quick batt question.

So I have been using 2 AAA batts in a holder I bought at radio shack to power my lasers I have been building before I put them in flashlights ect. Well one day I put in some new batts and was running a DVD burner diode which I had run many times before.. A few seconds latter one of the batteries just exploded, I got sprayed with acid but quickly ran to the sink and got it cleaned off then I heard a second pop and it was the other battery exploding.. Could it of been the cheap batteries? Normally I only use energizer or duracell, but these were generic brand form wallgreens. I am just puzzled normally if your shorting a battery it just gets hot and you see smoke from the wires burning.. but no smoke the the laser diode was going strong and BAM. (when I say explode the end cap blew off)

WoW! I'm glad you are ok. What kind of batteries...alkaline??

I've heard rumors of exploding batteries but WOW!
Are the diodes okay?

Take note of the battery manufacturer, lot number, etc from teh package, and call walgreens - alkaline batts do not explode under anything less than SEVERE circumstances....that could start happening alll around the world if it is not reported to them - they should pull that batch, and test them out before they get hammered with lawsuits !

and then sue them for all they are worth so you can finally afford this laser habit!

I didnt think to save the package. But yea they were the cheapest packet of alks AAA I could buy. But no joke the end caps blew out and stuff was squirting out.. I didnt mess with anymore of the package and I just tossed them all. I have been a lot more cautious now and use a gas mask and gloves along with wearing a rain coat just in case.. I tried to replicate what I did with some energizers and nothing happened.

Diodes are ok!!!. I was shocked that I can actually see the DVD burner diodes beam when its dark out!!!!.

AndrewAZ said:

I have been a lot more cautious now and use a gas mask and gloves along with wearing a rain coat just in case

Click to expand...

Glad you are okay mate but I could not help but laugh when I read  this  ;D


AndrewAZ was taking no chances with his new batch of batteries....

This is why I always say to use BRAND NAME BATTERIES! No matter what chemistry you are using, rechargeable, lithium, or whatever.

There is always a risk of something like this happening, but by using brand name batteries the chances of something like this happening are rare.

In the case of the generic brand, I believe they did not have enough capacity to handle the current. Something caused them to short internally, and this is the only thing I can think of that caused it.

WOAH

DUDE

the same thing happened to me, only i had LED's as the test load, and i was using a 9v battery

actually it was weired, this was a few weeks ago and i noticed the batt was getting EXTREMELY hot when i was using it.. like burning to touch. so i keep using it, enjoying the warmth... and nothing happened. i unplugged it, put it on the table on top of some papers, and didnt look at it since. then a coupla nights ago i noticed the paper was covered in dirty solder. then i saw the battery lawl it had exploded (see pic below). its weired, its a duracell batt, duracell ULTRA in fact, ALKALINE,

and it actually still works...but i dont think i should be using it..

p.s no matter what i do i cannot push that thing that is sticking out in...yes ive tried to repair that battery