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From: Crash Gordon <uucp@crashelex.com>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: Exploding pagers
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:59:43 -0500
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On 9/17/2024 1:18 PM, Crash Gordon wrote:
> Posting is on-topic for s.e.d because these things had to be *designed*. 

I expected there'd be politics, but I was hoping for more discussion of 
*how* this was accomplished.  So I'll answer my own question.

Apparently "somebody" built batteries containing PETN which would 
detonate when the battery exceeded some temperature.  Then installed 
these batteries into ordinary pagers; the only clue that something was 
wrong would be that battery life would likely not be what the spec sheet 
said it should be.

Then by repeatedly triggering the pagers, caused the batteries to heat 
up resulting in detonation of the PETN.  I wouldn't be surprised to find 
a piece of nichrome inside the battery; it would heat a little when the 
pager activated and then cool off, but repeated activation would push it 
over the threshold.  Maybe a schottky involved somehow, to prevent 
heating when the battery is being charged.

The radios on the next day would have been fitted with similar batteries 
but I'm not sure how they would have triggered the heating.

-- 
I'm part of the vast libertarian conspiracy to take over the world and 
leave everyone alone.