How to post a Lithium-ion battery in the UK?

[CC07 PEU]

I need to post a Lithium-ion bicycle light battery to another part of the UK. The battery will be standalone i.e. not enclosed by the lamp unit/device.

Given the restrictions on posting this type of battery, can anybody recommend a specific courier/mail service to ship the battery with please?

[Dog Star]

Errrr.... how come all these mobile phones, ebay and Amazon purchases - you name it - arrive at my house in the post?

[sherman]

Go to post office. When they ask tell them its bicycle parts. Post item.

[CC07 PEU]

Dog Star said:

Errrr.... how come all these mobile phones, ebay and Amazon purchases - you name it - arrive at my house in the post?

Usually it's because the battery is contained within the device. If you were to post a bunch of laptop batteries on their own i.e. not in the laptops themselves then that wouldn't be permitted.

[Buster73]

Just box it up , if they ask just tell them it’s something else , they’re hardly going to dispute what’s inside are they ?

[john_1983]

They may very well destroy it if it's scanned though...

I used to run a Post Office, this has happened

[FWIW]

john_1983 said:

They may very well destroy it if it's scanned though...

that will be fun to watch!

[CC07 PEU]

john_1983 said:

I used to run a Post Office

Great. How do I post the battery?

[FWIW]

CC07 PEU said:

Great. How do I post the battery?

it's a pain in the arse to do it through the correct channels!

[Vipers]

https://www.ukpostbox.com/blog/posting-lithium-bat...

If it's for a bike light, have them send you the light, put the battery in it and post back, seems to meet the regs.

[CC07 PEU]

Vipers said:

https://www.ukpostbox.com/blog/posting-lithium-bat...

If it's for a bike light, have them send you the light, put the battery in it and post back, seems to meet the regs.

The problem is that the lamp unit has been posted already for fault diagnosis. It may be the battery at fault, hence I need to post that on its own.

[john_1983]

Most mail goes by plane, hence the regs issued to Royal Mail by the Civil Aviation Authority IIRC - it's been a few years since I dealt with it all.

A courier that solely uses roads won't be faced with the same conditions

[Vipers]

john_1983 said:

Most mail goes by plane, hence the regs issued to Royal Mail by the Civil Aviation Authority IIRC - it's been a few years since I dealt with it all.

A courier that solely uses roads won't be faced with the same conditions

Just checked Hermes, same rules apply must be in the device.

[Vipers]

CC07 PEU said:

Vipers said:

https://www.ukpostbox.com/blog/posting-lithium-bat...

If it's for a bike light, have them send you the light, put the battery in it and post back, seems to meet the regs.

The problem is that the lamp unit has been posted already for fault diagnosis. It may be the battery at fault, hence I need to post that on its own.

If you are a supplier, send another light with the new battery in, have the light returned empty.

Or is it you returning the battery having returned the light?

Same rules seem to apply to U.K, couriers as well, it has to be in the appliance.


PITA

[Vipers]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=replacement+laptop+ba...

Wonder how they do it?

[Spare tyre]

I’m sure you can buy special lithium soft material pouches

My friend uses for his model cars and such like

I think they suppress fire and stuffs

[Ziplobb]

• lie**

[Matthen]

Pretty sure DPD will courier them, up to a certain size.

[Fluid]

Vipers said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=replacement+laptop+ba...

Wonder how they do it?

Manufacturers packaging.

All batteries have to be shipped by air in equipment, or manufacturers packaging. I would imagine the postal service would have the same rules.

Shipping lithium batteries by air, is a minefield. You have to take into consideration watt hours for charging and discharging. Also, you have to know what holding charge they have.

[red_slr]

DPD will almost certainly take the package if its marked up correctly and is UK only and falls within the allowed specs on the battery capacity.

The post office is very restrictive. You can "post" almost anything in the UK you just have to find the right carrier.