· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Equipment Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Adam Taylor insignificant bystander Reged: 11/11/10 Loc: Arizona Alkalines stored with optics?       #5556113 - 12/05/12 06:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Is storing alkalines, for example a couple AAA batteries, a concern if stored in the same equipment case with coated optics, for example a finderscope and dielectric diagonal? Post Extras:       TxStars Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/01/05 Loc: Lost In Space Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Adam Taylor]       #5556886 - 12/06/12 04:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   To be safe no battery should be stored with your optics. Post Extras:       Adam Taylor insignificant bystander Reged: 11/11/10 Loc: Arizona Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: TxStars]       #5557174 - 12/06/12 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks! Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Adam Taylor]       #5557213 - 12/06/12 10:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've had way too many batteries leak lately to want to store them with anything valuable. Definitely not with eyepieces. -Dan Post Extras:       Adam Taylor insignificant bystander Reged: 11/11/10 Loc: Arizona Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5557542 - 12/06/12 01:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The reason I ask is because I wanted the convenience of keeping batteries in my GLP finder, and keeping it in the same case as my optical finder and diagonal. I'll just keep the batteries in a 35mm film canister in the case with my mount instead. Safety over convenience. Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Adam Taylor]       #5558755 - 12/07/12 07:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ah - that's different. If the batteries in your GLP were to leak, the damage would be limited to inside the GLP battery compartment. It would be very unlikely that it would affect anything outside of it. I thought you were referring to storing bare batteries. -Dan Post Extras:       TxStars Pooh-Bah Reged: 10/01/05 Loc: Lost In Space Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5560312 - 12/08/12 01:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   When batteries leak they outgas. This is very bad for optics and can be bad for metal parts. Post Extras:       moynihan Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/22/03 Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: TxStars]       #5560525 - 12/08/12 08:40 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A numbe of years ago, i had stored a small device with 2 aa's next to a 9mm Nagler (original version). The batteries had split at the seams and ate though a thin plastic cover. Whitened the syepiece's eye lense, and ate into the metal around it. I was not amused. I should add the batteries were top brand, not cheapies. Edited by moynihan (12/08/12 08:41 AM) Post Extras:       moynihan Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/22/03 Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: TxStars]       #5560527 - 12/08/12 08:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A numbe of years ago, i had stored a small device with 2 aa's next to a 9mm Nagler (original version). The batteries had split at the seams and ate though a thin plastic cover. Whitened the syepiece's eye lense, and ate into the metal around it. I was not amused. Post Extras:       richsvt sage Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: North Shore of Boston Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Adam Taylor]       #5560539 - 12/08/12 09:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have actually stopped using alkalines. They are prone to leak. It is not a matter of if but of when. I have switched to lithiums as primaries and also use NiMH (eneloops) as re-chargeables that save me lots of money. These two types are great in that there are very few cases of leakage. Keeping your batteries in a separate case is a great idea to isolate them in case something happens. Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: richsvt]       #5560731 - 12/08/12 11:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Batteries will not leak if they have a charge in them. The only time they will leak, is when they are completely discharged. You can leave charged batteries inside equipment ... for many, many months ... unattended, without the fear of leaks developing. When batteries become weak *** don't wait *** ... replace them with new ones ... and you'll never have any problems with leaking. Post Extras:       richsvt sage Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: North Shore of Boston Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: *skyguy*]       #5560805 - 12/08/12 12:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Given that there may be a parasitic drain coming from the device they are used in, one can never really tell how far the battery is drained. The chance that the battery is close to being completely discharge may be closer than one would think. My point was not only leaking of acids from the battery but also of outgassing. I know that NiMH do not outgass and can be stored in a variety of temperatures that would kill normal alkalines. I have had too many devices destroyed by alkalines to chance it. To date, I have never experienced any issues with either lithiums or NiMH batteries. Been using them for years now. Post Extras:       GeneT Ely Kid Reged: 11/07/08 Loc: South Texas Re: Alkalines stored with optics? [Re: Adam Taylor]       #5561220 - 12/08/12 05:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   When presented a situation like this, I always ask myself what if--what if the batteries leaked, what if a freak storm came up the night I was thinking of leaving my telescope set up all night, and so on. I have had the two above examples happen to me. As they say, you live and learn. 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