CR2016 Batteries Leaked in INOVA Microlight

[kavvika]

I use this light every night on low to type on the keyboard while my roomate is sleeping. 10 minutes ago, I took it out of the drawer and clicked it twice...and it didn't turn on. I opened it up and heres what I saw:


So what do I do now? Can I save it or do I have to throw it away? Is it toxic?

 

[AlgaeEater]

If you can somehow sand down the metal contacts, you should be ok and be able to use it again with new batteries.

I'm not an expert, but that almost looks like water got inside somehow and caused erosion. Whenever I see batteries melt, it's a greenish color with white powder. This looks more like oxidation.

 

[LowBat]

Generally the price of a new Inova Microlight with batteries is about the same price as the batteries sold seperately, unless of course you buy the batteries bulk online. With that in mind I'd just buy a new Microlight and call it good.

 

[paulr]

Throw out the batteries, clean up the contacts as someone said, and replace the batteries. Simplest way to get batteries if you don't need too many is scrounge them from a Fauxton. You do have bags of Fauxtons all over the place like most CPF'ers, right? Otherwise buy some from DX/Kai/Dae/wherever.

 

[jayflash]

See if water and alcohol on a Q-tip will remove the residue before sanding the contacts. If water did not get inside then metal damaging corrosion may not have occurred. Lithium cells don't contain alkalies or acids, I believe, so clean up may be easier than expected.

Let us know whether the contacts were degraded or just stained and what your results were. If water was present then you may have more damage, depending the type of metal used for the contacts.

 

[koala]

Coat the contacts and the new battery with a light layer of grease to prevent further rust. I do that to all my lil lights, they last forever.