Can a discharged battery serve well as a spacer?

xevious · Jan 3, 2008

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 · Jan 3, 2008

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 · Jan 3, 2008

Hodsta is right

Marduke · Jan 3, 2008

Never, NEVER use a dead battery as a spacer.

eebowler · Jan 3, 2008

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

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

xevious · Jan 3, 2008

eebowler said:
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 · Jan 3, 2008

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

DO NOT DO THIS !!!!! :caution:

bernie

Long John · Jan 3, 2008

xevious said:
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:

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/183789&highlight=Poor+man

Good luck and best regards

____
Tom

kongfuchicken · Jan 3, 2008

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 · Jan 3, 2008

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 · Jan 3, 2008

kongfuchicken said:
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 · Jan 5, 2008

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.

Can a discharged battery serve well as a spacer?

xevious

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