exploded 9v battery

robass · #1 10-02-2009, 02:24 PM

ok - this is weird. I regularly change 9v's when I change strings (once a month or so), and keep the old ones around for whatever. This battery has been out of my bass at least 6 months maybe more

Heard a loud 'pop' in the middle of the night - thought I dreamed it. this is what I found:

so let me be clear - this wasn't in my bass when it happened, and this 9v was just sitting on a shelf, not touching anything. Surfed around a bit on the interwebs and apparently this is not so uncommon. Anyone else experienced this?

btw - look at the top of the 1st pic - there's blown out 'grey matter'on the book about 3 inches away from the 9v

BigOldHarry · #2 10-02-2009, 02:31 PM

good reason to throw those away...

robass · #3 10-02-2009, 02:41 PM

you meant 'recycle' - right?

dmusic148 · #4 10-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Well, that's a new one. Did it get hot, too? Or just pop? Weird.

schnigges · #5 10-02-2009, 02:48 PM

Hope you didn't touch the liquid... anyway, was it exposed to heat, sunlight or something? That might be the cause...

robass · #6 10-02-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Well, that's a new one. Did it get hot, too? Or just pop? Weird.

don't know - I was sleepin and didnt find till morning. People on some websites have posted about this and they reported the battery getting hot first.

now I just hope the aliens don't start mutilating my cattle

robass · #7 10-02-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnigges

Hope you didn't touch the liquid... anyway, was it exposed to heat, sunlight or something? That might be the cause...

nope - the shelf is way away from any heat or light source

Pilgrim · #8 10-02-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robass

you meant 'recycle' - right?

Nope. Alkaline batteries go in the trash. Not recyclable according to my local authorities.

darthplagis · #9 10-02-2009, 03:37 PM

ive had this happen, its just a weird chemical reaction.

its usually brought on by some shock to the battery, like impact or heat...... but it can happen as a freak chemical reaction kind of like spontanious battery combustion :P

i actually had a rechargable 9v 'pop' on me, that was fun. the cells expanded vertically and it looked like the battery was growing. i watched it happen too it was great. but being a rechargable it only expanded and no corrosive acid leaked out

robass · #10 10-02-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Nope. Alkaline batteries go in the trash. Not recyclable according to my local authorities.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/wor...batteries.html

spidey112669 · #11 10-02-2009, 08:14 PM

you can google it...it happens ALOT...I had one blow out of a smoke detector in the night...I laid it on the counter after picking it up and looking at it, and about 20 mins later, it shot off the counter like a bullet and another cap inside it had blown open

Rattman · #12 10-02-2009, 10:40 PM

That's pretty weird alright... at least you didn't do the BONEHEADED thing I did working over at the Anaheim Convention Center one day. We used all kinds of test equipment that we prepped data lines for prior to installing broadband 'drops' for the various trade shows. So one day I'm in a BIG hurry, running from one exhibit hall to another.. so I pop a 9V out of a Fluke meter and just throw it in my pocket.. the same pocket I kept my loose change in. BIG MISTAKE!!! In just a few seconds I'd almost burned a hole in my uniform and down thru to the skin as the nickel or quarter laying across the + and - terminals shorted out the battery!!

Man that hurt.... that whole battery was extremely hot.. and even burned my hand when I reached in and quickly threw it on the floor. Lesson learned: use those non-conductive, plastic terminal caps if you have to put a 9V any place that it might cause a fire.. like in a careless technician's pocket full of loose coins!!

Kevinmach · #13 10-03-2009, 01:40 AM

^^Wow.

I don't think that's a bonehead thing at all, it's just one of those things you never think of... but I could totally see that happening to anyone who had a reason to temporarily tuck a battery away and end up putting it in a pocket with change or keys. Good to know, you could have electrified your weiner.

Hmm, it's hard to see what went on in those photos... did that battery jizz those books in the background when it exploded? Or was that mess already there?

Clark Dark · #14 10-03-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

Hmm, it's hard to see what went on in those photos... did that battery jizz those books in the background when it exploded? Or was that mess already there?

LMAO, LMAO, LMAO

is everyone relating their story to the procell ? I was thinking of ordering a dozen of them but I never heard of this until now. are people having this problem with ray0's and everready's and the dura ultra's as well ???

Pilgrim · #15 10-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robass

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/wor...batteries.html

Interesting. However, I'll recyle alkalines if and when the city will pick them up from me as part of our weekly collection. Right now they don't mess with 'em, and the nearest place listed at that site is a 20-minute drive each way through city traffic. Makes no sense to spend 40 minutes driving to recycle a few alkaline batteries.

robass · #16 10-04-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

^^Wow.

Hmm, it's hard to see what went on in those photos... did that battery jizz those books in the background when it exploded? Or was that mess already there?

Yeah that grey 'jizz' as you put it is from the battery - flew about 4-5 inches

robass · #17 10-04-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Interesting. However, I'll recyle alkalines if and when the city will pick them up from me as part of our weekly collection. Right now they don't mess with 'em, and the nearest place listed at that site is a 20-minute drive each way through city traffic. Makes no sense to spend 40 minutes driving to recycle a few alkaline batteries.

I agree - wasting gas to recycle a few batteries don't make sense. Here in calif. most hardware stores will recycle batteries for you - that includes all 'household' batteries as well as rechargeable tool batteries - ni-cad, ni-mh, lithium ion. Maybe the hardware stores near you do the same.

robass · #18 10-04-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clark Dark

LMAO, LMAO, LMAO

is everyone relating their story to the procell ? I was thinking of ordering a dozen of them but I never heard of this until now. are people having this problem with ray0's and everready's and the dura ultra's as well ???

apparently the procells are the same battery as the regular coppertop duracell - the difference is just a marketing/packaging thing.
The anecdotal stuff I've read did seem to mention duracells when a brand was mentioned at all - but I really don't want to start some sort of rumor about duracell being the 'exploding' battery. Below is one website I found discussing this:

http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2007/06/2.../comments.html

ByF · #19 10-04-2009, 11:38 AM

The place I work collects old batteries, but they don't recycle them--they send them to a toxic waste dump.

If you go to the battery manufacturer's web sites, they will tell you that yes, batteries that contain cadmium or mercury are hazardous, but no, alkaline batteries are not.

Ed

Pilgrim · #20 10-04-2009, 01:44 PM

I use standard alkalines - a recent Consumer Reports test of a half-dozen brands determined that they all had the same performance - so they advised to buy for price.

Over time, I've had a half-dozen battery powered radios and other devices damaged by leaky batteries, usually when they were stored with the batteries in them. I TRY to remember and remove them....it's just a lot safer. But if one goes [pow] while it's in regular use, you're just kind of stuck!