miniPRO Flying with the Minipro

rb608 · 07-22-2016, 03:27 PM

This question is what it sounds like. We're going on vacation and would like to take a Minipro along to facilitate my partners mobility limitations. I have to think it's too big for carry-on.

Has anyone travelled with one of these? Can I just check it as-is; or should I pack it in a box? (I still have the original.)

Civicsman · 07-23-2016, 06:13 PM

I'll say up front that I don't know. However, airlines comply with federal and international rules regarding lithium ion batteries. The Segway I2 and X2 can't fly on passenger planes, although there has been some disagreement about that on this forum recently.

Before I booked a flight, I would be very sure the machine is legal to fly, and carry irrefutable documentation to prove it. It would take only one gate agent to throw a serious wrench in your plans.

rb608 · 07-23-2016, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Civicsman

I'll say up front that I don't know. However, airlines comply with federal and international rules regarding lithium ion batteries. The Segway I2 and X2 can't fly on passenger planes, although there has been some disagreement about that on this forum recently.

Before I booked a flight, I would be very sure the machine is legal to fly, and carry irrefutable documentation to prove it. It would take only one gate agent to throw a serious wrench in your plans.

Excellent point, thanks. Methinks I'll shoot an email to the airline and see what they say.

rb608 · 07-23-2016, 08:52 PM

No. The Southwest Airlines Customer Service page directed me to the TSA regulations on lithium batteries.

phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries

According to that site, lithium batteries with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or more are NOT permitted in either carry-on or checked baggage. According to the miniPro specifications, that battery has a nominal capacity of 310 watt-hours. So no; I can't take it as is.

Still, I may see if I can ship the battery ahead and just take the unit. Maybe. Probably not.

Don M · 07-23-2016, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb608

Still, I may see if I can ship the battery ahead and just take the unit. Maybe. Probably not.

I don't see why that wouldn't work. Ship the battery UPS ground and check the minipro

On the other hand, with the ridiculous charges for checked baggage these days, it might be cheaper to just ship the whole thing

Don

rb608 · 07-23-2016, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don M

I don't see why that wouldn't work. Ship the battery UPS ground and check the minipro

On the other hand, with the ridiculous charges for checked baggage these days, it might be cheaper to just ship the whole thing

Don

I shoulda just planned on driving.

SegwayUtah · 07-24-2016, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rb608

According to that site, lithium batteries with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or more are NOT permitted in either carry-on or checked baggage. According to the miniPro specifications, that battery has a nominal capacity of 310 watt-hours. So no; I can't take it as is.

310 Wh? Aargh. According to the regulations (at least as recently as this 2015 according to UPS) Lithium batteries over 300 Wh cannot be shipped by ground either. Unless they're shipped as Hazmat (see figure 4).
https://www.ups.com/media/news/en/us...egulations.pdf

Does anyone know if the lithium-by-ground-shipping limits were increased to a maximum of 310 Wh this year? I wonder how is Amazon shipping miniPROs (and accepting returns) if the batteries are considered Hazmat. Perhaps they can ship them that way because the batteries are attached to the unit, and everything is in the original packaging? I hazard to guess.

Perhaps this is a good reason to split the batteries in two (~155 Wh each) and have redundant batteries in a future miniPRO model

Of course that would also drive up cost...

As Don alluded, some types of smaller Lithium batteries can be shipped by air. Some not-quite-so-small ones can be shipped by ground. If batteries are only partially (<~30%) charged and/or attached to the original equipment that can also matter. But beyond a few hundred watt-hours, you start needing a hazmat-certified shipper and packaging for air OR ground carrier transport of Lithium batteries. There are good reasons for that (safety, mostly...Lithium fires are apparently really nasty).

Chris

Civicsman · 07-25-2016, 06:10 PM

Quote:

I wonder how is Amazon shipping miniPROs (and accepting returns) if the batteries are considered Hazmat.

The shipping rules for the lithium ion batteries of the Gen 2 series (i2 x2) at one time allowed the batteries to be shipped domestically by ground, if they were mounted on the Seg. If you shipped them unmounted, they had to be packed and shipped by a certified HAZMAT shipper. Also HAZMAT if shipped by air cargo. They were not allowed to go by passenger aircraft. Period.

This may explain why Mini Pros can be shipped by standard ground. Note that the last time I shipped a Seg was years ago and things may have changed.

Gihgehls · 07-26-2016, 02:49 PM

My understanding was that the 310 watt hour rating was for loose batteries, not those mounted to the device they power.

07-22-2016, 03:27 PM	#1
rb608 New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Baltimore Posts: 5	Flying with the Minipro This question is what it sounds like. We're going on vacation and would like to take a Minipro along to facilitate my partners mobility limitations. I have to think it's too big for carry-on. Has anyone travelled with one of these? Can I just check it as-is; or should I pack it in a box? (I still have the original.)

07-23-2016, 08:52 PM	#4
rb608 New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Baltimore Posts: 5	And the answer is... No. The Southwest Airlines Customer Service page directed me to the TSA regulations on lithium batteries. phmsa.dot.gov/safetravel/batteries According to that site, lithium batteries with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or more are NOT permitted in either carry-on or checked baggage. According to the miniPro specifications, that battery has a nominal capacity of 310 watt-hours. So no; I can't take it as is. Still, I may see if I can ship the battery ahead and just take the unit. Maybe. Probably not.

07-26-2016, 02:49 PM	#9
Gihgehls Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 2,086	My understanding was that the 310 watt hour rating was for loose batteries, not those mounted to the device they power. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "...if you insist on being imprecise in use and unique in definition, you should hardly be surprised that your attempts at communication are poorly understood." -a wise man

07-23-2016, 06:13 PM	#2
Civicsman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Freedonia! Posts: 1,703	I'll say up front that I don't know. However, airlines comply with federal and international rules regarding lithium ion batteries. The Segway I2 and X2 can't fly on passenger planes, although there has been some disagreement about that on this forum recently. Before I booked a flight, I would be very sure the machine is legal to fly, and carry irrefutable documentation to prove it. It would take only one gate agent to throw a serious wrench in your plans.

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