1 min readWith the warmer months upon us Kmart has released its new range of Anko cooling products, but one fan isn't suitable for use in temperatures above 40°C.
The Anko Telescopic Fan is a rechargeable pedestal fan with an in-built lithium ion battery. According to the Telescopic Fan User Manual, this Kmart device must not be used, or stored in temperatures above 40°C due to the nature of the battery.
Like all batteries, charging and using lithium ion causes them to heat up, and elevated temperatures can result in faster overheating, fire, and excessive battery acid discharge. Generally lithium ion batteries should be stored at around 15°C - 32°C to prolong the chemical stability, avoid premature deteriotation, and circumvent potential safety problems. Other storage tips include avoiding exposing the battery to direct sunlight, or keeping them near heat sources. All aspects that are difficult to achieve in an Australian summer.
Of course all of these precuations make sense, but the issue is that you will most likely want to use this fan when it gets hot out. Temperatures of 40°C plus are par for the course across the country during summer - we even clocked 41.6°C on August 26th in WA. While the Bureau of Meteorolgy is yet to release its predictions for the 2024/2025 summer, it isn't a far stretch to expect more days that exceed the recommended temperature of this device.
Although a $19 rechargeable fan may seem like a cheat code for indoor and outdoor cooling this coming season, we would warn potential buyers to beware.
