de-crudding an AA battery container

sarabande

sarabande

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A small (8x1.2v) AA NicAD has been neglected by me, and I now want to replace the dead battery pack and refurb the box.

Q1. What's the best way to clean off the corrosion, and to prevent future gunge ? Pic1.

Q2. Where can I buy a set of NiCads or newer types, ready tagged ? I have tried Farnell, and a number of ebay firms, but no-one seems to have a ready-made configuration as in Pic2.


Soldering is to me like ballet dancing - best done by other skilled people :o - so building my own 4x2 set is not an option.


TIA
 
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IIRC you should wash off the battery holder in a soda solution to neutralise the acid. It's likely that the metal surfaces will have been damaged by the acid, but it may be possible to scrape back to a solid surface, albeit pitted and protect it with some vaseline. On the other hand, you may have problems with bad connections due to the less than perfect surface.

I suggest that you chat to all your friends and find a good solderer to make up a new pack for you - NiCads seem to be largely unavailable nowadays and the once readily sourced packs like this are rare.

Rob.
 
Wash with water and whatever detergents work, followed by a de-ionised water rinse. To protect against future corrosion use Contralube 770, note that silicone grease and Vaseline are insulators, so not a good idea on terminals.

Measure the cells carefully, and get some NiMh cells in the same size, or ones that will fit. Farnell or RS should have them. Also buy some heat shrink to fit.

Then ask nicely on the forum ...
 
rob2 said:
IIRC you should wash off the battery holder in a soda solution to neutralise the acid. It's likely that the metal surfaces will have been damaged by the acid, but it may be possible to scrape back to a solid surface, albeit pitted and protect it with some vaseline. On the other hand, you may have problems with bad connections due to the less than perfect surface.

I suggest that you chat to all your friends and find a good solderer to make up a new pack for you - NiCads seem to be largely unavailable nowadays and the once readily sourced packs like this are rare.

Rob.
Click to expand...

The electrolyte is KOH


So wash with a dilute solution of some readily available weak acid from the kitchen larder ( eg ethanoic acid or 2-hydroxy propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid) then rinse.
 
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I use fine sandpaper to get get the corrosion off and a shiny finish. It stays shiny until a battery leaks. Having done that a number of times I now take the batteries out if I'm not going to use the kit for a month.
 
Batteries

Just to confirm NiMH batteries are the more modern replacement for NiCad same voltage etc but more capacity and better shelf life with less memory effect.
You should be able to find some AA with lugs. If not use a large soldering iron and solder wires on quickly.
good luck olewill
 
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