Please DO NOT leave alkaline batteries in your KX3, KX1, or K1 for any length of time

[wayne burdick]

Alkaline batteries can leak for various reasons, potentially damaging  
your radio. (Nothing like caustic potassium hydroxide to ruin your  
day.) Even if the batteries are new, remove them when you're not  
actually using them for portable operation. Check their condition  
periodically.

We saw a case of Alkaline-inflicted damage recently: a radio in which  
batteries had been left for many months. Not pretty.

Lithium nonrechargeable camera batteries and NiMH batteries *can* be  
left inside for extended periods, but even these more stable types  
should still be checked once a month.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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[W5RDW]

I second that, from experience!

Left the batteries in my MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer for just a short time and will not do that again! What a mess. Some white looking pookie leaked out on, fortunately, one end of the battery tray and did no harm. But if I had left it there for months, I can imagine it would have been a big problem.

[ke9uw]

I've had no issues with Energizers and used them for years. I have had spent button cells leak a little. It always seemed that charged cells were less likely to leak.


Sent from my iPad
Chuck, KE9UW
(Jack for BMW motorcycles)

On Nov 29, 2012, at 11:15 AM, "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Alkaline batteries can leak for various reasons, potentially damaging your radio. (Nothing like caustic potassium hydroxide to ruin your day.) Even if the batteries are new, remove them when you're not actually using them for portable operation. Check their condition periodically.
>
> We saw a case of Alkaline-inflicted damage recently: a radio in which batteries had been left for many months. Not pretty.
>
> Lithium nonrechargeable camera batteries and NiMH batteries *can* be left inside for extended periods, but even these more stable types should still be checked once a month.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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[k6dgw]

I'd modify that to, "Never leave ANY battery inside of your radio or
test equipment." Li-ion's seem to be very stable, I haven't ever heard
of a cell phone or laptop with a leakage problem.  Li-Poly's don't seem
to leak but they do catch fire ... at least once.  Fortunately, I was
out on the deck with my KX1 and the battery was external on a pigtail by
which I picked it up and threw it over the rail onto our gravel
driveway.  Lots of "sparken und fizzen."

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 11/29/2012 11:00 AM, W5RDW wrote:
> I second that, from experience!
>
> Left the batteries in my MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer for just a short time and
> will not do that again! What a mess. Some white looking pookie leaked out
> on, fortunately, one end of the battery tray and did no harm. But if I had
> left it there for months, I can imagine it would have been a big problem.


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[Bob-270]

If you do go and leave alkaline cells in a device hopefully they were a major
brand.  They will stand behind their batteries against leakage. For instance
Duracell will repair or replace an item damaged by their batteries.  Here:

http://www.duracell.com/en-US/battery-care-disposal.jspx

Years ago they made good on a damaged Garmin GPSIII and also damaged flashlights
were replaced with a better one than was sent in. Worth spending a little
premium per cell.

73,
Bob
K2TK      EX KN2TKR (1956) & K2TKR



On 11/29/2012 3:17 PM, hawley, charles j jr wrote:

> I've had no issues with Energizers and used them for years. I have had spent button cells leak a little. It always seemed that charged cells were less likely to leak.
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
> Chuck, KE9UW
> (Jack for BMW motorcycles)
>
> On Nov 29, 2012, at 11:15 AM, "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Alkaline batteries can leak for various reasons, potentially damaging your radio. (Nothing like caustic potassium hydroxide to ruin your day.) Even if the batteries are new, remove them when you're not actually using them for portable operation. Check their condition periodically.
>>
>> We saw a case of Alkaline-inflicted damage recently: a radio in which batteries had been left for many months. Not pretty.
>>
>> Lithium nonrechargeable camera batteries and NiMH batteries *can* be left inside for extended periods, but even these more stable types should still be checked once a month.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>

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[stan levandowski]

Timely post, Roger!  I just went down and checked my MFJ 259B and two of
the cells were leaking white stuff.  No damage was done.   Thanks much!

The cells were the common black-and-gold Duracells.

The MFJ-259B is a tough piece of gear to have "not ready" at all times.
Most of the time it just sits on the bench.  But when you need it, you
need it NOW and it's a PITA to have to find a small Phillips to back out
the two screws and load up the cells.  This is the trap I fell into.
Those batteries have been in there for at least three years ;)

I think I'll locate - or  fabricate-  some thumbscrews (like the KXPD3)
so I can more rapidly remove the access cover and lessen the temptation
to leave cells in there.

73, Stan WB2LQF


On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 2:00 PM, W5RDW wrote:

> I second that, from experience!
>
> Left the batteries in my MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer for just a short
> time and
> will not do that again! What a mess. Some white looking pookie leaked
> out
> on, fortunately, one end of the battery tray and did no harm. But if I
> had
> left it there for months, I can imagine it would have been a big
> problem.
>
>
>
> -----
> Roger W5RDW
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Please-DO-NOT-leave-alkaline-batteries-in-your-KX3-KX1-or-K1-for-any-length-of-time-tp7566438p7566443.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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[W5RDW]

ke9uw wrote

I've had no issues with Energizers and used them for years............
Chuck, KE9UW

These were Energizers that leaked!

I just take them out now and go thru the pain of the install later.

