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exploding duracell battery and acid burn...

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  • shaun_from_Africa
    shaun_from_Africa Posts: 12,858 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 7 June 2012 at 6:34PM
    Batteries rarely explode, when the do they go very hot first

    When a primary cell such as an alkaline battery is short circuited it can delivery a fairly high current for a short time, and as you say, this will lead to it heating up.

    However, they normally begin heating up from the centre of the cell, (as this is where the negative feed is connected) so it may be a while before the heat transfers to the outer case.
    Although the outer case may not have heated up, the sudden gas build up in the middle of the battery could be enough to cause the problem the OP describes.
  • super_dad
    super_dad Posts: 771 Forumite
    ooook!

    right, duracell have finally come back to us and we could do with some advice.

    Basically.... "it's our fault!"

    they are saying that they have tested the leaking battery (/ies) and it appears that they believe we put the battery in the wrong way round. This has somehow meant that the machine would work for a short time - but it has ultimately led to the battery exploding in my wife's face

    Oh, and then they said.... "have £100 for the hassle".

    Now, let me outline our position. This is not about the money for us (we have just donated all our wedding gift monetary donations to a local children's unit... money is not an issue) This is about a company standing up and saying "we are wrong".

    So... I have a question to any boffins out there.... first of all, I KNOW the batteries were put in the machine correctly (I am not stupid, I can fit batteries) also, we have a picture of 4 of the 6 batteries in situ (all correctly placed!... the other 2 were leaking)...

    is it possible for a machine to work if a battery is placed the wrong way round?...I never thought it was - particularly given that it was running for 10 minutes or so (albeit at not the correct mechanical speed)

    Is it not more likely that the machine was running at "half speed" (for arguments sake) because one (or more) of the batteries was faulty?

    Any input appreciated... I really want to annoy P&G (duracell) for suggesting I was at fault and I am willing to spend money to do so..
    Hating Hastings Direct!
  • paddyrg
    paddyrg Posts: 13,543 Forumite
    super_dad wrote: »
    is it possible for a machine to work if a battery is placed the wrong way round?...I never thought it was - particularly given that it was running for 10 minutes or so (albeit at not the correct mechanical speed)

    Yes, entirely possible *depending on the product*. If the batteries just drive a motor, then yes, I'd expect that motor to deliver very approximately 2/3 torque (5 batteries pushing one way, one pushing the other, so 5-1 = 4 batteries worth of potential out of 6).

    If they drive some kind of digital interface which in turn drives a motor, maybe not if the electronics don't work below a certain voltage. However things either tend to run at exactly 5v or 3-12v, for this kind of application you'd probably use the latter kind of chipset...

    You should find an expert witness if you want to pursue this.
  • Could you not quickly test it yourself if you still have the pod (and assuming it works).

    Record it on your phone or camera.

    Edit: STAND WELL BACK!!!
    Thinking critically since 1996....
  • super_dad
    super_dad Posts: 771 Forumite
    Could you not quickly test it yourself if you still have the pod (and assuming it works).

    Record it on your phone or camera.

    Edit: STAND WELL BACK!!!

    Ok, they've said they're going to send me my original machine back.. but in the meantime i've been out and bought a fresh one (just for my piece of mind,...)

    I've repeated the process of putting the batteries supplied in correctly. and i've then, in sequence, put batteries the wrong way round...

    Guess what happens when you put batteries the wrong way round...





    absolutely sod all.. it doesn't work.

    i await my original item in the post. They've just been on the phone again... agin, reiterated I don't want the £100.. i just want an apology and recognition that I was right and the product was faulty.
    Hating Hastings Direct!
  • bod1467
    bod1467 Posts: 15,214 Forumite
    Did you have this process videoed for evidence? If not I'd suggest repeating and doing so.
  • Hintza
    Hintza Posts: 19,420 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I presume you are just trying to satisfy yourself it wasn't pilot error. I stand by my original posts you need professional help if you are going to take this anywhere.
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    super_dad wrote: »






    They've just been on the phone again... agin, reiterated I don't want the £100.. i just want an apology and recognition that I was right and the product was faulty.
    They are not going to do that, it would be admiting liability, you need all the evidence back to have your own tests carried out. But the bottom line is, this is going nowhere without proper legal representation.
    It all depends on the scarring now that it has settled to see if it is worth pursuing, if it has all but gone away compensation is minimal, the more scars the more compo (if you can prove negligence).
  • super_dad
    super_dad Posts: 771 Forumite
    just spoke to a solicitor and he recommended a small claims court...

    is it worth the hassle - that has to be the question...
    Hating Hastings Direct!
  • Yes, definitely. If it didn't work with a cell reversed that's good evidence you couldn't have done it yourself.

    I'd be taking it further.
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