May have discovered a fix for "dropped" auto batteries

[georgehower]

So a few weeks ago I bought an XL auto battery (13 sec cutoff) and after a day or so I accidentally dropped it. Yes, the dreaded dropping problem. I was devastated because I absolutely loved that damn thing! It's a fantastic battery and I refused to let it die so soon.

So, I put it aside and figured maybe I'd tinker with it later on. Well, tonight I decided to think about the problem rationally. I thought to myself "what would cause the battery to stop working after it falls to the ground"? Perhaps it is a switch problem? Sure enough, I tried blowing into the battery (instead of sucking) to see if the switch simply got jarred and was in the "off" position. I tried sucking in again and the light came on, just like usual!

The battery is charging now and I will report back after it finishes.

I'm excited though! What an easy fix!

Has anyone else tried this before?

 

[Taryn]

Not sure if it's been tried for dropped batteries but it does help with sticky auto batteries! Glad you could save yours!

 

[Cody M]

I've dropped my auto batts a few times (oops! lol), but haven't had anything bad happen so far. But it's good to know that there's a possible fix if anything does happen .

 

[Guineahill]

I tried it on my one dropped and killed battery. Didn't work for mine, but I'm thrilled that it worked on yours!

 

[resist]

I have not dropped one yet, but I did take a drag and when I let up it just stayed lit and kept sizzling. I thumped it real hard and it stopped. It felt like I thumped a marble.

 

[zdaddyl]

I've dropped a couple, but haven't had any die from it ...yet.

 

[LibertyRevolution]

hmm, i dropped my autobatt on the concrete floor at work twice now, thing works fine. didnt even think that would mess with it till i read this.

 

[Adrenalynn]

The diaphram gets tweaked out of alignment. The design is kinda funky in that it will most likely fail closed instead of opened.

>> it just stayed lit and kept sizzling.

But not for more than 13 seconds when the auto-shutoff kicks in.

I actually did get out the Dremel and opened-up a failed vacuum switch to reverse engineer it yesterday.

 

[jdg]

I had read elsewhere on the forum that whacking the battery against a tabletop is a good way to unstick sticky switches. I've had some good luck with it, but I see now that violence may not always be the best option. My life has changed.

 

[georgehower]

Well, it definitely charged and it works now...kinda.

When I hit it I have to do a pre-blow into the battery then suck-in to activate it. The battery will stay "on" for the duration of 13-sec cut-off.

I'm happy it at least works now, though not ideal.

I do wish the auto batteries were more durable. This battery dropped maybe a foot, from my hand and onto thin carpet. It's really lame that it affected it so badly.

 

[Iris]

One of my shorties dropped out of my purse to the parking lot the other day and it's fine. Buying a new batt isn't as expensive as a new cell phone, anyway

 

[Southern-Vapor]

Have insurance on the cell phones, but I better pick up a few spare batteries...cuz I know, eventually I'm gonna drop one

 

[bornagainst]

One of my shorties just fell victim to the DROP.

It wasn't a good day.

 

[Guineahill]

bornagainst! I'm so sorry. It is a sad day....

:-(

 

[leaford]

Lanyards, people! Leaford Lanyards!

 

[FreeGT]

Lanyards, people! Leaford Lanyards!

I agree whole heartedly! I am so accustomed to using a lanyard, and let it drop against my chest when done. Yesterday after a long session with my XL manual, I almost let the lanyard swing back against my chest....but I wasnt using a lanyard! lol

As far as the auto batteries go I would advise "whacking them against something hard." This could break the battery's wiring, circuit, or solder joints. The battery is very close to the casing wall, allowing the battery to absorb ALOT of physical shock.

If an auto gets stuck, remove the carto, and try to gently blow into the battery. If that doesn't work, gently push something soft and very blunt into the center hole in the battery. I would not advise this if you have not taken a battery apart, as the membrane is not recessed very far and is very thin! This is how I fixed an auto that got stuck on me. This membrane can tear VERY easily.

 

[RiskyBusiness]

Yes, blow into the battery while the cart is still attached... at first, I tried it without a cart. Boy was that hard. So I put the cart back on, and it works! It unstuck my sticky trigger... thanks!!!

 

[FreeGT]

Yes, blow into the battery while the cart is still attached... at first, I tried it without a cart. Boy was that hard. So I put the cart back on, and it works! It unstuck my sticky trigger... thanks!!!

If you do that on an auto, your going to blow juice down into your battery! That is not good!

 

[Adrenalynn]

Maybe they'll believe you more than me, FreeGT!

 

[Adrenalynn]

Yes, blow into the battery while the cart is still attached... at first, I tried it without a cart. Boy was that hard.

[Le-Sigh]

Of course it was easier to blow into a cart. The cart has air holes. That air was routed out the sides of the cartridge, with very little getting into the battery.

The point isn't to inflate the battery or anything. The point is to put inverse pressure on the switch. Blowing into the cart will insert more juice into the battery making sure it freezes up even tighter in a few days when that dries, making rescue even harder/less likely to succeed.