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HP Forum Archive 13

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batteries
Message #1 Posted by Robert on 28 Aug 2003, 10:26 a.m.

Hi Guys. What is the best way to clean up the salts from the NiCads? Should special precautions be taken?

I have several NiCads that continue to function with some corrosion/ salts. Should I continue to use these batts?

      
Re: batteries
Message #2 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 28 Aug 2003, 10:47 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Robert

Robert wrote:
> I have several NiCads that continue to function with some
> corrosion/ salts. Should I continue to use these batts?

My advice is to throw them away.

**vp

            
Re: batteries
Message #3 Posted by Nelson M. Sicuro (Brazil) on 28 Aug 2003, 11:39 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Vassilis Prevelakis

I'll agree, throw them away. And to clean the terminals I use 1/2 lemmon juice with one tea spoon of salt (NaCl), this cleans the copper oxide.

Regards,

Nelson

            
Re: batteries
Message #4 Posted by Victor on 28 Aug 2003, 1:14 p.m.,
in response to message #2 by Vassilis Prevelakis

Don't throw them away; recycle them. Since NiCad's contain Cadmium, they are considered toxic waste and can damage the environment. Besides, it is illegal to throw them away.

To find a place where you can recycle them, see http://www.rbrc.org.

      
Re: batteries
Message #5 Posted by unspellable on 28 Aug 2003, 11:15 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Robert

The compounds from a Ni-Cad are generally water soluble. In areas where it's safe to use water, just use warm water. On plastics I wouldn't use water any warmer than I could put my finger in.

If you are getting into the elecgtronics it's dicier. It's possible to wash with water but requires careful rinsing and drying techniques and runs the risk of the water carrying salts to areas further away where you don't want them if you haven't controlled the washing and rinsing well enough.

PS. If you must use a leaking Ni-Cad, get a 99 cent flaslight to use it in.

Edited: 28 Aug 2003, 11:16 a.m.

      
Re: batteries
Message #6 Posted by Tony Duell (UK) on 28 Aug 2003, 4:20 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Robert

The electrolyte in NiCd cells is alkaline (it used to be potassium hydroxide IIRC, no idea what it is now). So you want a (chemically) weak acid to clean it up. I normally use a dilute solution of citric acid, which seems to clean battery contacts, cases, etc with no further damage.

            
Re: batteries
Message #7 Posted by David Smith on 28 Aug 2003, 4:39 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by Tony Duell (UK)

One usually winds up with mostly potassium carbonate as the offending white powder. Cleans up well with vinegar, water, or isopropyl alcohol.

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