Battery Packs

[travelinman]

As a ham, I regularily use battery packs, usually 6xAA. One day I was skiing with an extra pack in my pocket, and felt things getting very warm down there. I had inadvertantly dropped the car keys into the same pocket!

By the time I had gotten stopped, unzipped 2 sets of zippers, pulled the whole mess out, and dropped into the snow, the damage was done. My car key was ruined, the battery pack was partially melted, and all 6 AAs were toast.

I had a brief flash of the worst that could have happen just before I got stopped. I could have been hurtling down the hill, out of control, trailing a large yellow and red flame with black toxic smoke issuing from my completely nylon ski suit. All the while being gleefully filmed by dozens of cell phone packing people on the lift hoping for a utube top ten video.

Totally my fault, lesson learned.. never put an unprotected battery pack where it might contact metal!

[SilverFox]

Hello Travelinman,

Welcome to CPF.

Your experience is not unusual. Many have had hot spots in their pants, in their fanny packs, and in their back packs caused by loose cells shorting out on various metal objects.

I remember doing this while carrying an extra 9V battery for my flashlight during a camping trip in Boy Scouts.

Tom

[Big_Ed]

Glad you are ok. If your car key was ruined, how did you get home?

[65535]

I had a 6SC 3300mAh NiMH pack short out in my pocket.

[travelinman]

Big Ed...I had to phone the wife and get her to bring the extra set up to the hill. No biggy, it's only a 5 min drive. Was a little embarrassing though, explaining it to her on the repeater.

[Burgess]

Look on the bright side . . . .


You've just invented a


Powerful New Hand-Warmer ! ! !



(not available in stores !)



_