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"swollen" battery


stevieboy

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Hi.

 

I've been using my Q almost exclusively for a few months, abandoned my Ms, though I always knew I'd be back.

 

So I got out my Monochrom (I know this is the M9/M-E section, I have those too, it applies equally to all, and I figure more people will see it here) and went to take out the battery.  It was stuck.  I managed to gently pry it out after some always gentle effort.  Tried another battery, it slipped in just fine.  Tried the first battery in the M9, it didn't want to go in there either.  I happen to have a set of calipers that I use for something not related, and in the middle just before the block with the contacts sticks up, there was a .04 inch difference between the offending battery and one that was fine.   That's 1.016 mm according to the internet!  Not a lot, but of course n terms of camera tolerances, quite a bit.

 

I have heard of traditional batteries swelling, didn't know this kind of battery might.  OEM Leica batteries, by the way.  

 

Anyone else experience anything like this?

Edited by stevieboy
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Swelling and deformation is, unfortunately, not uncommon with lithium-ion-based batteries.  They will also explosively self-combust - "venting with flame" is the industry euphemism... the reason for the very rigorous controls over shipping lithium batteries by air.  Those failures can be caused by overcharging in a faulty charger.  But they can also happen inherently within the battery, particularly as they age.

 

I've never heard of it happening with a Leica battery, but am certainly not surprised.  There's no magic that Leica is able to provide that eliminates those unfortunate battery characteristics.  I have an older MacBook Pro which was ruined by an Apple-OEM swollen battery.

 

Most sophisticated lithium-ion batteries have several protection devices built in, including over-current and under-current circuits, a cell balance circuit, as well as physical gas vent mechanisms.  As you've discovered, none are foolproof.

 

The best you can do is to use high quality batteries and chargers (preferably OEM) and use them exactly as prescribed.  Replace any battery at the first sign of misbehavior.

 

Remove your swollen battery to a safe place.  Don't put it in your kitchen trash.

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Belated thanks for the replies!

 

Leica battery, Leica charger.

 

Not sure if it's really possible with the charger to overcharge, doesn't it sense the charge in the battery and stop charging when full?  But I'll pay more attention to how long I leave them in the charger, don't think I left it in for a long time, most recently it was in a camera unused for a few months because I was just the using the Q, and there wasn't a problem with it before that.  

 

 

Glad I pulled the camera out when I did, I suppose it could have gotten worse and I couldn't get it out of there.  I bet that would have been an expensive fix!

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  • 6 months later...

Another bulged Monochrom battery here.  I own two Monochroms, and while they were away for 36 weeks getting new sensors, the batteries went flat.  Upon charging using the original Leica charger, one of them bulged.  I have an inquiry into Leica to determine if they offer any coverage.

 

Concur on safe storage and disposal.

 

Eric

 

P.S.  My old MacBook Pro had a bulged battery as well.  It eventually pushed so hard against the interior of the keyboard that the keys would not work.  Not cheap to replace either.

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