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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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1st Feb 2023, 4:26 pm | #1 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Winterton-on-sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK.
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Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
This old Decca Debutante is rarely used, but when I switched it on today it seemed rather quiet.
So, I checked the batteries... Last edited by Cobaltblue; 1st Feb 2023 at 6:42 pm. Reason: Wow! not an informative title. |
1st Feb 2023, 4:45 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,861
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Re: Wow!
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! |
1st Feb 2023, 6:53 pm | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
I have also had a few do that, some just exploded sat on a shelf!
Regards Lloyd |
1st Feb 2023, 7:31 pm | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK.
Posts: 811
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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Several years ago I bought a couple of cartons of Maplin PP3 Alkaline batteries very cheaply as they were out of date, but they still worked.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. |
1st Feb 2023, 7:41 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
I had a Maplin PP3 of that era blow a hole in the base. It wasn't installed in anything fortunately
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1st Feb 2023, 7:51 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 2,039
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
Is a PP3 the original battery type, or was it a PP4?
Cheers Aub
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1st Feb 2023, 7:59 pm | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,579
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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 |
1st Feb 2023, 8:07 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 1,741
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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! |
2nd Feb 2023, 12:09 am | #9 |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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.
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2nd Feb 2023, 7:26 am | #10 |
Pentode
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Location: Winterton-on-sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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2nd Feb 2023, 10:55 am | #11 |
Nonode
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 2,039
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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
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4th Feb 2023, 2:29 am | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lincolnshire, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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! |
4th Feb 2023, 11:10 am | #13 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2022
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
Quote:
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4th Feb 2023, 4:59 pm | #14 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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.
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4th Feb 2023, 5:28 pm | #15 |
Heptode
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
Puts a new spin on the old HK 'Flying Bombs' eh?
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4th Feb 2023, 6:27 pm | #16 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
Quote:
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. |
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4th Feb 2023, 6:55 pm | #17 |
Banned
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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4th Feb 2023, 7:44 pm | #18 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
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5th Feb 2023, 1:20 am | #19 |
Pentode
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire, UK.
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
I had one let go with a bang loud enough to make me jump, but never had bits stuck in the ceiling yet!
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5th Feb 2023, 10:43 am | #20 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Unusual PP3 Battery failure.
Quote:
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 |
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