1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve Camray. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you get in touch with technology? With 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: tech Stuff from how stuff works dot com. Hello again, everyone, 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: Welcome to tech Stuff. My name is Chris Poulette. I 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: am an editor here at how stuff works dot Com. 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Sitting across from me as always his senior writer, Jonathan Strickland. 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: The quickest way to end a miracle is to ask 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: why it is or what it wants. Okay, that one's 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: a mystery to me too. I'll tell you what the 10 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: source was at the end. Okay, after we've finished recording. 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,639 Speaker 1: Doesn't really give much of a challenge if I tell 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: everybody what it came from. Uh, so we're gonna You 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: might remember that from several episodes ago we talked about batteries. Yeah, yeah, 14 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: and it's it's funny because, um what, what the listeners 15 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: don't know is that beforehand, when we started comparing, uh 16 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: just doing a quick comparison notes on what we were 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: going to talk about, we realized that it was probable 18 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: that we were going to go over and as it 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: turns out, we had plenty for that and more left over. 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: So here we are on batteries Part two. Mainly we're 21 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: going to talk about rechargeable batteries and the issues around 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: recharging batteries and some of the some of the other 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: stories that are related to that, for example, batteries exploding. Yes, 24 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: we'll get into that. So rechargeable batteries are a special 25 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: kind of battery. Not all batteries are rechargeable. Well, that's true, 26 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: and it isn't. That's the that's the funny thing about 27 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: about the batteries. When I was doing some research on 28 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: exploding batteries, um, I was reading about the thing that 29 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: you're not supposed to do with alkaline batteries, which is 30 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: to put them in a battery charger. The thing is 31 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: about alkaline batteries. They can be recharged, but they're not 32 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: designed to be and putting them in a charger will 33 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: cause the cause them to start charging, and it will 34 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: cause them to explode because they're not that's not the 35 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: way they work. But it can happen. I mean, it's 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: not the The rechargeable batteries, the ones that are marketed 37 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: is rechargeable, are designed to be rechargeable, and therefore you 38 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: can put them in a rechargeable right, So in case 39 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: you don't remember. The way a battery works is that 40 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: there's a chemical reaction that generates electrons. The electrons travel 41 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: through a circuit and then back to the battery because 42 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: because there's a negative terminal and a positive terminal. Negative 43 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: terminals where the electrons are coming through. Positive terminal is 44 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: where the electrons are attracted to and re enter the battery. 45 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: And eventually you use up all the chemicals that are 46 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: inside the battery and it becomes inert it's used up 47 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: and dead. Yes, in a regular battery, that's the way 48 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: it works. Now with rechargeable batteries, what you do is 49 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: you reverse the flow of electrons. You create a more 50 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: powerful flow of electrons that will go back the way 51 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: the electrons usually come. So you're reversing the entire process, 52 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: and through that reversal, you begin to reverse the chemical 53 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: reactions that took place inside the battery and it goes 54 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 1: back to its pre discharged state. Yes, well, that took 55 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: took way less time than I thought it would. Um 56 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: so ever, lunch, Well, that's a um a simplification of 57 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: the process. Of course, it all depends on the type 58 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: of battery. There are many different types of chargeable batteries, 59 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: some of the most popular being lead acid, UH, nickel 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: metal hydride nickel m I on. But you mentioned lead 61 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: acid before we go a bunch further, I did want 62 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: to mention that is technically the first rechargeable battery, is it. 63 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: It was discovered in eighteen fifty nine. There was a 64 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: French physicist, Gaston Plant and Gaston he was as smart 65 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: fellow and um, yes, he didn't discover it. He opened 66 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: the door one day and said, what is this thing? 67 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: Someone just left this thing laying or hey, that's a 68 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: lead acid battery. He actually discovered the whole process of 69 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: you know, using created a lead acid battery and discovered 70 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: that by reversing the flow of all atron's by forcing 71 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: electrons back through, you would essentially reverse the chemical reaction. UM. 72 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: Lead acid batteries, of course are very important. They're used 73 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: and almost well, they're used in all gas powered vehicles, right. 