Video addition as suggested.
Added 2017-04-30 02:35:21 +0000 UTCYou guys were right. the video wasn't complete without me opening that cell to see what was inside. Skip to about 3:50 to see the extra footage.
The electrolyte is quite caustic. When I washed my hands it felt like sodium hydroxide in that it had turned the oil in my skin into a soapy substance.
Comments
And maybe an Eneloop too for comparison.
Big Clive
2017-05-01 01:59:07 +0000 UTCIndeed it would - discharge it and let's find out what's inside!
2017-05-01 00:59:24 +0000 UTCI lived in a place in the Mojave Desert where the water was so alkaline you'd get that feeling in the shower. Luckily I didn't live there long. Or drink the water.
2017-04-30 20:20:59 +0000 UTCGlad you have added a tear down to the video. Thought it was out of character that you did not do this initially. Agree with others that there should be a comparison to a genuine battery but please wear gloves this time. Taking risks with volts is one thing but dodgy chemicals is an unknown risk.
2017-04-30 19:19:27 +0000 UTCI did consider that at the time, but all the high capacity cells I had were fully charged, making it quite a precarious thing. But it would be interesting to open that 2500mAh one....
Big Clive
2017-04-30 14:41:37 +0000 UTCI second the motion.
Robert Sanges
2017-04-30 13:09:17 +0000 UTCOr in the case of some extra dubious eBay 18650's, the "electrolyte" might just be sand and a smaller battery.
Kadah
2017-04-30 12:21:35 +0000 UTCSo... cutting open a legit capacity cell for comparison tomorrow eh? ;-)
Mark Arnold
2017-04-30 08:58:23 +0000 UTCThe electrolyte in NiCd cells is KOH, so it would not surprise me if it is the same.
2017-04-30 04:06:24 +0000 UTCTch... yes, Clive, you should have worn gloves. (Sayeth the bear with a bachelor's in chemistry.) Battery electrolytes tend to be acidic, alkaline and/or toxic....
2017-04-30 04:01:44 +0000 UTCYep. Saponification! It happens to the fat in bodies buried in alkaline soil, too.
Andrew Sloniger
2017-04-30 02:57:54 +0000 UTCThank you. Hope you still have fingers tomorrow morning :).
2017-04-30 02:41:32 +0000 UTCIf my school chemistry teacher was correct, the soapy feeling is actually the outer layer of skin dissolving.
David Glover-Aoki
2017-04-30 02:37:45 +0000 UTC
