Unusual PP3 Battery failure.

[ted_ntsx]

This old Decca Debutante is rarely used, but when I switched it on today it seemed rather quiet.
So, I checked the batteries...

[Nickthedentist]

That's not unusual for today's PP3s.

I put some (Procell) out for the bin men on recycling day, and two exploded spontaneously overnight!

[Lloyd 1985]

I have also had a few do that, some just exploded sat on a shelf!

Regards
Lloyd

[hamid_1]

This has happened to me, too.

Several years ago I bought a couple of cartons of Maplin PP3 Alkaline batteries very cheaply as they were out of date, but they still worked. Several of them have since burst open in exactly the same way. Luckily no equipment was damaged.

[emeritus]

I had a Maplin PP3 of that era blow a hole in the base. It wasn't installed in anything fortunately

[Aub]

Is a PP3 the original battery type, or was it a PP4?

Cheers

Aub

[Philips210]

It's quite worrying to see this happen and could easily cause injury including eye damage. I suppose an internal short circuit is occuring leading to rupture of the case.
It makes you wonder if these batteries have undergone thorough safety testing, I very much doubt it.

I assume this type of failure on PP3s is confined to alkalines as opposed to zinc chloride types.

What makes of PP3 have failed in this manner?

Regards,
Symon

[agardiner]

I have also had this, also with a Maplin branded battery. Very interesting. Never seen it with any other make, and I have seen a lot of PP3's!

Very slightly off topic; Some years ago I tested far too many batteries (AA cells) for a consumer programme, in order check cheap batteries against the big brands. Maplin cells didn't even make it past the first round, as they were very inconsistent. I remember that in a couple of packs of their AA batteries, one of the cells was completely flat!

[locknut]

I've had quite a few dead Procell/Duracell PP3s disembowel themselves, usually out of the bottom end.

Stick to Varta now, they don't seem to be any problem.

[ted_ntsx]

Originally Posted by Aub

Is a PP3 the original battery type, or was it a PP4?

Cheers

Aub

It was originally a larger battery. Might well have been a PP4.

[Aub]

Ok thanks. I asked because that radio resembles a Decca my parents had about 1960/61. The tuning dial and the speaker grill looked the same as on yours, but it was bigger, with a strap handle across the top. It used a PP4 or maybe two of them. Anyway a bit off topic, I know, but bought back memories.

Cheers

Aub

[Techman]

It's certainly not unusual!

I've had it happen on a number of occasions, the last time being a year or two back when I heard a bang, or perhaps I should say a rather a loud crack in living room of the house. I looked all round, even looked outside, but couldn't see or find anything. It was only later that day that I went to use the DMM that I'd left on the living room table earlier that day and found that it wouldn't work...yes, you've guessed it, the PP3 had exploded inside the meter, so that solved the mystery of what the 'crack' noise was that I'd heard earlier on that day.

While at work a few years ago I removed a PP3 from a piece of kit and as I watched it I could see it starting to go, so I quickly stood it on a table and moved out of its way moments before it blew its innards out, some of which went with such force that they imbedded themselves in one of the tiles of the suspended ceiling above where it was. It was so shocking that I thought it worthy of a photo of the ceiling at the time, which I've just found again and is shown below.

These batteries are dangerous and could certainly take your eye out if you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's always been those Procell branded types, some going off in the box in the cupboard while still well in date - never had an issue with the Poundland Kodak brand - yet!

[locknut]

Originally Posted by Techman

These batteries are dangerous and could certainly take your eye out if you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's always been those Procell branded types, some going off in the box in the cupboard while still well in date - never had an issue with the Poundland Kodak brand - yet!

Agree, and these Procell/Duracell are, without doubt, the worst alkalines out there for leaking when expired.

[Katar83]

I've been using lloytron pp3 rechargeable batteries for at least 10 years in everything that needs one and never had an issue with them, they still work to this day and I don't think I even had to replace one, that said, if space is not an issue, I'd probably use a different battery now, with higher capacity.

[Tractionist]

Puts a new spin on the old HK 'Flying Bombs' eh?

[Techman]

Originally Posted by Katar83

I've been using lloytron pp3 rechargeable batteries for at least 10 years in everything that needs one and never had an issue with them, they still work to this day and I don't think I even had to replace one, that said, if space is not an issue, I'd probably use a different battery now, with higher capacity.

Let's be clear, it's NOT rechargeable batteries that we're talking about here, it's "Alkaline" non-rechargeable types only!

I've got "rechargeable" PP3 batteries that could well be getting on for 30 years old now and never had a problem with any of them other than some are starting to struggle taking a charge and those that are still functioning don't hold a charge for anywhere near as long as they once did, but no explosions or leakage with any of them as yet.

[DrStrangelove]

Originally Posted by locknut

Agree, and these Procell/Duracell are, without doubt, the worst alkalines out there for leaking when expired.

And it's even better when a brand new box of 10 of the blasted things are all halfway to flat with years left on the expiry date.

[Philips210]

Originally Posted by Tractionist

Puts a new spin on the old HK 'Flying Bombs' eh?

Hilarious

Seriously though, the manufacturer ought to know about these dangerous failures. I dread to think what might happen if I happened to carrying one of those PP3s in my trouser pocket!

Regards,
Symon

[locknut]

I had one let go with a bang loud enough to make me jump, but never had bits stuck in the ceiling yet!

[mark pirate]

these Procell/Duracell are, without doubt, the worst alkalines out there for leaking when expired.

I have had Duracell batteries leak well before the use by date, I have just replaced one in a clock that had leaked badly from the negative end, the expiry date was April 2027.

I have had Daewoo PP3 batteries last well in excess of the expiry date with no signs of leakage, but have had a Duracell PP3 leak white fungus from the top in my Fluke DMM, the expiry date was still over two years away....


Mark