74 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: That's the that's the battery that your gas powered vehicle 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: uses to draw power for things like the headlights and 76 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,239 Speaker 1: the radio as well as other stuff. And the interesting 77 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: thing about the lead acid battery in your car is 78 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: that your car actually recharges the lead acid battery. That's 79 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: the way it's supposed to work. Yeah, not always right, 80 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: in a properly working vehicle, your car is recharging the 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: lead acid battery, and I conclude the batteries part of 82 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: the vehicle in that case. Yeah, what happens is you 83 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: have a there's a device inside your engine called the 84 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: alternator inside inside lots of engines. I had my very 85 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: first car had a generator in it, just slightly an alternator, right, 86 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: And and also if your alternator goes out, that's awful. Yes, 87 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: as my wife discovered on one evening, Yeah, that was 88 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,559 Speaker 1: not good. That's a highway in in the Atlanta area, 89 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: better known as the Perimeter. The Perimeter is also known 90 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: as the Raceway in the Atlanta area where if you're 91 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: not going eighty five miles you better be dead. So anyway, 92 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: the alternator recharges the battery as you drive. So that's 93 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: why your car battery will last a pretty long time. Now, typically, 94 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: if you were to use a lead acid battery and 95 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: you weren't recharging it, it would not last that long, 96 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: Like the energy would give out much more quickly than 97 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: it usually does. But it is getting constantly little amounts 98 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 1: of recharge every time you're driving it, so um. Uh. 99 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: That's again, that was the first rechargeable battery that was 100 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: discovered to be you know that it was the first 101 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: time anyone discovered that you could reverse that chemical reaction. Um. 102 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: Since then, of course, we have discovered that other materials 103 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: also work really well in this uh this format, including 104 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: the nickel cadmium and the lithium ion and batteries like that. Yeah. 105 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: They're one of the things that's interesting about rechargeable batteries 106 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: is that different rechargeable battery types are useful for different applications. Um. 107 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: That's why you'll still see lead acid batteries used in cars, 108 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: and you still see uh, nickel cadmium and nickel metal 109 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: hydride batteries used in all kinds of things that you 110 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: put double a, triple a, nine volts, etcetera. Uh in 111 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: a little portable devices usually right right. And you see 112 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: lithium ion batteries in electronics such as computers and portable 113 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: music players and the like. The different the different properties 114 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: of the batteries themselves make them appropriate to use in 115 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: those different uh, different applications, right, Because depending on the 116 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 1: materials you're using for your battery, that's what's going to 117 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: determine the the actual voltage and current that's going to 118 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: come from that battery. So you know, some materials are 119 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: not going to be useful for certain applications because it's 120 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: going to require more electricity than that battery can generate 121 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: unless you were to make an enormous series of batteries, 122 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: and at that point you're you're sacrificing so much in 123 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: terms of weight in order to get electricity that it's wasteful. 124 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: That was one of the big complaints that I remember 125 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: and the nineties about the idea of electric cars. They 126 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: were using lead acid batteries and as most people know, 127 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: lead is extremely heavy. Um, you know, a pound of 128 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: lead being equal to the weight of a pound of feathers. 129 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: But nonetheless, you just blew my mind. Yeah, none. Nonetheless 130 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: is anyone who has changed their car battery knows, um, 131 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: other than to wear gloves while you're doing it and 132 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: avoid charging it when you don't have any eye protection 133 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: on and you're standing right over it. Um. They are 134 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: extremely heavy because of of the lad inside, and that 135 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: made a lot of the electric cars in the rather 136 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: impractical because just the sheer weight of the amount of 137 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: batteries needed to power a vehicle was made. It just 138 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: really um, not practical at all. Yeah. UM. It wasn't 139 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: until we discovered other materials that had better energy density 140 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: than uh than the lead acid that that electric cars 141 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: started to become h less of a of an obstacle 142 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: that they used to be. Uh. Lithium ion certainly excels 143 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: at that, right. Lithium ion has a very strong energy density. UM. 144 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: