Can a discharged battery serve well as a spacer?

[xevious]

In the case where you install an emitter that can't handle the full battery load, can you use one discharged battery as a spacer? Or does this introduce possible leakage issues? Are there full battery sized spacers available in the market or do you have to fashion your own?

 

[Hodsta]

I'm no expert but one should be along shortly. In the mean time you should not use a dead battery as a spacer, this is especially so with Lithiums.

The risk is of reverse charge, which, with lithiums could cause thermal runaway and a nasty fire or explosion (rapid disassembly as the battery makers call it).

 

[London Lad]

Hodsta is right

 

[Marduke]

Never, NEVER use a dead battery as a spacer.

 

[eebowler]

The internal resistance of a dead cell is high. (Big resistor)

Dead cells are prone to leaking. (Bye, bye flashlight :wave: )

 

[xevious]

The internal resistance of a dead cell is high. (Big resistor)

Dead cells are prone to leaking. (Bye, bye flashlight :wave: )

That's what my suspicion was, but I thought I'd check anyway.

So, if I want to operate a 3 cell flashlight with just 2 cells (there is regulation circuitry so I'll get a usable beam), is there some kind of market available spacer I can use? Do they exist for cells like C, D, CR123, etc.? Has anyone here created their own and have a posting about it? I haven't been able to find anything yet...

 

[Kiessling]

Leaking is not hte problem here.
Explosion is.
Serious explosion.

DO NOT DO THIS !!!!!

bernie

 

[Long John]

Has anyone here created their own and have a posting about it? I haven't been able to find anything yet...

To get some ideas, take a look here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=183789&highlight=Poor+man

Good luck and best regards

____
Tom

 

[kongfuchicken]

As everyone said, using an old cell as a spacer is not recommended to say the least.

Making spacers is pretty easy if you're creative.
Take a screw of the right length, roll some paper around it til you meet the correct diameter and duct tape it together...

 

[xevious]

Yeah, this AAA to AA converter tube from Kai Domain looks like it would do the trick:

Just make a copper core within it and it should be OK. And then you can stuff it inside a larger diameter tube to work for something larger, like C and D cell.

 

[TorchBoy]

Take a screw of the right length, roll some paper around it til you meet the correct diameter and duct tape it together...

Yep, but bolt, not screw, though.

 

[eebowler]

I made a dummy D cell once by sticking two coins to either end of a film container and connecting them via a thick wire. (The wire runs through the canister.) The coins didn't stay stuck but, the dummy still works.