Hoverboards

You've probably seen them, either in person or in the media. They're called hoverboards although this is inaccurate because they do not actually hover. Both wheels are always touching the ground.

Hoverboards are manufactured by many companies around the world. Some are "high-end" and can cost $2,000+ while others are "mid to low end" and can be purchased for $500 or less. A problem that has plagued all hoverboards since inception is they are prone to catching fire. The culprit is usually either the battery, the battery charger, or the wiring harness.

Although no hoverboards are so approved as of yet, Underwriter Laboratories (UL) has developed a set of requirements called UL 2272. This will ensure that the entire board meets UL safety requirements.

The mid-price Swagway X1 ($450) hoverboard has UL approved batteries and a UL approved battery charger. The company also has a customer service dept that actually answers the phone. Always only use the battery-charging cable that comes with the product. The X1 has a "learning mode", will support ~220 pounds, attain a speed of 10 mph, and travel ~20 miles on a charge. The main problems with hoverboards is in the mount/dismount and negotiating surface cracks ... no hoverboard handles cracks well so be very aware of the surface you will be traversing. You "direct" a hoverboard via ankle and toe movements.


The interior of a typical hoverboard

Best new source of youtube entertainment going. If this trend really catches on we should see a real boom in Emergency Room visits.

VanceMack said:

Best new source of youtube entertainment going. If this trend really catches on we should see a real boom in Emergency Room visits.

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those are fuuuuny

wow, 20 miles on a charge is pretty good. im not sure how you keep your balance on these though.

The problem with these things is that so many people who ride them are just douchebags. Over the holidays, I was talking to some of the security guys at a local mall and even though the mall has posted signs that say you can't ride them in the mall, tons of kids think they can do what they want and even when they are told to knock it off, they scream at the guards, they flip them off and do it anyhow. They have had to call the police to get kids thrown out of the mall on several occasions.

VanceMack said:

Best new source of youtube entertainment going. If this trend really catches on we should see a real boom in Emergency Room visits.

Click to expand...

3 basics of most physical endeavours- strength, balance and co-ordination. Apparently 2 of them are missing here.

Huh.

Talk to me when the REAL hover-boards (AKA "Back To The Future") start to show up. Not these steerless Segways.

Captain Adverse said:

Huh.

Talk to me when the REAL hover-boards (AKA "Back To The Future") start to show up. Not these steerless Segways.

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The best thing to come from hoverboards was this halloween costume.

I was going to buy my son one this past Christmas but the stories of fires scared me off. Maybe next year. I think adults on them, though, look silly.

Where I am there have been reports on a number of fires started by malfunctioning hoverboards. One condominium complex nearly burned down to the ground when a kid's hoverboard started a fire not once, but twice over a period of two weeks. I would be careful with this new toy.

When hover-boards came in market there were lots of issues with them, like blasting while charging. They have destroyed many houses as well due to such blasting. But now UL2272 certified hoverboards are available. Which are only included if they have passed the certain conditions. You should check before buying any hoverboard.