It can generate quite a bit of electricity. And so 145 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: you know, your relative to the size of another battery 146 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: made out of a different material, lithium ion is uh 147 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: is generates more energy essentially or more electricity, I guess 148 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: I should say specifically. Now we were about to talk 149 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: also about the exploding batteries. I think this kind of 150 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: leads into it because people may have heard about lithium 151 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: ion on batteries and having overheating issues and um, even 152 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: batteries that have burst into flames or or exploded. However, 153 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,599 Speaker 1: you want to determine that, um. First of all, a 154 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: lot of different batteries have the potential to burst into 155 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: flame or explode because some of the materials inside lots 156 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: of batteries happens to be flammable. I think it's safe 157 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: to say it's a it's a good idea to treat 158 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: the contents of batteries as hazardous. Some of them are caustic, 159 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: some of them are are non toxic. But unless you 160 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: happen to be intimately familiar with what's inside the can, 161 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: it's better to treat it as something that will harm 162 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: your skin. Uh is something you don't want to get 163 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: in your eyes or nose or mouth. Um, you know, 164 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: handle with care gloves and perhaps a pair of safety goggles, 165 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:49,719 Speaker 1: and you don't know exactly what it is that you're 166 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: dealing and you don't want to be puncturing these things 167 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: or anything like that. Don't throw batteries in the fire, right, Yeah, 168 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: they there are chemicals in there that could be dangerous 169 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: under different circumstances. Now, with lithium ion, that happens to 170 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: be lithium, which is quite flammable as it turns out, 171 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: And um, it's not just that the lithium is flammable. 172 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: There are a couple of elements at play. One is 173 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: that I didn't mean it that way, but anyway. One 174 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 1: of them is that Uh. In the manufacturing process of 175 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: creating a lithium ion battery, one of the byproducts within 176 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: the battery are these tiny little metal particles. And depending 177 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,119 Speaker 1: upon how exacting the procedure is for the manufacturing process. 178 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: So this really depends on the manufacturer, you know, how 179 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: how careful they are, you may have more or fewer 180 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: of those metal particles. A fewer would be better. UM, 181 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: because what happens is as you charge the battery, or 182 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: even as you use it, it starts to generate heat. 183 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: It's one of the by products of this whole process. 184 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: It's not just the chemical reaction. Doesn't just generate electricity, 185 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: also generates heat. UM. As that heat is generated, the 186 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: metal metal particles start to move around inside the lithium 187 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,839 Speaker 1: ion batteries. Well there's um. There's a separator inside the 188 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: lithium ion batteries. If you remember in our previous batteries podcast, 189 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: we talked about the anode and the cathode, and you 190 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: have to have a separator between the two or else 191 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: the electrons will just travel directly between the two instead 192 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: of going through the circuit that you've plugged the battery into. 193 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: So these little metal particles can sometimes puncture that separator 194 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: and that creates a short circuit. So now the electrons 195 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: can flow freely inside the battery instead of going through 196 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: the circuitry like it's supposed to. And this will cause 197 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: batteries to heat up much more quickly because you know, 198 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: you've just you just removed that that pathway, and the 199 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: electrons will move very quickly speed of light essentially UM, 200 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: and the battery will heat up. And if the contents 201 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 1: of that battery are flammable, as is the case with 202 00:11:55,400 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: lithium ion batteries, the battery could burst into flame, which 203 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: is spectacular and dangerous and very scary and can set 204 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: your pants on fire. Yes, I actually have an article 205 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 1: about that's setting your pants on fire. Sorry, go ahead, 206 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: we do. Indeed, UM that that was essentially what I 207 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: was I was going to get to was the fact 208 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: that a few years ago it UM UH, this thermal 209 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: runaway as it's known UM, was a big item in 210 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: the news. They had discovered Uh. Sony and Apple both 211 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: got blamed for batteries a few lithium ion batteries that 212 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: had UM overheated and caught fire. UM. As it turned out, 213 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: they came from another you know, like most computer components, 214 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: they came from another manufacturer. UM. And UH, of course 215 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: I think there was