The Korean electronics brand LG had several recalls over the years, and recently, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that all households with solar storage systems must check if they have recalled LG-branded batteries.
The warning comes amid reports of battery fires in Europe that are linked to LG-branded batteries. These batteries have the potential to overheat and cause a fire.
Households that don’t have an LG-branded solar storage system should still check if they have an LG-branded battery.
The recalled batteries are:
- LG RESU
- SolaX Power Station
- SolaX X-Cabinet
- Opal Storage.Redback SH5000
- Red Earth Sunrise
- Red Earth Drop Bear
- Eguana Evolve
- VARTA Pulse Neo
Homeowners are advised to check their battery serial number and those affected by the recall must turn off their batteries. These batteries should remain switched off until remediated.
Affected homeowners should reach out to LG or SolaX and they will compensate those who are out-of-pocket on energy bills, issue a refund or replace the battery.
A series of recalls
As mentioned, this isn’t the first time LG recalled their batteries. In 2021, the first recall was made in Australia for 7,200 affected batteries installed in LG, SolaX and Opal home energy storage systems.
There were also recalls in several parts of the world, such as in the US in late 2020 due to reported fires.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said, “It is critically important that anyone with a solar energy storage system checks their battery’s serial number, as this recall has been updated to include new models, affected systems and date of manufacture.”
The dangers of lithium-ion batteries
The RESU series by LG uses lithium-ion batteries with NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) cells. NMC is lightweight with a good track record for safety, cost, and longevity. However, it has an extremely low thermal runaway, which is why many brands today are switching to LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) cells.
The thermal runaway is one of the most significant risks in lithium-ion batteries. This occurs when the battery overheats and triggers a self-sustaining chain reaction that can lead to fires or even explosions.
However, this could not be the case for LG, as the firm and other manufacturers incorporate safety features, such as thermal sensors, pressure relief vents, and advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS) in their battery designs.
There is also the risk of mechanical damage as this type of battery is sensitive to physical damage that can lead to short circuits and thermal runaway.
Hence, experts also point out that user behaviour is often to blame for lithium-ion batteries catching fire. Some reasons include overcharging and undercharging.
Whilst reputable manufacturers like LG adhere to stringent quality control standards, there is always a small risk of manufacturing defects in any complex electronic device, including batteries.
Is LG still a good solar home battery brand?
With all of these recalls, it’s no surprise that some would consider switching to a different brand of solar battery, such as the Tesla Powerwall.
The truth is, despite these recalls, LG has positioned itself as one of the leaders in solar battery technology.
Determining if LG is still a good choice for your home solar battery is subjective. However, factors such as efficiency, reliability, cost, and customer service must be considered when buying a solar battery.
Ultimately, the decision to switch your home solar battery due to a recall should prioritise safety, performance and compliance.
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