily what you will encounter as you travel internationally.

Yeah that's part of the challenge. I don't even know where I am going and the client won't tell me until a day or two before departure. It's not fun.

 

[Trevor Meeks]

As I recall RED VOLTS are rated at 95wH.

No, they're ~30wH.

Dionic 90s/HCs are 90wH, and I check them frequently without issue.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

No, they're ~30wH.

Dionic 90s/HCs are 90wH, and I check them frequently without issue.

Well, damn. I'm way off

I think if you keep it at, or under, 160 wH you are safe most anywhere. The number of batteries (over 100wH) that you can carry with you seems standard as well (2 spares + 1 on a device). For any international travel I would suggest you call ahead and tell the airline you will be bringing the batteries since notification may be required. If you are using RED VOLTS there is no limit to what you can bring on the plane (weight limits aside).

 

[Jeff Garton]

I think the key thing here for domestic US air travel is that Li ion batts under 100wh can be checked if they are attached to a device. Spare Li Ion batteries cannot be checked. It seems silly that attaching redvolts to travel chargers and quad battery mounts is approved, but traveling them in REDvolt cases is not, but that is what the law says. I know several camera folks who frequently check spare Li ion batteries, even those larger that 100wH, but it does not appear to be legal. The fines are potentially very high (up to 250,000 dollars according to regs). This may seem excessive, but I have read specifically of two instances where Li ion batteries brought down cargo planes. I imagine most professional Li ion camera stuff is not very susceptible to the kinds of issues that give rise to the fires that we have seen with consumer batteries, but the law is there to protect all air travelers. Better safe than sorry I believe is the thinking here.

 

[Glen Powell]

Since you don't yet know where you are going… I would look at the regs from the U.S. & E.U. (since those will be followed by most of the planet) and just plan to comply with the strictest. I have a box of 'travel' Vmounts that fall under the reg specs that I can carry (or shall I say my assistant) an unlimited amount of in carry on; of course up to airline weight limits and the individual gate check interpretation of the regs...

Outside of the studio where I can plug in or have a decent charge station - it seems like travel jobs are mostly about power management.

 

[Stuart English]

REDVOLT and REDVOLT XL are both below 100Wh. REDBRICK is 140Wh. All three are Li-Ion so covered by the above regulations.

 

[Mitch Gross]

The point of mounting a battery is that therefore the contacts are covered and it is impossible to cause a short.

Under 100w, mount on devices or carry on as many as you can handle.
100-160w, carry on only with a max. of three.
Over 160w, not approved for air travel.

The US & EU regulations mimic each other, and these rules have been widely adopted throughout the world.