the whole iPod setting your pants 216 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: on fire thing, which, as Jonathan mentioned, there is an 217 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: article on our side about it. UM. But as it 218 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: turns out, they're not these things obviously there there may 219 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: have been in a lot like that, uh, defects in 220 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: the manufacturing process, but in general, UM, it's very unlikely 221 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: that it's going to happen. So uh, you know, I 222 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: have also heard that it's possible to drop a lithium 223 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: ion battery and it can cause it to UM can 224 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: cause problems like that too. I would imagine it's probably 225 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: the same thing if you drop it from you know, 226 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: the lithium iron batteries are using a lot of power 227 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: tools because it happens. I used to work for a 228 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: company that sold power tools, and they said, don't drop 229 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: your lithium ion batteries those toys r us right no, 230 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: and uh so, although they do sell lots of lithium 231 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: ion batteries, because I believe I can't remember if lithium 232 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: ion or or nick um not nickel metal hydride. The 233 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: lead acid are the ones that they use in the 234 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: kids vehicles. I think they're lead acid that they use 235 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: for wheelchairs, and that I think that's in my notes somewhere, 236 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: but I'll have to stop talking and let you oh, well, 237 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: that never happens. For you guys out there who were 238 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: curious about the the iPod story we have and the 239 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: article that we have. The article title, just so you know, 240 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: is how can an iPod set your pants on fire? Literally? 241 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: And it was written by Josh Dreamy Eyes Clark of 242 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: stuff you should know. Um, so you should check that out. 243 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: And uh, it's a good article, really good article. So yeah, 244 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: there's another way that these batteries can suffer damage is 245 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: through overcharging. I know we had a podcast earlier, way 246 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: way way back in the day where we talked about 247 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: is it possible overcharge your devices? Uh, technically the answer 248 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: to that is yes, it is possible. But most recharging 249 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: cables and and systems have a safety measure in place 250 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: that will shut off the recharging once the battery has 251 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: reached capacity. They they have they are able to measure 252 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: the the energy density of the battery that is currently 253 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: being charged, and once it reaches its full level, the 254 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: the recharging, Uh, the the electrons pathway to the electrons 255 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: are just essentially cut off. So you're not going to 256 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: overcharge your your battery using the right cable. Me. If 257 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: you're using a really cheap cable or your Jerry Riggs 258 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: something so that you can try to recharge your batteries, 259 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: then I can't you know, vouch for that. You could 260 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: theoretically overcharge your battery and cause damage and possibly that 261 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: could lead to an explosion or fire. Uh. I was 262 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: also going to mention, UM, did you find the thing 263 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: you were looking for? Yes, Lead acid batteries are used 264 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: in in wheelchairs and cars and kids toys, so stuff 265 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: like the UM you know, the little cars that they 266 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: use where you get in has the motor UM. Pretty 267 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: nifty things until you get your toes run over a 268 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: few times. I'll take your word for that. I mean 269 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: I don't have one of myself. I don't fit in 270 00:15:55,280 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: them anymore. I, you know, am pleading that I know 271 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: nothing about that. Okay, So there was something else I 272 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about rechargeable batteries, which was the memory effect. Yes, 273 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: but that's not pertinent to all different types of the 274 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: chargeable batteries. Really, Nickel cadmium is the one that is 275 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: typically to blame for the memory effect, and I can 276 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: explain that if you want, please do. UM, I found 277 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: a whole series of articles um by somebody that I 278 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: really liked, and I'm now trying to scroll down until 279 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: I get to uh the name, get to his notes. Um. 280 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: But the chemical makeup of the battery is has a 281 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: lot to do with the memory effect UMA for me, Okay, 282 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: I'll let me explain what the memory effect actually, that's good. 283 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: So the memory effect is when if you let's say, 284 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: let's say you've got a battery and you've you've used 285 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: up about half the charge of the battery, and then 286 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: you recharge it, and you use up about half the 287 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: charge of the battery, and then you recharge it. You 288 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: do this a few times. Certain batteries, the nickel cadmium 289 00:16:55,720 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: batteries in particular, will eventually retain memory wory of that 290 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: you used and think that's the full of the batteries charge. 