Tips to Remove Alkaline Battery Contact Corrosion?

[KenO]

Hi,

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.

Thanks

Ken

 

[John-Del]

On Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 1:05:38 PM UTC-5, KenO wrote:

Hi,

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.

Thanks

Ken

The first thing to try when removing battery snot is plain old water. If the plating is gone, you'll either have to replate or replace the contacts for reliable contact.

 

[Reinhard Zwirner]

John-Del schrieb:

On Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 1:05:38 PM UTC-5, KenO wrote:
Hi,

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.

As has been suggested in a previous thread: (concentrated) white vinegar.

HTH

Reinhard

 

[Ian Field]

"KenO" <kenitholson@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:0b5dd2ba-3e16-48b6-8eb3-6fefbf4e4f96@googlegroups.com...

Hi,

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad
alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working
condition.

Thanks

Dry corrosion/residue is best removed mechanically - once its clean enough
for reliable contact, give it a squirt of silicone spray.

Don't try rebuilding contact surfaces with solder, oxidisation makes
unreliable contact - sometimes its possible to graft on a strip of clean
metal - solder it on, but don't get any on the contact surface.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per KenO:

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.

White vinegar applied with a Q-Tip worked for me the one time I had a similar
situation.
--
Pete Cresswell

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/02/17 12:06 PM, Reinhard Zwirner wrote:

John-Del schrieb:
On Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 1:05:38 PM UTC-5, KenO wrote:
Hi,

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.

Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.

As has been suggested in a previous thread: (concentrated) white vinegar.

HTH

Reinhard

Actually the EverReady battery engineer I spoke to back in the late 80s
recommended white vinegar:water with a 50:50 ratio, not pure or
concentrated white vinegar.

A weak acid to neutralize a weak base.

And as Peter W. so correctly pointed out, the common zinc/carbon battery
leaks a mild acid and so you use baking soda (a mild base).

So be sure to identify the type of battery before attempting corrective
measures.

John :-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

 

[Reinhard Zwirner]

John Robertson schrieb:
> On 2018/02/17 12:06 PM, Reinhard Zwirner wrote:

[...]

As has been suggested in a previous thread: (concentrated) white
vinegar.

Actually the EverReady battery engineer I spoke to back in the late
80s recommended white vinegar:water with a 50:50 ratio, not pure or
concentrated white vinegar.

My experience: concentrated white vinegar achieves best results. But
YMMV ...

[...]

So be sure to identify the type of battery before attempting
corrective measures.

FACK!

Best regards

Reinhard

 

[KenO]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!!

Will try to combine any questions.

"...identify the type of battery before attempting corrective
measures" Unfortunately the person I received the electronic device from removed the batteries and does not remember if the batteries were zinc/carbon or alkaline.

Question: Can baking soda if used on the residue left by alkaline batteries cause additional damage?

 

[Terry Schwartz]

Your initial post said alkaline batteries.


On Monday, February 19, 2018 at 9:37:37 AM UTC-6, KenO wrote:

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!!

Will try to combine any questions.

"...identify the type of battery before attempting corrective
measures" Unfortunately the person I received the electronic device from removed the batteries and does not remember if the batteries were zinc/carbon or alkaline.

Question: Can baking soda if used on the residue left by alkaline batteries cause additional damage?

 

[peter wieck]

On Monday, February 19, 2018 at 9:37:37 AM UTC-6, KenO wrote:

> Question: Can baking soda if used on the residue left by alkaline batteries cause additional damage?

For the most part, none of the items suggested here will cause damage, even if not the "ideal" solution. Vinegar at household strength is quite mild and will not cause horrendous damage to much of anything if used judiciously.. Baking Soda is similarly fairly inert. Both have indirect virtues inasmuch as they are effective anti-odorants as well as being reasonably effective germicides and fungicides. The key with using any water-based cleaning methods on electronics is the complete removal of same at the end of the process.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[KenO]

"white vinegar" search

checked the top Google results but did not find any mention to either dilute with water or use full strength.
https://hallmark.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3918/~/how-to-clean-a-battery-compartment-containing-corroded-alkaline-batteries.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-battery-corrosion/
http://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/0004/vinegar-is-your friend/323304

John and Reinhard do you have any references for your recommendations?

 

[KenO]

John-Del,

"The first thing to try when removing battery snot is plain old water. If the plating is gone, you'll either have to replate or replace the contacts for reliable contact"

I hope the plating is OK

Will plain water cause additional damage if the plating is damaged?

