R 051848Z JUL 12 ZYB PSN 147177K27
FM COMNAVSAFECEN NORFOLK VA
TO RHCRNFE/ALSAFE
BT
UNCLAS
ALSAFE 030/12
SECINFO/-/-//
MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVSAFECEN/40/JUL//
SUBJ/HAZARDOUS COUNTERFEIT CR123A LITHIUM BATTERIES//
REF/A/DESC:DOC/FBI LOS ANGELES FLD OFC/07JUN2012/NOTAL//
AMPN/REF A IS AN FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS LOS ANGELES
FIELD OFFICE'S INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN, SUBJ: COUNTERFEIT AND
SUBSTANDARD LITHIUM (CR123A) POWER CELL BATTERIES POSE SERIOUS
HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, OTHER
CONSUMERS//
POC/S.GEIGER/GS-13/UNIT:NAVSAFECEN (20B)/NAME:NORFOLK
/TEL:757-444-3520 X7151/TEL:DSN 564-3520 X7151
/EMAIL:STEVEN.GEIGER@NAVY.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE FBI HAS ASSESSED IN REF A THAT
COUNTERFEIT AND SUBSTANDARD LITHIUM BATTERIES POSE A SERIOUS
HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK TO MILITARY PERSONNEL.  THE FBI HAS
RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUCH BATTERIES SPONTANEOUSLY
COMBUSTING WHILE BEING USED, TRANSPORTED OR STORED, RESULTING
IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND DAMAGE TO TACTICAL EQUIPMENT AND
PROPERTY.
2.  CR123A BATTERIES ARE THE MOST COMMON COUNTERFEITS.  THESE ARE
WIDELY USED, NON-RECHARGEABLE THREE VOLT LITHIUM MANGANESE DIOXIDE
BATTERIES MANUFACTURED BY MAJOR CORPORATIONS SUCH AS DURACELL,
ENERGIZER, SUREFIRE, PANASONIC, RAYOVAC, SANYO, SONY, KODAK, AND
MAXELL.
3.  IDENTIFICATION:  COMMON EXTERIOR INDICATORS OF COUNTERFEIT
BATTERIES INCLUDE LABEL MISSPELLINGS, MISSING LABEL INFORMATION,
BLURRED FONTS, ALTERED LOGOS OR SEALS, DIFFERENT LABEL DIMENSIONS,
ALTERED OR SUBSTANDARD PACKAGING, CRIMP SEAL DIFFERENCES, MATERIAL
DIFFERENCES, AND DIFFERENCES IN VENT PERFORATION.
4.  AVOIDANCE:  DO NOT BUY BATTERIES AT REDUCED PRICE ON THE
INTERNET, AT SWAP MEETS, STORE FRONTS, GUN SHOWS, ELECTRONICS
AND TECHNICAL SHOWS.  THE CHANCE OF PURCHASING COUNTERFEIT
BATTERIES IS HIGHER AT THESE LOCATIONS.  USE AUTHORIZED
RETAILERS.
5.  SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:  DO NOT MIX DIFFERENT TYPES OR BRANDS OF
LITHIUM BATTERIES.  NEVER USE BATTERIES WITH DIFFERENT DEPLETION
LEVELS (I.E. DO NOT MIX OLD AND NEW BATTERIES IN THE SAME DEVICE).//