Foil as a backup idea?

[Lunal_Tic]

I've read a number of posts where lights, particularly the twisty variety, squash or dent a battery so that they fail to work after a fall or after lots of use.

What if I wrapped foil around the battery to help stop rattle and if the battery became dammaged I could wad it up for a quick fix? Could there be any odd side effects? Since I don't chew gum this was the best I could come up with for flashlight first aid on the run.

Ideas/suggestions/comments?
TIA,
LT

 

[jbev]

Ever dead shorted a battery together in your pocket?

I'd be paranoid that the foil would creep it's way up to the positive terminal when I wasn't looking. A CR123 can be a real pain, a AAA might not be too bad... just something to think about.

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Thanks for the comment. I never thought about that since I've only tried this with paper, think Post-it, and it actually keeps the battery pretty snug. You have to shake it to get it to come out.

Maybe I should double wrap it. One layer of paper on the outside of the roll, like insulation.

As for dead shorting a battery in my pocket, no thankfully but I don't carry spares naked either.

 

[jbev]

What light are you thinking of using this with?

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Mainly AAA or AA lights that I've read countless times about "light" failure that turned out to be squished battery e.g. dropped or over cranked to turn on. Particularly in emergency kits/bug out bags where you're really going to need a light. I don't currently have any twisty 123 powered lights in this role but I guess it would work there as well.

 

[jbev]

If it's an EDC light the solution could be worse than the annoyance of the solution. If the light is in an emergency kit I usually have spare batteries as a precaution. I've dropped a few lights in my time, but I've never had the battery dent problem.

Conceivably a light that doesn’t have a spring, like the ARC AAA would be susceptible since there is no spring to allow the battery to move around any when it gets dropped. You could squish the battery by turning too hard, but just being careful may help stem that problem.

What I’m getting at is that until you actually experience the problem, I wouldn’t worry about it. That is, unless you are a paramedic or something where light is a life and death matter. At which point I’d suggest looking at a different light.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Thanks for the update. I've been refining my bug out bag and equipment for a while. With quakes, typhoons, terrorist attacks (we get those too), and other emergency situations I'd rather be as prepared as possible. To lift a line I read somewhere "it's the problems for which you don't plan that are always the first to occur".

The lights may not always be in my hands and depending on how rough the situation my own hands may not be that steady so battery crush is a potential problem. Also there's no guarantee that the extra batteries will be with the light at the time of the problem. Too many variables but if I can mitigate the effect of some then that's a good thing right?

I do appreciate your views since in particular I wouldn't have thought of "foil creep".

-LT

 

[jbev]

You could get a light with a built in carrier for a spare like the Peak K2. I haven’t held it in my hands, but it’s got decent runtime and carries its own spare. Plus I’ve never had a lithium battery leak on me (can’t say the same about alkaline cells) and they are less sensitive to temperature. Hope you never have to use it in an emergency situation, but best of luck with whatever you decide to go with.

 

[Lunal_Tic]

I'll take a look at the Peak. Do you suppose they've got some kind of cushion to keep the spare from suffering the same fate as the main battery? With lithium AA and AAA batteries now out I think I'll be putting those in all my backup gear. Of course I have to find someplace that has them here.

I'm with you, I hope I never ever need any of this stuff.

Thanks again,
LT

 

[Blades]

The foil would work. I have used foil in the bottom of an CMG Infinity to help make contact, without crushing the battery. Wrapping a piece around the battery sounds like a good idea.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



Blades

 

[Lunal_Tic]

Actually on CMGs I was thinking about putting an Arc-like foam ring on the head to help cushion it as well. Something that was pretty firm would be ideal I'd think. "Corn pads" are OK for battery rattle but they compress a lot.