Ian,

"Dry corrosion/residue is best removed mechanically - once its clean enough
for reliable contact, give it a squirt of silicone spray"

What do you suggest to mechanically remove the dry residue? It seems to be adherent to the contact surface (not loose and flakey).

 

[Fox's Mercantile]

On 2/19/18 9:37 AM, KenO wrote:

"...identify the type of battery before attempting corrective measures"
Unfortunately the person I received the electronic device from removed
the batteries and does not remember if the batteries were zinc/carbon
or alkaline.

Simple really. Alkaline batteries leave what looks like white fuzzy
crystals. Some times with bluish green tint.

Zinc Carbon batteries leave what looks like rusty brown sludge. That is
also spread about more and not confined to just the terminals.


--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWi
http:foxsmercantile.com

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Sat, 17 Feb 2018 10:05:32 -0800 (PST), KenO <kenitholson@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Inherited an electronics unit that has severe contact corrosion due to bad alkaline batteries.
Appreciate any suggestions how to restore these contacts to working condition.
Thanks
Ken

Replace them with shiny new contacts:
<https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=battery+spring+contact>

If you plan to keep your "electronics unit", consider replacing the
alkaline cells with rechargeable NiMH LSD (low self discharge) cells
such as Eneloop. These types of cells can also leak, but in my
experience much less often.
<https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/ct/low-self-discharge-nimh-batteries.htm>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[KenO]

Terry,

"Your initial post said alkaline batteries" Agree, only when questioned found out unfortunately the person I received the electronic device from does not remember if the batteries were zinc/carbon or alkaline.

 

[KenO]

Jeff,

"Simple really. Alkaline batteries leave what looks like white fuzzy
crystals. Some times with bluish green tint.

Zinc Carbon batteries leave what looks like rusty brown sludge. That is
also spread about more and not confined to just the terminals."

Thanks for the clarification.

closer to 2nd Zinc Carbon

Any way it can attach a color photo? If yes please tell max size (will try to keep as small as possible).

 

[KenO]

Jeff Liebermann,

"consider replacing the alkaline cells with rechargeable NiMH LSD (low self discharge) cells such as Eneloop. These types of cells can also leak, but in my experience much less often." Agree have never had problems with either NiCd or NiMH.

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/02/19 8:08 AM, Fox's Mercantile wrote:

On 2/19/18 9:37 AM, KenO wrote:
"...identify the type of battery before attempting corrective measures"
Unfortunately the person I received the electronic device from removed
the batteries and does not remember if the batteries were zinc/carbon
or alkaline.

Simple really. Alkaline batteries leave what looks like white fuzzy
crystals. Some times with bluish green tint.

Zinc Carbon batteries leave what looks like rusty brown sludge. That is
also spread about more and not confined to just the terminals.

You could test a small portion of the corrosion crystals with a drop of
vinegar - if it fizzes then it is alkaline. For certainly test another
bit with a drop of backing soda dissolved in water, this time it
shouldn't fizz if the vinegar did.

John :-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/02/19 7:52 AM, KenO wrote:

"white vinegar" search

checked the top Google results but did not find any mention to either dilute with water or use full strength.
https://hallmark.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3918/~/how-to-clean-a-battery-compartment-containing-corroded-alkaline-batteries.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-battery-corrosion/
http://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/0004/vinegar-is-your friend/323304

John and Reinhard do you have any references for your recommendations?

I'm afraid my information was in a telephone conversation back in the
early 90s when I was investigating the best way to deal with ni-cad and
other alkaline battery corrosion and called a number of battery
companies (this was prior to the Internet). The advice given has been
tested subsequently on countless pinball and video game MPU boards by
many people and the results are positive. I wrote several articles in
our industry trade magazines to get the word out, and have subsequently
posted on my web site more info.

http://www.flippers.com/battery.html

First posted in 1997:

https://web.archive.org/web/19970412183538/www.flippers.com/battery.htm
(added the 'l' to 'htm' in 1998)

It doesn't always work, the corrosion can be too extensive for
economical repairs, but boards that have been treated as advised have
rarely failed if they worked after cleaning (and corroded IC sockets,
etc. replaced). Boards where traces are missing are normally too far
gone, but have been saved with extensive repairs.

John :-#)#
--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/02/19 9:25 AM, KenO wrote:

Jeff Liebermann,

"consider replacing the alkaline cells with rechargeable NiMH LSD (low self discharge) cells such as Eneloop. These types of cells can also leak, but in my experience much less often." Agree have never had problems with either NiCd or NiMH.

What is the memory device? Some sort of CMOS RAM? Most are available in
NVRAM these days...

John :-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."