Dangers of 9 volt batteries

**Mustang65** · 06-09-2016, 06:36 PM

As I was changing a 9 volt battery today it reminded me about how dangerous they can be if not properly stored and or disposed of....

Here is a

video

to give you a better idea as to how dangerous they can be

Don

wags999 · 06-09-2016, 07:36 PM

unreal.... Just sent this to all my kids, easy to forget and just throw extra batteries into a drawer . thanks for posting

SouthCo · 06-09-2016, 08:21 PM

Good reality check for sure...

DocBrown · 06-10-2016, 08:15 AM

OK, I'll play devil's advocate here. This is a sensationalized news story, as so many are. While there is a possibility that a fire could start from a 9 volt battery, how many have really happened?

A dose of reality: Snopes is your friend

wags999 · 06-10-2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBrown

OK, I'll play devil's advocate here. This is a sensationalized news story, as so many are. While there is a possibility that a fire could start from a 9 volt battery, how many have really happened?

A dose of reality: Snopes is your friend

I'm sure it's not a daily event, but, many of the survival sites do teach using a 9volt battery and steel wool to start a fire relatively quickly. In a brick and morter home I'm sure the risk is much lower than in an RV which is bouncing down the road. I could envision batteries thrown in a drawer with other "junk" potentially casuing issues.

I think the warning is just that, if we are aware of the possibility it is an esay fix to make it less likely.

Like any suggestion, it's just that.. you can either see a potential problem and be aware or, do nothing and hope.

Sometimes it's the little things that we don't pay attention to that can cause us the most harm.

I just threw my extra 9volts into one of my small plastic containers with dividers...no chance of them shorting out.. not a big deal, but, do I want to take a chance when the fix is as easy as no fix?

Good Luck

DocBrown · 06-10-2016, 09:51 AM

Devil's advocate again, do you travel with your fridge on? If you believe that's safe, the dangers of 9 volt batteries are no more or less than traveling with propane on.

Seriously, how people keep batteries where the steel wool is?

**Mustang65** · 06-10-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBrown

Devil's advocate again, do you travel with your fridge on? If you believe that's safe, the dangers of 9 volt batteries are no more or less than traveling with propane on.

Seriously, how people keep batteries where the steel wool is?

Actually, my fridge runs off the inverter while traveling..

but, my kitchen "JUNK" drawer that has some basic tools in it, those tiny screwdrivers, pliers, razor blade knives, a lot of metal that could easily short out the battery terminals and start that pad of Post-it notes that is also in the wooden drawer.

All that was intended was to make people aware, that some things we do without thinking of the consequences.

Don

**norty1** · 06-10-2016, 10:42 AM

I put 2 old 9v batteries in my pocket once from several smoke detectors. After a few minutes I felt the heat from them shorted out to each other. They were to hot to touch.

Valuable lesson to learn at my age and I knew better.

Nothing wrong with being aware of danger. I know better than to poo poo that as Snopes did. It can happen why not be aware of it?

wags999 · 06-10-2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustang65

Actually, my fridge runs off the inverter while traveling..

but, my kitchen "JUNK" drawer that has some basic tools in it, those tiny screwdrivers, pliers, razor blade knives, a lot of metal that could easily short out the battery terminals and start that pad of Post-it notes that is also in the wooden drawer.

All that was intended was to make people aware, that some things we do without thinking of the consequences.

Don

X2 and it's not only steel wool, but what is great is you can do nothing, and I can do something and neither of us is right or wrong. I appreciate being aware of potential issues, allows ME to make the decision for ME, with some knowledge. I appreciate this type of post..

Bassdogs · 06-10-2016, 11:59 AM

Valid concern w/ risk of shorting 9v batteries but agree the incident rate of problems is next to never. 9v's are easier to short because both terminals are very close on the same end of the battery. You can do the same thing with a AA but it is more difficult and less likely to occur by accident. The survival shows have introduced the viewing public that this could be dangerous but also something that could save your life in an emergency.

Be safe!

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