> It's for (a) visual inspection (you're supposed to take them out of> your > carry-on and put them in one of the bins) and (b) clear x-ray> scanning > (being close to something else in your bag can block the> system's ability to > clearly detect what it is). A tertiary rationale> is that bags limit the > quantity one can carry (due to fixed volume),> but that's a managerial issue > rather than a technical one.> Actually, Craig, I had thought that it was to > reduce the fire risk by ensuring that the terminals were electrically > isolated from other pieces of metal (i.e. keys, etc, etc.) The most credible risk for a fire from a lithium battery comes when there's a direct short across the terminals, and many batteries have little or no protection in this respect. Everything else you said is true too, though. Regards, Richard T. Perry [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Fraser, there's a guy on my corner who asks me every morning if I've seen God; do you really think he expects me to point Him out?" "Well, you know, Ray, if you did, perhaps he'd stop asking." Ray Vecchio and Benton Fraser, "Hawk and a Handsaw", Due_South
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