Just blew up a battery

[MrOmigoodness]

I was messing around with some spare components and the 9v battery I was using blew up. It sounded like a gunshot, almost scared me to death. Then I was about to pick it up and it blew again. Oh, and it almost burned my table (and my hand). Whatever, I guess the best way of learning is to fail. And speaking of failing, I wanted to recommend anyone starting out with electronics to watch this video it really gives you some motivation to keep trying. Cheers 


~MrOmi~

[IanB]

9 V batteries don't really do that (really, they don't).

What kind of battery was it, and what were you doing with it?

[Psi]

The only way i can see it exploding is if you overcharged it

[mikeselectricstuff]

I'd think it's plausible that a new 9V battery could pop if shorted - there are different constructions - some are made of six aaaa cells, and these could potentially build up a fair head of pressure.
However reverse charging it would be a more effective way of detonating it
 

[IanB]

The only way i can see it exploding is if you overcharged it...

...by connecting it to the mains, or by connecting it to a 12 V car battery... 

[MrOmigoodness]

9 V batteries don't really do that (really, they don't).

What kind of battery was it, and what were you doing with it?

Really, it did. I'll post some pics if you want.

[Psi]

9 V batteries don't really do that (really, they don't).

What kind of battery was it, and what were you doing with it?

Really, it did. I'll post some pics if you want.

We believe you, it's just that 9volts are low power batteries.
It seems odd that one could build up enough pressure on its own to explode like a gunshot.

[MrOmigoodness]

I don't wanna start a fight here so I'm just gonna leave it at that

[Time]

I put a 9 V in my pocket with some change once and it got hot hot.  Thats about the most danger I've ever seen one present.

[IanB]

Really, it did. I'll post some pics if you want.

I didn't ask for pics, I asked what kind of battery was it and what were you doing with it?

[Kilroy]

I'd think it's plausible that a new 9V battery could pop if shorted...

Yup.

Just hook the battery up to a low value resistance and wait for it...

[Mint.]

I'd love to see the pics just for the lols

[TriodeTiger]

Ones I've seen always have a plastic bottom, to blow off first (or assemble without welding, either way) - can perfectly imagine they put it there for a reason. 

[westfw]

I've had individual AAAA cells extracted from a 9V pop their end off when discharged too heavily.  I always thought that the extra containment of the output package would prevent this, but it's believable that one would pop anyway...

[amyk]

I've had individual AAAA cells extracted from a 9V pop their end off when discharged too heavily.  I always thought that the extra containment of the output package would prevent this, but it's believable that one would pop anyway...

I had this happen with regular alkaline AAs too with heavy discharge (>2A bursts).

[T4P]

The ones with individual AAAA cells are Alkalines
So and so , the solid ones are definitely carbon zinc .

[metalphreak]

9V batteries have such a convenient form factor that allows you to easily connect two of them together 

[Psi]

9V batteries have such a convenient form factor that allows you to easily connect two of them together 

or 52 of them!!

[westfw]

Most of the 9V NiCd or NiMH batteries I've taken apart use flat (oval) coin cells stacked on one another (and usually separable.)  Frequently 7 of them (8.4V) rather than 6.  (The AAAA configuration only works with 6 cells.)  There's actually a surprising amount of variation in the internals of 9V batteries...  (9V "ultra" lithium batteries seem to have a single molded plastic module with three internal cells.  A shame that they're not separable into 3V cells; those might have filled a nice niche in the battery space. (bigger than coin cells, smaller than camera batteries...)

[Ajahn Lambda]

Still waiting for those pictures.   

[T4P]

How about 2196Volts .