This is more general question, but because I use single AA lights more often than any other type, decided to put this here.
I’m wondering if I’m the only one who has an ESD station at home and uses it when replacing batteries.
While using a SpiderFire single AA flashlight for inspection at work, it failed due to a Machine Model ESD event. So, I may be over cautious.
Seems manufacturers don’t even take proper ESD precautions.
I googled this and it seems to be a Japanese ESD test…are you saying you flashlight failed an ESD test?
No, it was rendered unusable after that ESD event. It no longer worked. Dead.
So you were simulating an ESD event using the machine model and the battery failed during the test? Or there was a real event later? I don’t get it.
They do say to keep lithium ion batteries away from static. I don’t really pay attention to that. Maybe I should buy some bags or something. Idk. But I definitely don’t care with an AA. Thats like tinfoil hat levels of safety precaution
I do have an “ESD station” (well, just a grounded silicone soldering mat on top of a table) which I installed for my electronics hobby after losing a couple of ESP32 modules🤦♂️, but have never thought about using it for swapping flashlight batteries.
My thinking was that the batteries themselves are pretty much bullet-proof against the kind of static electricity one is likely to build up at home (unless there’s a Van Der Graff generator in the same room) as they have no electronic components at all, and the flashlights should be pretty much resistant by default as they are built to be used in the field.
But thinking about that again after reading your post, there’s a difference for the flashlight when it’s having its battery replaced: its terminals are more exposed and therefore a static electricity discharge could end up getting to the circuit in a way that an “external” discharge (with the flashlight closed) wouldn’t.
Hummrmm… perhaps my ESD station will end up getting more use after that… 
There was no ESD testing involved. The light was being used when a real ESD event happened. The battery was not damaged. The circuit board got damaged to the point where the light did not function at all.
If you want us to share more thoughts you gotta share more details about exactly what that ESD event is.
What I’m really just asking is . . .
do you change batteries whenever and wherever
or
do you wait to change batteries until you can do so at an EDS station?
I’m guessing I may be the only one who waits till I get home to my ESD station. Which makes me think I’m over cautious.
I certainly don’t change batteries at an ESD station, because I don’t own a ESD station! None of my lights ever died from static.
My understanding is it’s more likely that components are damaged when the electrical device is on. Assuming your flashlight was on when it touched the machine then this would hold true. When changing batteries the light is not on. So the act of removing or inserting a battery is not necessarily all that dangerous as far as sparks and potential damage. This assumes you’re not doing it on/around running machinery.
I have noticed in recent years that the warning signs to turn off your cell phone when pumping gasoline have mostly disappeared. Not that anybody was ever following those rules. Except maybe the people working on the pumps. Although it could be because very few phones have removable batteries that could potentially fall out if somebody dropped the phone.
Not something I ever considered but a pretty good ask I guess.
I was a photographer for about 12 years. When shooting a wedding and reception I was typically using my camera for 16 hours or more. Had to change batteries several times through the course of the day. The only feasible option to take any safety measure is to turn the camera off before the swap. Other than that, your $5000 or more of electronics is just vulnerable.
So, in a working, powered up scenario, I would think you’re just at risk. Other than that, and with a decade and thousands of lights experience, I have to say you’re severely overthinking battery swaps.
2 is 1 and 1 is none.
My 2 cents.
Dale
usually the metal body is enough shielding and grounding etc
i usually break lights by dropping too many times
I remember some officials say those signs were also so people wouldn’t be distracted by their phones while filling up. As if youd be so into angry birds you wouldn’t notice gasoline spraying everywhere. But you’re still close by so you can still react if something happens so they got rid of those.
I think that’s the main reason they say not to go back and forth into the car too. Mostly so youre close to the pump incase it doesn’t shut off when it’s supposed to. Saying it’s mostly because of static sounds nicer than saying it’s mostly because you might be an idiot and this pump might not have been inspected in 15 years
I saw an old lady get into a fender bender with a pump last year and nothing happened. Fire department came but they didn’t even shut down the station just that pump.
They do say to take jerry cans out of the back of the truck and put them on the ground before filling them up if you have a plastic truck bed though, so they’re grounded. That’s probably legit. The pump doesn’t somewhat seal to the can like they kinda do on a car either so there’s probably a little more risk. That an topping off. Stop topping off. And don’t let your kids run around the station while you’re pumping either. Especially those big ones at Costco or off the highway. They let their kids right out cuz they won’t shut up on a road trip and then wham