Back in mid-June, Anker, along with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), issued a recall for the Anker A1263 PowerCore 10000 power bank because Anker had received 19 reports of fires and explosions. These reports included two for minor injuries, and 11 for property damage totaling over $60,700.
This was a popular power bank, with over a million units sold between June 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, through retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and eBay, as well as on Anker’s own website.
Then, at the end of June, Anker recalled a further five power banks — Anker Power Bank models A1257 and A1647, the Anker MagGo Power Bank model A1652, and the Anker Zolo Power Bank models A1681 and A1689 — because of faulty batteries. According to Anker, “the likelihood of malfunction is considered minimal,” but the recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution” because of a “risk of overheating, melting, smoke, or fire.”
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If you’ve bought an Anker power bank in the past nine years, it’s probably a good idea to check it. Details of the first recall can be found here, and the other five power banks here.
If you have an affected unit, Anker says to stop using the power bank, get confirmation that it is affected, get your replacement or gift card sorted, and then get rid of the power bank — but, because of the risk of the power bank overheating or bursting into flames, not in the recycling or general trash. You need to contact your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection center or consult this EPA web page to find out how to dispose of it.
Airlines seem to be worried. Chinese aviation regulator has banned passengers from carrying the recalled power banks and those without Chinese “3C” certification marking (short for China Compulsory Certification), after power banks were blamed for a fire that broke out on an Air Busan plane in January and a Hong Kong Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing in March.
Airlines are also banning the use of power banks during flights.
