Magnets bad for Batts?

[trucarp]

I have a Coast stainless steel 3AAAA light that really rocks, (VERY difficult finding batteries, though) and I have replaced the velcro in the sheath twice now, it is only good for a few months at a time. I was thinking of gluing a small strong magnet in the bottom of the sheath to keep it in place as I'm crawling/ducking etc. Would this prematurely drain the battery or otherwise mess it up?

thanks
Andy

 

[MorePower]

A magnetic field will have no effect on the cells (batteries) in the light.

 

[Marduke]

No. In fact, small magnets are often used to extend the positive contacts on batteries.

Edit:
Walmart sells AAAA's. Also, you can disassemble some 9v batteries to get 6 AAAA's, but make sure you check the polarity, as some are backwards from what they look like they should be.

 

[65535]

Unless you have constantly moving batteries and a moving magnetic field you will have no problem with electronics and magnets, minus things like hall effect sensors, and really sensetive components.

 

[eebowler]

You'll only have to worry about your credit cards, TV and Computer monitors if they arn't LCD.

 

[Fallingwater]

No. In fact, small batteries are often used to extend the positive contacts on batteries.

I believe you meant "small magnets".

 

[Marduke]

I believe you meant "small magnets".

TY

 

[jzmtl]

You'll only have to worry about your credit cards, TV and Computer monitors if they arn't LCD.

I think they did it on mythbusters, a consumer grade magnet, even neodymium, doesn't hurt credit cards.

 

[eebowler]

jzmtl, I tried to find it on the mythbusters site but couldn't. From here

Because the information in the data strip is magnetic, it is susceptible to anything else which is magnetic, as being in contact with a magnetic field will erase the information by realigning the iron particles. Common demagnetizing culprits are the pads used to deactivite security devices in new books, CDs, and movies, some security screening machines, and even small magnets like those used on the fridge. Speakers, some cell phones, and magnetic clasps on wallets and purses can also demagnetize a credit card, and cards such as transit passes used on many subway systems are even more susceptible to being demagnetized. Some credit cards have been known to be demagnetized by strong electrical charges as well, which can potentially reverse the polarity of the iron particles.

I really don't put much weight in what the mythbusters team say. They claim to be secientific but perform the most rediculous tests sometimes. (I guess for the sake of the non-scientific people out there.)

 

[mikehill]

I left my wallet next to a few small neo's in a bag overnight. Went to the Cash Machine the next day and not one would work. Had to get the whole lot replaced :shakehead Until then I was thinking of taking the velcro off the flaps on my holsters and repacing them with magnets ... not anymore

 

[DM51]

You do not want to get a neodymium magnet too near a digital camera - the info on the data card is easily corrupted and you can lose your photos.

 

[Fallingwater]

You do not want to get a neodymium magnet too near a digital camera - the info on the data card is easily corrupted and you can lose your photos.

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. AFAIK, flash memory is immune to magnetic fields (that aren't an EMP blast, anyway).

 

[shadowjk]

Flash cards probably dislike UV and X-ray more than any magnetic fields...

 

[DM51]

I am interested to hear that, but if you are right I am left a bit puzzled.

I lost all the photos on an SD card last year, and I assumed afterwards that this was because I had packed it for travelling next to some magnets. This was a road trip, with no air travel involved.

I had put it with some R123 Li-Ions and neodymium charging spacers, all in the same small box. I had not thought about the magnets. When I got home, the card was unreadable. It was OK after re-formatting and has performed well since. The card in the camera was fine.

If it wasn't the magnets, what could it have been?

 

[Marduke]

Unless you put the magnets in direct contact with your credit card, there isn't a problem. Have you never seen the small magnetic clasps on wallets??

Also, flash cards are immune to UV and X-Ray also.

 

[trucarp]

Thanks for the info

Andy

 

[Fallingwater]

As an experiment, I've just rubbed a magnet out of a 3.5" hard drive all over the SD card I use in my PSP via an adapter. No data was lost.

As for what caused your problem: it sometimes happens that botched writes (say, the battery dying right as your digicam is writing the last picture) cause the entire contents of the flash card to vanish. Recovery software can usually recover everything but the last pic, provided you don't write to the card after the accident.

 

[Nubo]

Getting back to OP, there are different types of stainless steel and not all of them are well-attracted to magnets. For example, I've got a stainless dishwasher which will attract magnets like steel does, but I've got a stainless backsplash where the magnet is very weakly attracted -- won't even hold its own weight.

I'd check the light first with an ordinary magnet before purchasing a supermagnet for the purpose.

 

[JakeGMCHD]

Quite a few cell phone holsters use magnets to keep the top flap closed. Can't see where this would be a problem with a flashlight.

 

[TorchBoy]

Getting back to OP, there are different types of stainless steel and not all of them are well-attracted to magnets. For example, I've got a stainless dishwasher which will attract magnets like steel does, but I've got a stainless backsplash where the magnet is very weakly attracted -- won't even hold its own weight.

I'd check the light first with an ordinary magnet before purchasing a supermagnet for the purpose.

+1. Some versions of stainless steel are not magnetic at all, but as Jake said, you could use a magnet for the flap instead of using to hold to the light directly, so that might be better than a weak attraction.