Battery burn up.... :(

[bonsaiboy123]

Well I seem to have a problem. I bought a Whites Goldmaster V/SAT off Ebay for $160 unused (a steal!) and just recieved it today. I got it all assembled and put in the batteries in the battery holder and hooked it up. I turned it on and did a little testing with some lead pieces I had about, seemed to be working great. Well after playing around with it for a while I decided that the smart thing to do would be to unplug the connector from the battery holder, just to save battery power. After closing it all up I decided I wasnt quite done with it (lol). To my surprise the battery holder was melting! I quickly dumped it out of the detector and made sure that the detector wasnt on fire. Luckily it wasnt, but the battery holder was toast.

Now did I make a mistake by unplugging the battery plug? Maybe it somehow came in contact to the battery terminals and caused it to melt. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 

[Brokensignal]

Yes bonsaiboy you have to never let battery terminals come in contact with metal,this is what happened when you unplugged the connector and left bare battery terminals exposed! it would be best to remove the pack or batteries.I had a 9v battery catch fire in my pocket,i dropped it in my pocket and it came in contact with a set of keys in my front pocket,it burnt my leg!.Find another battery holder and be careful next time.

 

[bonsaiboy123]

Wow, didnt know it was that serious! Thanks for the warning.

Lesson learned, leave the batteries plugged in!!

 

[Brokensignal]

If the detector is not going to be used in the next three weeks i would remove the batteries.Think if some how the detector was turned or left on the batteries will drain down and could leak in your detector!.Always double check everything when it comes to your expensive detector.Just watch out for battery packs or 9v batteries because you can have a direct short with them causing a fire!.Good Luck.

 

[Dirt Poor]

I know that on two occaisions, I have been hunting and noticed a VERY warm sensation, only to realize that I had a shorting-out 9v battery in my pocket. I'm a slow learner....won't happen a 3rd time though.