Brand new battery, -0.335 volts. Huh?

Berserker · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:09

Can someone please explain to me how a brand new battery (Energizer D Cell) can read minus 0.335 volts.

As you can probably guess, I found out when it didn't work, and got out the voltmeter to find out why.

The other battery in the same pack was also a dud - reading a more sensible but still broken 0.844 volts.

Two words - How? and Why? :confused:

PS - The voltmeter is fine. Six other new D cells all read 1.612-1.617v

2StepSteve · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:10

Strange...

Have you got the probes the correct way around?

Berserker · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:27

Er, yes. Otherwise the other six batteries would have read -1.6v.

I did have the same initial thought though.

Dabbles · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:28

Faulty batch of batteries?

2StepSteve · 2 Mar 2011 at 18:32

Berserker said:
Er, yes. Otherwise the other six batteries would have read -1.6v.

I did have the same initial thought though.

Hehe just the first thing that popped in my head

Aod · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:28

Do the dud batteries have the same batch-code as the working ones?

do the two faulty ones have the same batch code?

how old are they?

it's worth writing a letter to Energizer who will likely ask you to send them the batteries and will probably send you some nice fresh ones in return for not tarnishing the reputation of their famous brand

to answer the "how", it's probably a manufacturing defect leading to the electrolyte-cathode-anode structure inside being a bit squiffy. i don't recommend you open it to find out

GreatAuk · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:52

Aod said:
to answer the "how", it's probably a manufacturing defect leading to the electrolyte-cathode-anode structure inside being a bit squiffy. i recommend you open it to find out

My thoughts exactly.

(fixed

)

Schnippzle · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:55

Aod said:
i do recommend you open it to find out

And lick it

Berserker · 2 Mar 2011 at 20:13

No thanks. I don't think there's any AAAA batteries inside to hack.

Good idea on contacting Energiser though. That sounds like a plan to me.

Edit - looks like I made a **** up somewhere. Looked for the batch code on the batteries only to discover they were much older than I thought. No idea how that happened as they came from a sealed pack in the 'new' box. Binned and case closed.

mattyprice4004 · 2 Mar 2011 at 20:40

Energizer? I'd be massively disappointed, and not buy an Energizer battery again. If fact, I wouldn't recommend anyone reading this buys an Energizer product.

Energizer clearly need to improve their quality control. Poor show Energizer.

Wonder if this will appear in Google with all the previous mentions in the thread?

Aod · 2 Mar 2011 at 20:41

Berserker said:
No thanks. I don't think there's any AAAA batteries inside to hack.

Good idea on contacting Energiser though. That sounds like a plan to me.

Edit - looks like I made a **** up somewhere. Looked for the batch code on the batteries only to discover they were much older than I thought. No idea how that happened as they came from a sealed pack in the 'new' box. Binned and case closed.

Hehe, no worries, happens to all of us occasionally.

Berserker · 2 Mar 2011 at 21:48

It was still within date. Dated 2012. It's obviously a sign and we are indeed, like those batteries, all dooomed! :eek:

Looks like the last battery I replaced I opened one of the new packs instead of the old one. Just as well given the old ones were dead.

Aod · 2 Mar 2011 at 21:55

Berserker said:
It was still within date. Dated 2012. It's obviously a sign and we are indeed, like those batteries, all dooomed!

Looks like the last battery I replaced I opened one of the new packs instead of the old one. Just as well given the old ones were dead.

if it's still in date then send it to energiser anyway.

At any rate it, shouldn't be producing a negative voltage - that's just freaky.

Its_Me · 2 Mar 2011 at 23:03

Berserker said:
................ Binned and case closed.

I hope you didn't just bin them and actually disposed of them in the correct manner !

ThePirateHulk · 3 Mar 2011 at 05:45

Its_Me said:
I hope you didn't just bin them and actually disposed of them in the correct manner !

Standard Alkaline batteries are fine to throw in the bin. It's rechargable lithium ans zinc batteries that should be recycled.

norm · 3 Mar 2011 at 06:25

ThePirateHulk said:
Standard Alkaline batteries are fine to throw in the bin. It's rechargable lithium ans zinc batteries that should be recycled.

You should also recycle the standard alkaline ones for the steel casings.

Megahurtz400 · 3 Mar 2011 at 06:56

I force feed my used batteries to swans.

Recycling is gay.

Its_Me · 3 Mar 2011 at 08:35

No Battery is 'safe' to throw in a bin

Its_Me · 3 Mar 2011 at 08:36

Megahurtz400 said:
.................

Recycling is gay.

PhillyDee · 3 Mar 2011 at 08:38

Its_Me said:
No Battery is 'safe' to throw in a bin

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

DISPOSING OF GENERAL PURPOSE & ALKALINE BATTERIES

Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. Never dispose of batteries in fire because they could explode.

Due to concerns about mercury in the municipal solid waste stream, we have voluntarily eliminated all of the added mercury from our alkaline batteries since 1993, while maintaining the performance you demand. Our alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals—steel, zinc, and manganese—and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal.

It is important not to dispose of large amounts of alkaline batteries in a group. Used batteries are often not completely "dead." Grouping used batteries together can bring these "live" batteries into contact with one another, creating safety risks.

Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. Some communities offer recycling or collection of alkaline batteries—contact your local government for disposal practices in your area.

According to Duracell, they can be hoyed in the bin.

I do recycle all mine though. I stick them all in the battery bin at the local recycling depot.