stupid, simple, really quick question

Accidentally, I had dropped one of my protected 16340s down the staircase, two and a half storys to be exact. The outer insulation/ shrink wrapping has been damaged slightly, and there is a tiny bit of deformation. Brand is solarforce, 880 mA. Still, it charged to 3.7 V with no apparent problems.

I have noticed when using those recs with my 4.2 - 7.4V rated (heck, with about any dropin, even the incandescent P60), it cuts out really quick. The light used to run for several minutes before it went dark, but that time has significantly decreased in the last days.

The flashlight will now cut out within seconds.

Uneven discharge has also been noticed (as of last night, when I finally found my misplaced voltmeter again).

No heat buildup, no hissing, no sparks, no fumes (yet!). total runtime of the 16340s was less than 15 minutes since I dropped one of them.

Sooo... just to clarify:

Are we all of one mind that I should properly dispose off those 16340s in question A.S.A.P. and not push my luck any further?

Simon

I am not an expert whatsoever but if I were you, I would not take the chance. Batteries can be replaced but fingers or a house is a different story.

Trash. Even if only for the peace of mind.

Sounds like the cell has been damaged , I would part with it safely ...

RCR123A's are cheap enough ...

+ There are no stupid questions , only silly answer's

+1

Nothing to add.

Please recycle this one and dont use it any more. You're quite possibly playing with a potential bomb.

:arrow: Simple answer

Sixfink you still alive?? =O

Earth to sixfink. Come in sixfink. Over.

Howdy back,

all is well, thank you. Sciatic nerve compression has kept me busy.

That 16340 in question has been discarded properly today, along with another pair of used CR123's showing erratic (fluctuating) voltage readings.

Taped up the contact terminals and brought them to the local battery receycling disposal when I was on my way to see the orthopedist.

By the way, I found some ludicrous videos on youtube. Hard to believe someone would really punch a lithium cell with a screwdriver, without gloves (and therefor presumably no other protection like a face shield and respirator). Hydrofluoric acid poisoning is mighty Eeep!, big time...!

Simon

Ouch. How does one get sciatic nerve compression? Hope things are ok.

has anyone ever cut a lithium battery in half with a band saw? what would happen?

Smoke, flames, generally bad stuff. Liberating hydrogen fluoride indoors is generally reckoned to be a bad thing. Sure is for your lungs.