When batteries attack

[smorris]

Last evening LOML and I were sitting watching TV when suddenly there were a couple loud POPs and something was ricocheting off the ceiling and walls. I looked around and saw some nicks in the drywall and started to walk around to see what the heck was going on. My first thought was bullets coming through the walls, not likely in my neighborhood but always possible these days
.
I saw a shiny disk on the floor and just as I reached for it there was another POP and an impact on my arm that left a nice clean cut behind.Looking to my right I saw the culprit. I had acquired about 30 #2032 button batteries and just tossed them into a little box on the shelf. Apparently some had shorted against each other and the POPs were the batteries exploding and throwing shrapnel about the room. The remaining batteries are now all nicely rolled into penny wrappers.
So, if you ever wondered if those little button batteries can really explode, the answer is yes and they make quite the mess when they do.

[conwaygolfer]

Thanks for the info - who woulda thought? WOW

[RAFlorida]

Thankfully you nor your wife were injuried badly!

Nor you home suffer more damage than the drywall dinged up. Loml found out about those batteries a couple of years back. She had placed some in a drawer and as in your case, shorted out. Man do they make a racket when exploding! Glad you all are ok, but you sure did learn a very valuable lesson about those little dudes!

[LCHIEN]

those things are not allowed on airliners. They are strictly speaking on the list of hazardous items you cannot ship by air.
yes, they seem to be in a lot of stuff including computers.
and they'll get on airplanes singly. But if you ask them if you can carry them on or or ship them, they will say NO.

[leehljp]

those things are not allowed on airliners. They are strictly speaking on the list of hazardous items you cannot ship by air.
yes, they seem to be in a lot of stuff including computers.
and they'll get on airplanes singly. But if you ask them if you can carry them on or or ship them, they will say NO.

Japan Post refuses to allow the sending of anything with batteries in it. I sent a repaired laptop to my daughter 3 months ago and they refused to let me send it with a battery inside. I asked about a camera, and they said the same.

Apparently manufacturers can and you can receive the items above but not send.

This is some insightful news, although not good for SMorris.

[phrog]

There's got to be a joke in this post somewhere - but I can't seem to find it. Serious question - does this occur only if there are enough batteries to make a loop or "circuit?" Otherwise, how could they short?

[LCHIEN]

Serious question - does this occur only if there are enough batteries to make a loop or "circuit?" Otherwise, how could they short?

yes - loose batteries with uninsulated cases (like the lithium button cells) or other metal or conductive objects.
Although there were the well publicized, documented cases of Lithium battereis for laptops, cell phones etc with internal shorts due to defective manufacturing, that went off in consumers' posessions and started small fires.

[smorris]

This occurred because there were about 30 of the batteries in a small box and the cases could touch each other and through a series of cases touch both ends of the batteries to provide a current path. I should have thought of that when I put them there, I'll chalk that up to getting old.

[Cochese]

Isn't stacking them together decreasing the life?

[smorris]

Isn't stacking them together decreasing the life?

It shouldn't as there is no current path and the chemicals are sealed in the cases...until you short them.