mountaindewer
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2013
- Messages
- 72
I read a story today about how a house caught on fire from a loose 9v battery in a junk drawer shorting out on something. They went on about how the 2 terminals are close together and can easily short out on something if loose. But, they even went on to say that AA and AAA batteries can do the same thing, but it's harder to do since their terminals are on opposite ends. They said to keep batteries in original packaging and to tape the batteries contacts if they are exposed. Stuff that should be commonsense.
Now, here's my thing. I keep on average around 200 or so AA and AAA batteries on the big wooden shelf in my closet for power outages. I keep them in their original packages until I need them. Then when I need some, I open the back of the package along the perforated lines in the cardboard that open up like a little door, and I take out what I need. So they stay in their original packages, and I just feed off of the open package until it's empty. And of course, the ones that I haven't opened are still in their package. So everything is in the original package. If I buy like some panasonic alkalines in the 2 packs at the dollar tree, ill buy about 20 or so, and to save space from them only being a 2 pack (a 2 pack of batteries take up as much space as a pack of 8 energizers) i will take the 2 packs apart, and store them in those generic battery boxes that are about the same dimensions as a pack of cigarettes, and holds 4 batteries. When the lid is shut, the batteries are secured and don't move or anything. So long story short, either in these plastic containers or in the 8 or 16 pack original packages that they come in, my AA and AAA batteries are stored securely. AA and AAA are the only 2 sizes i stock up. With those facts in mind that I keep them secured safely, what are the odds of them just up and starting a fire on their own? The article i read said not let them touch while in storage. I think they're referring to the contact points (positive and negative) of the batteries, and not the physical batteries themselves. I know that the positive side of the battery is the whole can of the battery, but it's covered with the wrapper or label of the battery, and that this wrapper and label is non conducting. I think they're referring to the contact points, cause it would be impossible to keep the battery sides from physically touching each other in their packages
A few other "what if" things would be: What if the separator inside the battery "broke down" and the insides suddenly shorted out together internally? Could that start a fire? Or at worse just cause the cell to leak?
What about if the can of the cell rusted and a weak spot formed, allowing the insides to spill out?
I have had a couple Duracell packs leak, and even a pack of Rayovac that leaked. I'm not worried about leaks, those are just a minor annoyance that just involves recycling them and buying another pack. What I'm worried about is a fire erupting.
Now, here's my thing. I keep on average around 200 or so AA and AAA batteries on the big wooden shelf in my closet for power outages. I keep them in their original packages until I need them. Then when I need some, I open the back of the package along the perforated lines in the cardboard that open up like a little door, and I take out what I need. So they stay in their original packages, and I just feed off of the open package until it's empty. And of course, the ones that I haven't opened are still in their package. So everything is in the original package. If I buy like some panasonic alkalines in the 2 packs at the dollar tree, ill buy about 20 or so, and to save space from them only being a 2 pack (a 2 pack of batteries take up as much space as a pack of 8 energizers) i will take the 2 packs apart, and store them in those generic battery boxes that are about the same dimensions as a pack of cigarettes, and holds 4 batteries. When the lid is shut, the batteries are secured and don't move or anything. So long story short, either in these plastic containers or in the 8 or 16 pack original packages that they come in, my AA and AAA batteries are stored securely. AA and AAA are the only 2 sizes i stock up. With those facts in mind that I keep them secured safely, what are the odds of them just up and starting a fire on their own? The article i read said not let them touch while in storage. I think they're referring to the contact points (positive and negative) of the batteries, and not the physical batteries themselves. I know that the positive side of the battery is the whole can of the battery, but it's covered with the wrapper or label of the battery, and that this wrapper and label is non conducting. I think they're referring to the contact points, cause it would be impossible to keep the battery sides from physically touching each other in their packages
A few other "what if" things would be: What if the separator inside the battery "broke down" and the insides suddenly shorted out together internally? Could that start a fire? Or at worse just cause the cell to leak?
What about if the can of the cell rusted and a weak spot formed, allowing the insides to spill out?
I have had a couple Duracell packs leak, and even a pack of Rayovac that leaked. I'm not worried about leaks, those are just a minor annoyance that just involves recycling them and buying another pack. What I'm worried about is a fire erupting.
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