Products > Test Equipment

New EEVblog BM786 Multimeter

<< < (129/133) > >>

JDW:

--- Quote from: J-R on March 10, 2023, 01:17:15 am ---...the fully discharged cell may leak if left this way for long periods.  This can also happen of course when the device is just sitting and slowly discharges all the cells.  One may go dead before the others and leak.

--- End quote ---

This pertains to my yet unanswered question put forth in my previous post.  Define "storage" and "long periods".

Again, what if I use my meter once a week?  What about using it once every two weeks?  Is that "storage"?  Is that "long periods"? 

How often must we power on the meter to avoid battery leakage? 

Will the batteries leak even if we actively use the meter?  If not when we actively use it, then we need to define what "actively use it" means.  In other words, if the sheer act of powering on the meter prevents battery leakage, how often must that be done?  And if one argues that the batteries would still leak even if the meter is used often, as defined as once a day, then all the talk of "when stored" or "when not used for long periods of time" goes out the window.

J-R:
"Using" it doesn't prevent leaking.  It has nothing to do with that (other than maybe replacing the batteries more often).  Nor does "storing" it.  It's just certain conditions may align such that a discharged (primarily) cell will have a higher chance of leaking.  I found a multi-cell device the other day in my garage that has been in a sealed/cool/dry place for decades and the Energizer batteries were completely dead but hadn't leaked at all.  Then there are folks posting photos of new batteries leaking in the package (could have been exposed to high heat).

I think it's reasonable to say if you are not going to use something for years or decades, then take the batteries out, and if the device has any amount of current draw when off, then don't store it longer than a period of time that will cause the batteries to be fully discharged.

Black Phoenix:
Rule of thumb for me is if the device is not going to be used in a while, batteries are off (if they are not Ni-CD/Ni-NH or Lithium or internal battery) and stored away from the equipment.

I almost lost a 54II by leaked Duracell Procell (was siting batteries down on the case, had to replace battery contacts and clean corrosion on the PCB main IC legs, that were starting to desintegrate itself had I caught later) and my 289 (didn't leaked but changes on the ends of the batteries were already showing).

Now all battery equipment I have run Eneloops White or Pro and GP Battery Lithium (for the 9V PP3 in the 87V).

But even the Lithium I'm always checking time to time afraid it may bulge. We advanced so much in battery tech in 20 years but still reliability is something we still are way back in the 90s...

JDW:

--- Quote from: J-R on March 10, 2023, 02:04:46 am ---...don't store it longer than a period of time that will cause the batteries to be fully discharged.

--- End quote ---

Based on that comment, we see the reason that "active use" (which for now I shall define is being at least ONCE A WEEK) saves our devices from destruction is because at some point we will see a low battery indication and either change the batteries then or change them when the meter no longer works, thereby preventing a situation where totally dead batteries are left in the device for more than a week.  This would be why "active use" prevents spewed battery guts.

tautech:
Really guys, nothing has changed in years.  :horse:
This is certainly not the oldest a quick search could find, from 2016:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/leaking-aa-and-aaa-batteries/

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod