what is this sour smell in the battery tube?

[tenaciousj]

i have a fenix tk10 led that has a distinct sour smell in the battery tube, not rancid or overpowering but definitely there, is this normal, maybe just typical for lithium 123 cells?

 

[aussiebob]

I smelt a smell like that too in some of my SF lights using primaries, i thought it was a smell from the manufacturing or something.

However, recently ive been using lithiums in a few E01's and the same smell is present.

 

[powernoodle]

Batteries may vent a tiny amount of gas, which is what you might be smelling. Someone smarter than me would have to tell you what it was.

 

[alanagnostic]

It's probably the primary lithium batteries. I notice the smell everytime I open the case that holds my primaries. I actually like the smell (I associate it with my lights after all:wave

 

[bc5000]

Flashahol, I kind of like the smell myself.

 

[Illum]

flashahol exists only where cr123A/L91/L92s are present
For all the other lights it could be
Passive components outgassing [smelled freshly etched perf boards?]
Rubber components outgassing
Interior coating [Chemkote]
Battery outgassing
Lubricant odor
Dirty water entry, accumulation, sedimentation, gasification
Chip-weevil colonization

 

[deusexaethera]

It's lithium gas. You'll notice how all lithium batteries have vent holes on them somewhere, usually near the + terminal. It's nothing to worry about, as long as the battery isn't also burning-hot.

 

[Dan FO]

I get high on that smell.:nana:

 

[Illum]

It's lithium gas. You'll notice how all lithium batteries have vent holes on them somewhere, usually near the + terminal. It's nothing to worry about, as long as the battery isn't also burning-hot.

The batteries don't appear to vent a particular lot of gases while its hot...it just appear to dissipate the gas continuously.

I get high on that smell.:nana:

I'd try not to intentionally inhale it...usually when it comes to lithium it might react to anything in your mucus membranes...as with the natural chemical reactivity with Alkali Metals. I don't know of the compositions in the gas expelled, unless the seal between the PTC is blown, so unless we know for certain what it is, its best to consider it hazardous

 

[deusexaethera]

The issue with the heat is that it's caused by a vigorous chemical reaction, which generates the gas in the first place, and either the gas or the contents of the battery itself are flammable, I don't know which it is. Either way, though, exploding batteries are not much fun.

As long as they're not getting too hot to hold, you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Mmmmmmm flashahol.
If it's just a faint smell than it's normal for all lithium primary using devices with a relatively sealed battery compartment.

 

[csshih]

yeaaah, love that smell.

 

[tygger]

Bunch of flashahol junkies in here. I'm waiting for someone to market Flashahol air fresheners.

 

[Illum]

Bunch of flashahol junkies in here. I'm waiting for someone to market Flashahol air fresheners.

now thats a nice way of reusing spent cells: hoard them, duct them to a compressor then fill dust-air can's using them

 

[ANDREAS FERRARI]

So I'm not the only one who loves the smell of flashahol in the morning.

 

[PsychoBunny]

My flashlights dont stink !!

 

[Yoda4561]

Flashahol is usually a sweet scent, at least to me. If it's sour it may just be the grease used at the factory.

 

[deusexaethera]

Depends what you like, I guess. I wash all my flashlights inside and out when I get them, so there is no manufacturing grease left to smell. The lithium gas smells distinctly acidic to me.

 

[DimmerD]

Batteries may vent a tiny amount of gas, which is what you might be smelling. Someone smarter than me would have to tell you what it was.

Ah, so one could say they were lithium battery farts! That would explain the "sour" smell.

 

[Black Rose]

Ah, so one could say they were lithium battery farts! That would explain the "sour" smell.

So that would be batulence