[Don Wilhelm-4]

My MFJ-259B has NiMH batteries, and I set the internal plug to trickle
charge them.
Most of the time, it just sits in its place on the bench, connected to a
12 volt wall-wart to keep them topped up.  No problem after 3 years.  
Yes, the same set of batteries have been used that way.  The capacity of
the batteries may have reduced over time, but they are still sufficient
for my needs (an hour or less in the antenna field).
When those batteries no longer fill that need, I will put in new NiMH, I
have already gotten my money's worth out of them.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/29/2012 5:19 PM, W5RDW wrote:
> ke9uw wrote
>> I've had no issues with Energizers and used them for years............
>> Chuck, KE9UW
> These were Energizers that leaked!
>
> I just take them out now and go thru the pain of the install later.
>
>

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[af9w]

I keep Sanyo Eneloops in my MFJ269.  They have been in there for about 6 months and the unit spends most of its time stored in the cabinet.  I took it out last weekend and it still showed a good charge, was used for about 1/2 hour tuning an antenna, and then put back in the cabinet showing a full charge.  The Eneloops are working fine for me.  


73 de AF9W
Bob Stephens




On Nov 29, 2012, at 2:52 PM, stan levandowski wrote:

> Timely post, Roger!  I just went down and checked my MFJ 259B and two of the cells were leaking white stuff.  No damage was done.   Thanks much!
>
> The cells were the common black-and-gold Duracells.
>
> The MFJ-259B is a tough piece of gear to have "not ready" at all times. Most of the time it just sits on the bench.  But when you need it, you need it NOW and it's a PITA to have to find a small Phillips to back out the two screws and load up the cells.  This is the trap I fell into. Those batteries have been in there for at least three years ;)
>
> I think I'll locate - or  fabricate-  some thumbscrews (like the KXPD3) so I can more rapidly remove the access cover and lessen the temptation to leave cells in there.
>
> 73, Stan WB2LQF
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 2:00 PM, W5RDW wrote:
>
>> I second that, from experience!
>>
>> Left the batteries in my MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer for just a short time and
>> will not do that again! What a mess. Some white looking pookie leaked out
>> on, fortunately, one end of the battery tray and did no harm. But if I had
>> left it there for months, I can imagine it would have been a big problem.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----
>> Roger W5RDW
>> --
>> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Please-DO-NOT-leave-alkaline-batteries-in-your-KX3-KX1-or-K1-for-any-length-of-time-tp7566438p7566443.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
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[ke9uw]

Bummer...were they still charged or not?
I do pull them out if they are mostly discharged or near the end of date.

Chuck, KE9UW
Lionel Trains, TCA, LCCA, LRRC
aka Jack, BMW Motorcycles BMWMOA #224

________________________________________
From: [hidden email] [[hidden email]] on behalf of W5RDW [[hidden email]]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 4:19 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Please DO NOT leave alkaline batteries in your KX3, KX1, or K1 for any length of time

ke9uw wrote
> I've had no issues with Energizers and used them for years............
> Chuck, KE9UW

These were Energizers that leaked!

I just take them out now and go thru the pain of the install later.



-----
Roger W5RDW
--
View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Please-DO-NOT-leave-alkaline-batteries-in-your-KX3-KX1-or-K1-for-any-length-of-time-tp7566438p7566454.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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[DaveL G3TJP]

Another thing to check is the batteries in the remote controllers that
proliferate in homes these days.

 

I've had so many leakages from Energizer batteries that I won't have them in
the house.  They, too, claimed to provide a replacement or refund for any
item damaged by leakage, in the very, very small print.  I tested this and
began to think I'd taken up a new hobby.  They made the claim such hard work
that it made me more and more determined to win.  Each time I received a
payment, it was for less than they had agreed.  It took them 6 attempts to
cough up with the agreed sum.

 

It's sound advice from Wayne. Batteries are just waiting to leak in your
irreplaceable items.

 

Perhaps the KX4 would have a removable, slot-in battery pack Hi!

 

73 Dave G3TJP

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[~BG~]

How about NiMH?

--
Ben
W6MCM
Sent with Sparrow (http://www.sparrowmailapp.com/?sig)


On Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 15:24, Dave Lankshear wrote:

> Another thing to check is the batteries in the remote controllers that
> proliferate in homes these days.
>
>
> I've had so many leakages from Energizer batteries that I won't have them in
> the house. They, too, claimed to provide a replacement or refund for any
> item damaged by leakage, in the very, very small print. I tested this and
> began to think I'd taken up a new hobby. They made the claim such hard work
> that it made me more and more determined to win. Each time I received a
> payment, it was for less than they had agreed. It took them 6 attempts to
> cough up with the agreed sum.
>
>
> It's sound advice from Wayne. Batteries are just waiting to leak in your
> irreplaceable items.
>
>
> Perhaps the KX4 would have a removable, slot-in battery pack Hi!
>
>
> 73 Dave G3TJP
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
>

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[Bill Frantz]

I have the bad habit of leaving batteries in equipment,
sometimes for years. I have developed some skill in removing the
residue and getting the equipment going again, all the time
kicking myself for being stupid.

I have not had leakage problems with rechargeable batteries
including NIMH. I have had problems with button cells and
primary cells (non-rechargeable). YMMV

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

On 11/29/12 at 4:10 PM, [hidden email] (Benjamin Garcia) wrote:

>How about NiMH?
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[Edward R Cole]

I already decided not to install batteries inside my KX3.  But it was
not primarily to avoid damage due to leakage of electrolyte.  Opening
and closing the KX3 seems a little delicate to me.  One has to ensure
the connecting wiring is intact and not being pinched.  I just
decided to use an external sealed acid-gel battery if I need to go
portable.  In the shack or mobile I will simply plug the power cord in.

I do have NiMH batteries inside my MFJ-269B.  I did try using
alkaline batteries but they did not last long enough.  The
rechargeable NIMH have been installed about two years with no
issues.  I charge it using my 3A bench supply (current
regulated).  2-4 hours on 14v does it.  No leakage issues.

Even with warrantees from manufacturers I would not trust alkaline's
for long-term use.

73, Ed - KL7UW

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[Ignacy]

There are counterfeit Energizers and Duracell. I bought some in legitimate store in Australia. Leaked badly.
Ignacy