Batteries left in NV devices

flyfisherman246 · Dec 11, 2024

Everyone has heard and repeats to always remove batteries from NV devices due to possible corrosion. This makes since, Ive had that happen with AAA's in a head lamp. In the Marine Corps, turning everything into the armory had to have the batteries pulled out. 14's, 27's, peq's, everything. That being said being deployed 7 months at a time all units had batteries in at all times and they were typically being used daily, never heard of any problems.

My question is after stating all this is, how long is too long. The reason I ask is because when night hunting there is a whole pile of stuff that needs batteries in them every time I go out, and it's a major pain in the ass especially keeping each set of batteries separate with its unit. These items include: pvs14, hand held ir illuminator, pvs27, weapon mounting illuminator, weapon mounted rangefinder, predator call, call remote. That is a lot of messing around with each outing. (ideally a single thermal would be ideal but not there yet)

So in the winter/spring if I'm going calling lets say once a week is there any harm to leaving batteries in these items all winter/spring and remove them in the months where they see little use?

What about lithium AA's and 123's? Are these safe to keep in all winter?

Thanks

Downtown · Dec 11, 2024

For me, once a year I swap batteries out in everything. Smoke detectors, PVS14, thermals, pointers, etc. Easy to remember as I Sharpie date them. Recycle them into everyday used devices where importance is irrelevant. No issues.

charbroiled · Dec 11, 2024

flyfisherman246 said:
What about lithium AA's and 123's? Are these safe to keep in all winter?

I haven't lost any kit because a lithium cell degraded but I have lost electronics from leaky alkalines. No, lithiums aren't the same but I'm not leaving any 99 cent battery in high dollar gear hoping it won't ever leak and kill the device. Except for RDS and flashlights, batteries are stored with the gear and installed when put into service.

SD3Gunner · Dec 11, 2024

my main goal of taking batteries out more often than i need to is a lesser chance of getting shelled do to possible EMP attack.

charbroiled · Dec 11, 2024

SD3Gunner said:
my main goal of taking batteries out more often than i need to is a lesser chance of getting shelled do to possible EMP attack.

FWIW, removing batteries won't protect integrated circuits/computer boards. Again, FWIW, you can make a serviceable Faraday cage out of a small tin garbage can with lid and some metal tape. When I have cash for "spares" I will rotate kit in and out of such a store. Ya never know............

SD3Gunner · Dec 12, 2024

does it help any to ground the trash can?

Lowdown3 · Dec 13, 2024

If you remove your battery from your NODs every time your done with them (done for the night) then you really can't "forget" them in the unit and suffer loss.

We see the results where customers DON'T do this pretty often, despite emails, paperwork, discussions with customers etc. reminding them to remove them every time. To be honest, 90% of the time it's the people that DON'T use them regularly, but we have had people that claim to be regular users that suffer this loss. All of which is easily preventable....

Some jackass on another forum freaked on me on this stating that "you don't know my operational parameters!" Well hell anyone over the age of FIVE knows when it's going to be dark. And since NV isn't useful during the day, I'd say you have that 3.5 seconds to install a battery as you start to see the sun going down... It's just part of your SOPs and checking gear.

But I guess I'm more jaded on this subject after seeing so many customers leave them in and have to break it to them how much that's going to cost them to fix. A couple hundred dollar mistake that is very easily prevented.

On the EMP discussion- the Faraday bags are nice, put that inside an ammo can and you'll have a lot smaller footprint than a garbage can. Save the garbage can for the larger stuff- your backup Inverter, bigger drones, etc.

chevy_man · Dec 15, 2024

I generally run lithium in anything important. They just don't leak.

Alkaline leakage can be cleaned with vinegar and rinsed with distilled water. Fixed many flashlights with that knowledge.

I leave batteries in stuff when I'm using it. They get pulled and set next to the gear if it's going on the garage shelf for awhile.

hlee · Dec 15, 2024

chevy_man said:
I generally run lithium in anything important. They just don't leak.

Alkaline leakage can be cleaned with vinegar and rinsed with distilled water. Fixed many flashlights with that knowledge.

I leave batteries in stuff when I'm using it. They get pulled and set next to the gear if it's going on the garage shelf for awhile.

And, some CLR on the contacts brought a game camera of mine back to life…

Ezana4CE · Dec 15, 2024

I like to pull lithium ion batteries from gear that will be stowed for an indeterminate amount of time. I've had a lithium ion battery go bad on me when left in a device for who knows how long. It no longer holds a charge nor can it be charged. This has a lot to do with why I remove these batteries. I have plastic cases that I stow my lithium ion batteries in within a case my gear is stowed in until I use them afield. It sucks to grab a device and run to only discover that the battery is dead or has a very low charge when you need it. Surplus batteries that are not being used as primary or back-ups are stored in cardboard boxes with foam or bubble wrap separating them from one another. As most of us have experienced at some point, alkaline batteries will leak and corrode contacts so those get pulled from, my e-caller, remotes. They are left in trail cams for extended periods and sometimes to corrode the contacts of my trail cams. That goes for the long-term "Ultimate Lithium" Energizer batteries as well.

Ezana4CE · Dec 15, 2024

hlee said:
And, some CLR on the contacts brought a game camera of mine back to life…

@hlee How did you effectively apply it to the contacts?

hlee · Dec 15, 2024

Ezana4CE said:
@hlee How did you effectively apply it to the contacts?

I soaked a paper towel and wiped them. Then rinsed it with water. Then dried with towel. The battery compartment is open enough to work in.

chevy_man · Dec 15, 2024

hlee said:
And, some CLR on the contacts brought a game camera of mine back to life…

Any acid will do. Vinegar is enough, I'd be more cautious with stronger stuff like clr.

Ezana4CE said:
@hlee How did you effectively apply it to the contacts?

Q-tips, my favorite is the farm store sells a big bag on varying lengths of wood sticks, from 3" to 8" long.

TxWelder35 · Dec 15, 2024

Lowdown3 said:
If you remove your battery from your NODs every time your done with them (done for the night) then you really can't "forget" them in the unit and suffer loss.

We see the results where customers DON'T do this pretty often, despite emails, paperwork, discussions with customers etc. reminding them to remove them every time. To be honest, 90% of the time it's the people that DON'T use them regularly, but we have had people that claim to be regular users that suffer this loss. All of which is easily preventable....

Some jackass on another forum freaked on me on this stating that "you don't know my operational parameters!" Well hell anyone over the age of FIVE knows when it's going to be dark. And since NV isn't useful during the day, I'd say you have that 3.5 seconds to install a battery as you start to see the sun going down... It's just part of your SOPs and checking gear.

But I guess I'm more jaded on this subject after seeing so many customers leave them in and have to break it to them how much that's going to cost them to fix. A couple hundred dollar mistake that is very easily prevented.

On the EMP discussion- the Faraday bags are nice, put that inside an ammo can and you'll have a lot smaller footprint than a garbage can. Save the garbage can for the larger stuff- your backup Inverter, bigger drones, etc.

Are you seeing the same problems even with lithium batteries or are all the leakages from alk batteries?

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