Just happened to check the batteries on the mxt and one of them had just started to leak and start corroding. Caught it just in time. Is there a time line on the life of a battery before it does this? Batteries still showed 11 volts on the meter. Had not used the mxt in about 6 months. Thanks
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Life span of batteries
- Thread starter Bones
- Start date
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
Batteries are usually good for many years, most have a good till XX-XX-XX date on them. It sounds like your issue was a defective battery.
OregonGregg
Well-known member
But as a precaution, if I plan on not using my detectors for awhile or winter is setting in and wont use them for awhile. I always just pop the battery pack out of the machine and throw it on a shelf or something. Anyhow I dont leave them in the machine for long extended periods of time just for that reason.
At least that's what I try and do.
We tend to have all sorts of things that require batteries, of various types, including our metal detectors. I have a clear plastic tote that I keep all my batteries in, as well as spare flashlights. I have always had more flashlights around than metal detectors as part of my emergency preparedness plan. I keep that tote in a handy place for quick and easy access.
Batteries usually come in a package that suggests a "Use By" date, so I rotate my batteries and use up the older ones of a particular type first. I also try to buy-and-store Alkaline batteries rather than Regular or Heavy Duty batteries. I also have a small battery tester that puts a load on the battery so I can quickly test an individual battery, or most battery packs once the batteries are installed. Not a volt meter, but a battery tester, and they only cost about ten dollars or so. That stays in the plastic tote for ready use.
I always keep the batteries stored in their packaging until needed. Never store batteries loose in any container as you can have battery discharge and that can result in both a mess from possible leakage, as well as ruin a lot of battery storage plans and expense. Once I take batteries out of the battery tote for some device, then my next mission is to use them up, most of the time, based on the particular device. No, not everything gets used on a regular daily basis, but things like my electric razor in the car does, and I try to use my metal detectors as often as I can, daily, if possible, but certainly several times a week .... weather permitting.
If I am not going to be using some products, like my detectors, due to extreme weather conditions such as when winter hits and it is snow-covered and/or too cold outside, then I will remove the battery holder AND remove the batteries. If it will only be idle for a few days or a week or two, I might store them in an organized position close to the detector and use them when I decide to go hunting again. If I decide to let a detector sit unused for a longer period, like a month or two, or in your case half-a-year, then I will simply use those batteries in other devices, like flashlights, etc., and get fresh alkalines from my battery tote supply when I am going to take up detecting again.
Seldom do I ever have a concern about the battery life and storage condition with my metal detectors because I hunt as often as I can, so they get run-down and worn-out and replaced before there's a problem. For other battery devices, such as flashlights, that's different. I have one carried with me in my vest or coat all the time, and others located in my vehicle (3), bedrooms (1 each), living room, (1), a small utility bag I usually have with me (1), and in each of my preparedness/survival boxes (1 each in 5 boxes), and back-up flashlights in my battery tote.
I try to rotate a few and I do use flashlights at night, when there is a power outage, etc., but I also plan a periodic check of each item and test and inspect the batteries. I will rotate them from the more idle flashlights to the ones I run down. I have only experienced a reverse-packaged battery once, but I have heard of it happening. That is where the final outer wrapping up of the battery was reversed. That caused the + and - contacts to be reversed, and if not caught in advance, they can discharge the battery/batteries in a device quickly and cause rupturing and leakage. So I select known batteries that I have used, that are higher quality and I haven't had any issues with. I have heard of others, not very often reported, experiencing a defective battery like that, too.
Sorry to ramble, but batteries are important to us for many different things and we just need to think ahead to ensure that they are stored properly, and when in use, get used and monitored so they are replaced before there are any problems. Try not to store them for prolonged periods in something like a metal detector that is an expensive item with electronics and other components that can easily be destroyed by leaked battery acid.
Monte
We tend to have all sorts of things that require batteries, of various types, including our metal detectors. I have a clear plastic tote that I keep all my batteries in, as well as spare flashlights. I have always had more flashlights around than metal detectors as part of my emergency preparedness plan. I keep that tote in a handy place for quick and easy access.
Batteries usually come in a package that suggests a "Use By" date, so I rotate my batteries and use up the older ones of a particular type first. I also try to buy-and-store Alkaline batteries rather than Regular or Heavy Duty batteries. I also have a small battery tester that puts a load on the battery so I can quickly test an individual battery, or most battery packs once the batteries are installed. Not a volt meter, but a battery tester, and they only cost about ten dollars or so. That stays in the plastic tote for ready use.
I always keep the batteries stored in their packaging until needed. Never store batteries loose in any container as you can have battery discharge and that can result in both a mess from possible leakage, as well as ruin a lot of battery storage plans and expense. Once I take batteries out of the battery tote for some device, then my next mission is to use them up, most of the time, based on the particular device. No, not everything gets used on a regular daily basis, but things like my electric razor in the car does, and I try to use my metal detectors as often as I can, daily, if possible, but certainly several times a week .... weather permitting.
If I am not going to be using some products, like my detectors, due to extreme weather conditions such as when winter hits and it is snow-covered and/or too cold outside, then I will remove the battery holder AND remove the batteries. If it will only be idle for a few days or a week or two, I might store them in an organized position close to the detector and use them when I decide to go hunting again. If I decide to let a detector sit unused for a longer period, like a month or two, or in your case half-a-year, then I will simply use those batteries in other devices, like flashlights, etc., and get fresh alkalines from my battery tote supply when I am going to take up detecting again.
Seldom do I ever have a concern about the battery life and storage condition with my metal detectors because I hunt as often as I can, so they get run-down and worn-out and replaced before there's a problem. For other battery devices, such as flashlights, that's different. I have one carried with me in my vest or coat all the time, and others located in my vehicle (3), bedrooms (1 each), living room, (1), a small utility bag I usually have with me (1), and in each of my preparedness/survival boxes (1 each in 5 boxes), and back-up flashlights in my battery tote.
I try to rotate a few and I do use flashlights at night, when there is a power outage, etc., but I also plan a periodic check of each item and test and inspect the batteries. I will rotate them from the more idle flashlights to the ones I run down. I have only experienced a reverse-packaged battery once, but I have heard of it happening. That is where the final outer wrapping up of the battery was reversed. That caused the + and - contacts to be reversed, and if not caught in advance, they can discharge the battery/batteries in a device quickly and cause rupturing and leakage. So I select known batteries that I have used, that are higher quality and I haven't had any issues with. I have heard of others, not very often reported, experiencing a defective battery like that, too.
Sorry to ramble, but batteries are important to us for many different things and we just need to think ahead to ensure that they are stored properly, and when in use, get used and monitored so they are replaced before there are any problems. Try not to store them for prolonged periods in something like a metal detector that is an expensive item with electronics and other components that can easily be destroyed by leaked battery acid.
Monte