Isolating Batteries in Battery Compartment - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2021, 03:30:22 pm
content: Hello,I remember when I ordered kitchen timer once it had a piece of transparent plastic that looked like one that blister packs are made of, however that one was thinner and flexible. I could power on kitchen timer only after removing that piece of plastic. I realized it was there to isolate batteries and prevent leakage and possibly prevent batteries from going bad.I habe emergency light which holds 4 AA batteries but since I will use it only occasionally I want to find a piece of plastic and do the same think that kitchen timer had. Should I put one piece of plastic at the bottom of battery compartment and another piece in the middle to isolate each pair? Shpuld I add 3rd piece of plastic on top to isolate batteries from cover?Would this work and does make sense?

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2021, 03:43:19 pm
content: It seems that timer places in parallel 2 series of 2 AA each.In that case you'd probably need only to isolate the cover to break the circuit.But before doing that you could try to measure whether the timer uses any 'idle' current: place all batteries and instead of putting the cover, set your multimeter for current measurement and touch with one probe to the back of one of the batteries and with the other one that little metallic tip that is visible in picture, and see whether there is any sensible current when the device is 'off'.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 09:34:05 am
content: Quote from: bitwelder on November 30, 2021, 03:43:19 pmThe item in question is the flashlight, not the timer. The timer is simply where he became aware of battery shipping insulators.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 09:36:08 am
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on November 30, 2021, 03:30:22 pmFlashlights typically use real switches that fully disconnect the batteries from the load. In such a situation, adding plastic insulation doesn’t do anything.The battery shipping insulators are used in devices that are always on (or in standby) and thus would slowly drain the batteries. Digital timers fall into this category, flashlights do not.

author: GLouie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 05:09:14 pm
content: I suggest simply removing the batteries from the flashlight and keeping them in a leakproof plastic bag near the seldom-used light. The risk from leaking alkaline batteries shown is very high. I prefer to keep a supply of rechargeable NiMH cells for AA devices.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2021, 02:19:02 pm
content: Quote from: bitwelder on November 30, 2021, 03:43:19 pmIt's a flashlight. I get a reading of 00.2 using 200ų range.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 11:30:35 am
content: Quote from: tooki on December 01, 2021, 09:36:08 amI bought laser-guided scissors and they had insulator despite their on/off switch was off. Not sure why would they need insulator, unless somehow someone accidentally pressed blister packaging and turned on the switch...I bought wireless mouse that had insulator as well. Strangely the switch was on so that's probably why they used insulator. But why use it if you can have switch on off? Even in blister packaging there is no way to accidentally move power switch.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2021, 01:47:38 pm
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on December 05, 2021, 11:30:35 amAnd there’s your answer.It’s also possible that the same item is marketed in various types of packaging (blister, box, bulk, etc), and that it’s cheaper to just put the insulator on all of them.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2021, 08:18:15 am
content: Quote from: GLouie on December 01, 2021, 05:09:14 pmI have bought Kodak AA lithium batteries but learned from package that they were made in China. What is the risk of them leaking if I leave them in emergency flashlight?