Why do batteries go bad?

Janx · Feb 7, 2013

Umbran said:
Except...

In, say, a flashlight that's turned on, you have a complete circuit, and current flows.

When you turn it off, the switch breaks the circuit, and the current stops flowing... much. There is still a potential difference (a voltage) across the switch. The resistance across that gap is sky-high, so very little current can flow, but very little is not equal to zero.

that's actually a good explanation for why batteries left in a flashlight that is left off also go bad after a long time. electrons be flowing in a teeny tiny trickle. Basically, switches are leaky spigots.

Umbran · Feb 7, 2013

Janx said:
Basically, switches are leaky spigots.

Yes. And, on top of that, the water storage tank is slowly evaporating (the chemical mix in the battery slowly breaks down over time, switch or no switch).

sabrinathecat · Feb 7, 2013

I've had fun cleaning up the mess from old leaky batteries. On the other hand, I have rehabilitated old toys with some brasso, screwdriver, and in one case, also a replacement motor (old Millennium Falcon 1978 toy wore down & noise broke).

Why do batteries go bad?

Janx

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sabrinathecat

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