291 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: So in other words, you will never be able to 292 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: get a percent performance out of that battery. What will 293 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: happen is it'll discharge to and then the battery, uh 294 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: will stop working because of the memory effect. It it 295 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: doesn't literally think, but it quote unquote thinks that it 296 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 1: has uh it is has discharged its full charge even 297 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: though it remains untouched. Now you're going to say, has 298 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: found a whole series of articles by uh, someone from 299 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: CADEX Electronics. His name was Isador Buckman, and um wrote 300 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: a whole series of really interesting articles about about batteries. 301 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: He's very apparently knowledgeable about batteries. Um. But there's the 302 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: nickel based batteries have something that Buckman calls rock content, 303 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: and that's and that's the memory, that's the memory effect basically. UM. 304 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: The idea is that you have to go for a 305 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: complete cycle, which is what we were talking about a 306 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: long time ago in our Charging Batteries podcast before, where 307 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: you let it run all the way out and then 308 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: you know, plug it in and land it charge all 309 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 1: the way back up to give it a full complete 310 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: cycle of charge. Um. But but the thing is, UM, 311 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: the the oxidate or the chemical reactions basically UH make 312 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: part of the battery unusable. And that's why you have 313 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: to go through the deep cycle process to do that. Now, 314 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: the other types don't have that same problem. And in fact, 315 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: lithium ion you're I I remember being told never to 316 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: do a full discharge of lithium ion battery because that 317 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: will make it um useless. You can't recharge it once 318 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 1: it's been fully discharged. Yeah. Um. Marshall Brain's article on 319 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: how lithium ion batteries work on the site to us 320 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: that UM, and what happens in that case, according to Buckman, 321 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: is that the oxidation just by use and aging the 322 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: a lithium ion battery will gradually just become unusable just 323 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: because the the guts of it, if you will, are 324 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: are going through the oxidation process. UM. Buckman says there's 325 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: about two or three years UH for doing that and 326 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: whether or not you're using it. If you charge up 327 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: your batteries to be used in your emergency emergency flashlight, 328 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: you put the flashlight in a drawer. Um, two years 329 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: go by and there's suddenly an electrical storm and you 330 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: lose power, you reach for that flashlight, you may not 331 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: have any battery left. Yeah, you still have to replace 332 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: it regularly. UM. You know, you can keep it at 333 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: at at charge in a in a cool place to 334 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: help prevent that, but you're not going to prevent it 335 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: no matter what. And there's also no memory effect with 336 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: with UH with lithium I and you don't really need 337 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: to condition them, which is which does con predict what 338 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: we said in that podcast because I remember specifically saying that, so, 339 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: uh bad on me for not finding Mr Buckman's article before. Then. 340 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: Well that was the thing is that it's confusing, right, 341 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: because it all depends on the type of battery. With 342 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: the nickel camium, you have to you don't have to, 343 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: but if you want to avoid the memory effect, you 344 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: need to discharge it as fully as possible before you 345 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: start recharging it, because otherwise the little crystals that will 346 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: form in that battery will well coagulate and get bigger, 347 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: and the crystals will get bigger. And as those those 348 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: crystals essentially you can think of it as they take 349 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: up space and become inert. So the more crystals formed, 350 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: the less power your battery is going to have. So 351 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: if you discharge it all the way, those little crystals 352 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: don't really form as quickly, they don't coagulate or whatever, 353 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,719 Speaker 1: then you can recharge it and you're fine. Um, if 354 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: you just discharge it a little bit, then those crystals 355 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: get bigger and bigger until that part of the battery 356 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 1: gets unusable. So yeah, in that case, you do need 357 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: to use it all the way down and then recharge 358 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: it all the way back up. Uh. Lithium ion is 359 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: not that way. In fact, some places I've seen so 360 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: that there's uh, the best way to keep your lithium 361 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 1: ion battery lasting a really long time is