Old and Pretty Batteries - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dzarren
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 03:13:23 pm
content: None of these older batteries seem to get leaky and gross like modern batteries. I wouldn't dare keep any modern white fuzz growing battery on display, but is it safe to do so with these older batteries? I really like how they look and they dont appear leaky, most of them still giving some voltage. Are they safe to keep in a bed room?Thanks

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 04:36:48 pm
content: Did you ever pull one apart back in the day?The red Everready were just full of hard black crud.Maybe the alkaline one could leak.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 04:56:55 pm
content: Pre 1990s Zinc Carbon cells and batteries typically contain a small proportion of Mercury. Its alloyed with the Zinc anode, so only trace amounts of Mercury vapour can escape at normal room temperature, but it wouldn't be a good idea to display them in a bedroom or a poorly ventilated room. Otherwise they contain a paste electrolyte of Ammonium Chloride and Zinc Chloride, with a Manganese dioxide depolariser, which isn't notably hazardous except in cases of prolonged skin contact or if significant quantities are ingested.The Alkaline cells contain a highly caustic electrolyte - either Potassium or Sodium hydroxide. It can cause severe chemical burns, but as its in a paste form, it tends to stay on the skin surface giving you time to wash it off before it has eroded a significant skin thickness. If it gets in your eyes or mouth its far more hazardous. Like the Zinc Carbon cells they are also likely to contain Mercury, but as the Zinc anode is entirely internal in an Alkaline cell, there is negligible risk of Mercury vapour escaping if the cell isn't ruptured.If they've still got any terminal voltage, the internal chemistry is still active, so there must still be enough moisture present for ion mobility in the electrolyte and there is still a risk of leakage. Even if there is no terminal voltage it doesn't guarantee the battery has dried up.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 05:14:14 pm
content: It says "leakproof", it should be fine right?Lets find out...

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 03:25:47 am
content: I tore apart lots of batteries when I was a kid to get the carbon rods, as long as you don't eat the contents you'll be fine. The amount of mercury is tiny, you'd get more mercury eating a can of tuna than you would by keeping a collection of old batteries under your pillow.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 08:25:58 am
content: Some batteries have a warning label showing a blue cat getting zapped on the butt with lightning. So keep them away from pets.

author: flash2b
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 10:50:10 am
content: Made in Japan, >35Years old, 0V remaining but no leakage:

author: medical-nerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 11:00:53 am
content: HiyaQuote from: james_s on April 03, 2018, 03:25:47 amYup - they were a good source. Are batteries still available with the carbon rods inside? Or are they all multiples of smaller cells now. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and fancy playing with those again.Cheers

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2018, 11:24:31 am
content: If you are looking for carbon rods (and strips of Zinc), as long as you buy ordinary cheap Zinc Carbon cells, not Alkalines, you'll find they still have the same construction - a carbon rod in black goo, surrounded by whitish goo in a Zinc can. Keywords to look for includeSuper Heavy Duty.As the Alkaline cell cathode is the Manganese dioxide layer in direct contact with the external steel can, one easy way to distinguish them before attempting to open them is to scrape the side till you see bare metal than check if there's any voltage between it and either end cap. If its an Alkaline cell it will be connected to the positive cap so will show voltage between itself and the base. Zinc Carbon cells will either have a thin steel sleeve round them, not connected to either end cap, so no voltage, or will have a thin card or plastic jacket over the Zinc can, so voltage between it and the positive cap. Once you get the jacket off, Zinc Carbons will have a top seal, and alkalines will have a base seal - so if you find a base seal *STOP* before you spill the caustic electrolyte. You could also check the bare can with a magnet after stripping off any wrapper.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2018, 12:58:59 am
content: Quote from: flash2b on April 03, 2018, 10:50:10 amBut all the best stuff is made in Japan! Impressive though, it looks brand new.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 09:57:05 pm
content: A few decades ago, when I was working on MRI hardware, I looked in vain for non-ferrous batteries that could be used in or near the high magnetic field. Even chemistry such as Zn-C was always packaged in steel, and was not suitable.Has the situation changed since then? Copper or brass packaging without nickel, perhaps?

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 10:00:25 pm
content: I think I have around the same analog multimeter. It needs a 15 volt battery.Alexander.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 10:44:30 pm
content: Yes. From what can be seen of it, the O.P. has an Avo 8 Mk.1 or Mk.2http://www.richardsradios.co.uk/avo8.htmlhas more about them, and suggestions for substitutes for the original 15V battery used for the high Ohms ranges, which is rather expensive now.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 11:12:22 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on April 05, 2018, 09:57:05 pmLithium Polymer may be an option, I don't think they contain anything ferrous.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2018, 11:31:23 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on April 05, 2018, 09:57:05 pmA few decades ago (OK, many decades ago) when I was a child, I used to buy and use (British) Ever Ready batteries to go in toys and just to play with. They came in different grades, but the cheapest grade was simply packaged as a bare zinc shell with a loose cardboard sleeve. There was no outer casing of any kind. The only steel present might have been the cap on top of the carbon rod for the positive button.These batteries of course had no leak protection, and if the electrolyte ate through the zinc shell then the insides would spill out and make a horrible mess.