During my recent scheduled recharging session, I noticed that one of my AW RCR123s has “anomalies” under the label. They feel to be “solid,” and don’t compress down under a fingernail. I do not recall these being there before. I decommissioned this from use (and didn’t recharge it) pending evaluation.
Something of concern? A bad cell generating gas and/or corrosion on the surface of the cell?
Opinions are most appreciated!
It does seem a little strange. You could just cut off the plastic and see what it is.
rust pimples.
sure they are not counterfeit?
or got wet?
Contact AW and ask.
There were a lot of counterfeit “AW” cells sold a while ago.
https://www.google.com/search?q=counterfeit+AW+battery
Almost assuredly not counterfeit. I buy AWs only from those on AW’s list of genuine-sourced vendors, specifically, for me, FourSevens or RTD Vapor. Nowhere else (due to the very real risk of counterfeits).
I think I’ll gently cut the wrapper (as suggested above) with an X-Acto, and take a look at what I find. I presume rust is the likely discovery.
I’ll let everyone know soon.
Thanks, all, for your thoughts!
And rust it is…
Which is mysterious to me since I never handle batteries wet, nor are any of my other batteries showing any similar phenomena, and, the PD22UE it was inside of has no signs of corrosion. Oh, well, off it goes to the great beyond. Thanks for the suggestions!
Careless storage problem somewhere in AW’s distribution system?
Contamination on the metal before it was shrinkwrapped maybe, like a bit of salt (someone ate lunch and didn’t wash hands, at the shrinkwrap station).
If it got really cold for a while, then was moved to a warmer, normally humid environment, water would condense on the metal under the plastic.
If you let AW know, it’d be a data point.
Once rust gets started it’d lift the plastic enough for more moisture to get in.
“Rust never sleeps.”
Perhaps there have been other reports.
Certainly something to watch for.