hahahaha I like the beginning of this. But I must say, that the "industrial" batteries I use in my teleportation device; (yes I am from the other side, the advanced side, of the galaxy) use these batteries and I think they are much safer than "standard" type for any gear for which we care. Best Regards, (and chuckles)
On Fri, 21 Sep 2007, Ray Boyce wrote: > Unless you have just arrived from the other side of the galaxy (where such > problems do not exist), you know that so-called 'leak-proof' batteries (even > those with fancy warranties and high budget advertising) sometimes leak. > This is a lot less common with modern technologies than with the carbon-zinc > cells of the good old days, but still can happen. It is always good advice > to remove batteries from equipment when not being used for an extended > period > of time. Dead batteries also seem to be more prone to leakage than fresh > ones > (in some cases because the casing material is depleted in the chemical > reaction > which generates electricity and thus gets thinner or develops actual holes). > > In most cases, the actual stuff that leaks from a battery is not 'battery > acid' but rather some other chemical. For example, alkaline batteries > are so called because their electrolyte is an alkaline material - just the > opposite in reactivity from an acid. Usually it is not particularly > reactive (but isn't something you would want to eat). > > One exception is the lead-acid type where the liquid inside is sulfuric acid > of varying degrees of strength depending on charge. This is nasty and > should > be neutralized with an alkaline material like baking soda before being > cleaned up. Fortunately, these sealed lead-acid battery packs rarely > leak (though I did find one with a scary looking bulging case, probably > due to overcharging - got rid of that in a hurry). > Nickel Cadmium cells contain so-called heavy metal compounds which are also > bad for you if you feast on them but can be safely cleaned up without harm. > > Scrape dried up battery juice from the battery compartment and contacts > with a plastic or wooden stick and/or wipe any liquid up first with a dry > paper towel. Then use a damp paper towel to pick up as much residue as > possible. Dispose of the dirty towels promptly. > > If the contacts are corroded, use fine sandpaper or a small file to remove > the corrosion and brighten the metal. Do not use an emery board, emery > paper, or steel wool as any of these will leave conductive particles behind > which will be difficult to remove. If the contacts are eaten through > entirely, > you will have to improvise alternative contacts or obtain replacements. > > Sometimes the corrosion extends to the solder and circuit board traces as > well and some additional repairs may be needed - possible requiring > disassembly to gain access to the wiring. > > Don't forget that many batteries do come with explicit or implicit > warranties > against leakage (and resulting damage) which cover the equipment they are in > as well. Thus, you may be able to obtain a replacement device from the > battery > manufacturer for at most shipping charges. I don't know if this extends to > expensive products like palmtop computers :-). > >
