Thread: Extend the life of your Batteries

Originally Posted by artme

Several times I have had batteries in small devices - like my computer mouse - go flat and have had no replacements
so I put the batteries in a container , boil the jug and pour the water over the batteries.

I usually leave the batteries there for 7 or 8 minutes, or longer if I forget! Bingo! away they go fro anything up to several weeks!

This tip has been around for a while. What happens is there is still a heap of juice left in flat batteries but it cannot get out because there is a layer or coating of "stuff" (note use of high level technical term) around one of the electrodes inside the battery. Heating the battery may partially break up that layer and allow the electrochemical reaction to resume for at least a while. As well as boiling water the other way was on the lowest setting in an oven but boiling water is probably safer. BTW makes sure the batteries a dry before replacing

The success rate depends on the type of battery how flat they batteries are, how much power the device draws, and the length of grannies nose. There's some evidence that any form of heating stresses the battery casing and may result in greater than usual battery leaks and subsequent corrosion of terminals and device guts which every body just loves . I've done that a few times when caught short but otherwise I don't reckon it's worth the risk of leakage.

Note NOT recommended for Lithium batteries.

I'm guilty of giving them a few licks of flame to get another 5 minutes. If you've got the patience, leave them on the dash in the sun for a while and you can say it's solar power.

What you say is true Bob and I only use this as a stop gap measure. I need to get some new batteries today.