to keep 362 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: it charged between forty and and you don't charge it 363 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: over sixty, and you don't let it drop below forty 364 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: and it will last. That'll that'll let the battery last 365 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 1: the longest over the lifetime of the battery, not I'm 366 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 1: not talking about you know, playtime or whatever. If you 367 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: hook up a lithium ion battery and it's charged at 368 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: six you're not going to get you know, ten hours 369 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: of use out of it like you would with a 370 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,479 Speaker 1: full fully charged battery. But over the course of the 371 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: lifetime of the battery, you'll get more years of use 372 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: out of it. So that's a little too much battery 373 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: management for me. I can't do that. I can't. I'm 374 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: not going to be you know, sitting over my devices 375 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: watching that that little number creep up and then say, oh, 376 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: it's at six percent, I need to unplug it. You know, 377 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: it's not really realistic. But the other yeah, the consequence 378 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,439 Speaker 1: of that is that I do this knowing that the 379 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: battery is probably not gonna last as long as it 380 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: would if I did take that trouble. Yeah, it's too 381 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: much trouble for me. Well, it's funny because, um, a 382 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: lot of the batteries, a lot of rechargeable batteries, um, 383 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: have a very long lifespan if you manage them. Well, um, 384 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: but the properties of each are different, like for example, uh, 385 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: lead acid batteries need exercise. They really actually need to 386 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: be used a little bit, um frequently, you know, just 387 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: a little bit at a time to keep them healthy 388 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 1: essentially and keep them from from running out on their own. Yeah, 389 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: if you if you left a car alone long enough, 390 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,239 Speaker 1: you may discover that, uh, you know, the battery might 391 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: have been fine when you left the car, but now 392 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,479 Speaker 1: when you finally returned to it, the cars not starting 393 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: up properly. That could be because the battery itself, you know, 394 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: has been left unattended for too long. It also can 395 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: happen in very cold weather because that slows down the 396 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: chemical reactions. Right. Yeah, going through the my notes, and 397 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: there's just I've got a lot on on how batteries 398 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: should be charged. Um. That that's something else interesting too. Uh. 399 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: You know, I've I've seen the chargers that have the 400 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 1: like the fast charge cycle advertised. You don't do that 401 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: with elithium ion battery. It's very bad for a lithium 402 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: ion battery to try to make any attempt to uh 403 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: to dump a charge into it. And really the fast 404 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: charge cycle um like you see for some of these devices, 405 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: it's not really meant to be the regular way you 406 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: charge the battery. It's supposed to be sort of an 407 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: emergency situation type thing. It's not that can actually be 408 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: harmful to a batteries lifespan if done frequently enough. Yeah, 409 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 1: there's certain certain kinds of batteries where the chemical balance 410 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: in there is the sort that can accept a very large, 411 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: uh short burst of voltage with out they're being too 412 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: much damage to the battery itself. But not all batteries 413 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: are created equal in that. So that's a good point. 414 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,439 Speaker 1: And of course you should always pay attention if you 415 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: ever hear a story about a battery recall, definitely pay 416 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: attention to make sure that you know none of the 417 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: devices you have are are covered under that because this 418 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: is serious stuff. If they discover that there is a 419 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,199 Speaker 1: fundamental flaw in the manufacturing process that could lead to 420 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: a fire, you definitely want to pay attention to that. 421 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I know a lot of people who leave 422 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: let's say, like their their computer on all day. You know, 423 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: they might have a laptop at home and they'll just 424 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: leave the computer on all day rather than turn it 425 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: off and turn it back on and they get back. Um, 426 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 1: if that battery has a fundamental flaw in it, then 427 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: that could become a source of you know, a fire. 428 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: You come back home and there's nothing there. Yeah. I 429 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: think a lot of people might be surprised, depending on 430 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: how long they've owned a computer. Even desktop computers have 431 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: a battery in them, that's true. Um usually anyway, I 432 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: can't think of one that doesn't. My even my Amiga 433 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: from back in Can we get through one episode without 434 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 1: you and talking