Tilt Down Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 I dodged a bullet when a Powerex AA battery became lodged in my SD 302 and I was able to extract it. For a reason unknown to me, it had become swollen and wasn't coming out. I tried using a pencil-size magnet but no luck. Wig tape on a pen, no luck. Liquid nails on a dowel, no luck. In a desperation move I drilled into the battery and screwed in a 4 inch deck screw. I got it out, but it left a lot of residue in the tube. Using another tool for grabbing dropped nuts and bolts (did I say I have fat fingers?), I grabbed a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, and rammed it in and out until it was clean. All's good. I wouldn't reccomend this repair, unless you're a desperate as I was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryF Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 That's one way to do it, but while wearing safety goggles and rubber gloves of course. The residue is potassium hydroxide (think lye) and will eat eyeballs and skin. If the battery had pressure in it, the electrolyte would spray out much quicker than you could blink. Alcohol is a good solvent for water based electrolytes. Just swab with fresh cotton balls multiple times because you don't want to leave any electrolyte behind. I would also use a damp but not wet ball because you don't want liquid to squeeze out and carry electrolyte into the innards of the device. Best Regards, Larry Fisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Glad it worked out, Tilt. Just wondering: did you try refrigerating the mixer for a while to see if that reduced battery swelling? No, really; === How to Remove Stuck Batteries It is possible that rechargeable batteries that have swelled due to heat will shrink when returned to room temperature. Additionally, you can cool the unit in a refrigerator to force the cells to a lower temperature, then gently tap the mixer to attempt to free any stuck cells. If they are hopelessly stuck, contact us. === From: http://www.sounddevices.com/notes/mixers/stuck-batteries/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afewmoreyears Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Good job... nice work... I never had a Lithium Energizer swell before... (yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilt Down Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Thanks for replying. I will try the refriderater trick next time, although it was in my car overnight and temps dropped below freezing. I'm guessing that the battery was swollen, but maybe something sticky got on the surface of the battery. When I did get it out, the skin of the PowerEx peeled off and was left inside (that's the debris in the photo). Yes, only Lithium Energizers from now on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 i would try to cool down just the battery by using bursts of Dust-off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Maeda Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 This happened once in my 552 with PowerEx batts... deepest one would get stuck half way down the tube. I had a small pencil magnet that didn't have enough pull to get it out on its own. I resorted to putting gaff tape at the end of the magnet and pressing it firm against the batt. With a light pull, batt came out no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbrox Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 This also happend to my SD302 some years ago. The reseller wanted me to send it back to the factory, but I just took off the opposite panel (mic inputs) and pushed the battery with a thin screwdriver or rigid wire (there's a hole). As far as I remember, it wasn't too cumbersome. Maybe you shouldn't do this if your SD302 is still under warranty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Powerex batteries are HUGE in comparison to other rechargeables. And once they swell a bit with age, you're screwed. I use Imedion or White Eneloop with no trouble. And I only use newer ones for tight tolerance gear. Powerex labels also seem to crack rather easily, which doesn't help. So I keep my batteries protected and not bouncing around on the cart or in drawers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Local dealer sent me a 552 recently - said his customer and he could not figure out "what's wrong". i checked the unit with ext DC - was nothing wrong with the unit except that they were using a dud sd card in it and had not even figured out how to format it. I had a bit of a scare when i tried to put in rechargable NiMh into the batt tube. one got stuck and it took me several jerks and muted strikes on the side of the table to get it out. I think it's better if SD had put in a small hole on the other side of the units that use this battery tube - just to ensure one can push stuck batts with a rigid pin. or else over size the tube by a few mm... today's world is that of rechargeables - why would one want to use alkalines anyways since they dont run too long in these units - 552, 664 etc. and rechargeables are not bang-on standard size. -vin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismedr Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 today's world is that of rechargeables - why would one want to use alkalines anyways since they dont run too long in these units - 552, 664 etc. and rechargeables are not bang-on standard size. i suspect it's for emergency backup when you're in the wilderness and no power to recharge... admittedly one could build a external battery holder for these situations, so personally i would opt for a smaller lighter recorder with sony L and external DC power only too. still a nice unit though ++ c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 On my MM1 we would use the smaller rechargeable (lower capacity) batteries like the white Enloops. it's a pain to keep multiple types of AA batteries, but so is drilling out your gear. Just to keep the wireless boom rig small, we didn't want to also add external power into the mix. Again, it would be another specialized battery and charger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elior Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 The best way I know is to take a stick and rub it (at the edge) with epoxy glue, attach the battery, wait until it is stiff, and pull it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilt Down Posted February 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I tried that with liquid nails but it didn't work. I almost tried with JB Weld but I was worried about getting some on the tube. If that were to happen I'd really be up shit's creek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldmixer Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 What is the flat rate repair charge for a 302 at the factory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilt Down Posted February 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Ummm. Call Sound Device? Are you making another point about the folly of DIY battery removal? I believe I said in the original post that I wouldn't recommend this except that it was an emergency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldmixer Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 Not trying to make any particular point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexQ Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Damn, just found I have a AA stuck in my 302. Called sound devices and they want $165 to service the battery tube. I pulled the unit apart to see if I can get in there.. Looks like Im going to have to get creative or cough up the $$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilt Down Posted December 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 This a happened to me. I put some glue on a pencil. Make contact and let set. Withdraw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinTheMixer Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Hello, I think I would try a couple things. First, make the battery cold, that contracts of course and gently heat the battery tube, that expands, so that may let it come out. Second, I would use Cyanoacralate to glue Kevlar thread to the battery and try to pull it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 I like the glue trick. If no go on that, you could drill a small hole in the end of the battery with a longish bit, and then try an easy-out. But as was said, before all that put the mixer in the freezer for awhile, and after it's really cold give it a good whack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAB414 Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Freezer tricked saved meSent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Michael Lau Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 While this may seem brute, i've taken a few 302's, flipped the opening to the ground, and literally just banged them with a quick, hard downward smack into a solid object like a table ledge and they would always pop right out with the right force and angle. I mean, the units are frickin solid themselves so the batteries just end up becoming a loose projectile. worst case, if doing so does damage something inside, i bet it'd cost less to have SD or yourself repair some loose solder points than to replace your battery tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismedr Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 14 minutes ago, Jonathan Michael Lau said: worst case, if doing so does damage something inside, i bet it'd cost less to have SD or yourself repair some loose solder points than to replace your battery tube. well, worst case I can imagine is that you only notice that some solder points came loose when it really hurts, so personally I'd try the freezer and glue trick first. agreed they are very sturdy tools though, so using them as a hammer might be fun ; ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean McCormick Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 I use a wad of Joe's Sticky Stuff on the end of an industrial Q-Tip to pull batts out of my 633/664. Might not be strong enough if the batt has swollen badly, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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