about that Amiga? No? So um no, 435 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: there but there is a battery and there basically so 436 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: if you shut it down and maintains the clock, right. Yeah, 437 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 1: that's why when you plug your computer in after or 438 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: if the power has gone out or whatever, and you 439 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 1: look at the clock and it's still set at the 440 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: correct time, or at least the time it was keeping 441 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: before the power went off, that's why. Um, let's see, 442 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: is there anything else specifically that covers everything that I had. 443 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: I was really I was just determined to talk about 444 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: pants getting set on fire. UM. But yeah, if you 445 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:46,959 Speaker 1: are one other thing that I thought of, just a tidbit. Um, 446 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 1: if you have a device that you know is going 447 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: to be sitting for some time, or like a kid's 448 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: toy that runs on batteries that you're putting away, it's 449 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: a good idea to take the batteries out of it. Um. 450 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: We talked about the um corrosive nature or of the 451 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:04,239 Speaker 1: chemicals inside batteries. I went to an energizer actually has 452 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: an interesting bit on their website about cleaning up. Basically, 453 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: they say that the contents of their alkaline batteries are 454 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,880 Speaker 1: actually they're they're they're fairly non toxic, really, and they 455 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: don't have to be recycled, although I do recommend doing that, 456 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 1: and I think they would too. UM, but they're they're not. 457 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: There's nothing terrible that would leach out of them, as 458 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: would be most of the chemicals and rechargeable batteries. However, 459 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: if left too long, these the chemicals inside can't start 460 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: leaking out. And even if you don't aren't necessarily concerned 461 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 1: about the device, UM, it can cause like if you're 462 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 1: going to donate it to somebody. So you found these 463 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: old toys and you want to give them, do you 464 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 1: know charity and say, oh no, go ahead and take them. 465 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:50,160 Speaker 1: Those leaking chemicals can damage the device and can cause 466 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: problems from other people. So if you do encounter a 467 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: a leaking battery, you know, please be very careful with it, 468 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: handle it with gloves. Probably a good idea to use 469 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: safety glasses and put it in a leakproof container when 470 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: you're done. Now, speaking as someone who has been burned 471 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: by battery acid, I second that recommendation. In car batteries, 472 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: you know that there and there's some seriously dangerous chemicals 473 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: and there's acid in there um that can burn you 474 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,479 Speaker 1: very badly, and and car batteries should be handled very 475 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: very carefully if you try to recharge them yourselves, I 476 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:21,679 Speaker 1: think you just let car stuff handle that. They can 477 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: also generate hydrogen, which is extremely flammable. So you get 478 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: an electric spark or a flame anywhere near a battery 479 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: that happens to have some hydrogen built up around it, 480 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 1: and that is seriously badness. I'm sure you've all seen 481 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: video of hydrogen explosions and it is dramatic and scary. 482 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: You don't want to have that happen. Yes, that's true. Yeah, 483 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: that's actually Um, even with trying to plug an alkaline 484 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: battery and a charger. Um, that's what goes on, is 485 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: not I don't know if it's hydrogen gas. That will 486 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: admit to not knowing that. But uh, the recharging process 487 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: in those batteries starts a build up of gases inside 488 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: the canister that the battery is in, and that's what 489 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:07,920 Speaker 1: causes it to explode if you try to recharge a 490 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 1: non rechargeable battery. So that's what It's very dangerous to 491 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:15,120 Speaker 1: do that and nobody really wants to have that problem. Yeah, 492 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: so don't do it. All right. Well, that pretty much 493 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 1: wraps up this discussion on rechargeable batteries. I got a 494 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: big charge out of it myself. Did you find it shocking? 495 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 1: Not really? I found a revolting really do you guys? 496 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 1: Stay current with the sourt of stuff. Guys, if you 497 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: have any questions or comments or you have topic suggestions, 498 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: you can let us know on Twitter and Facebook are handled. 499 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: There is text stuff h s W or you can 500 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: send us an email and that email address is tech 501 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 1: stuff at how stuff works dot com and Chris and 502 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: I will talk to you again really soon. For more 503 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: on this and thousands of other topics. Does it how 504 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: stuff works dot Com? The Howstuffwork dot Com iPhone app 505 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: is coming soon. 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