safety precautions for the following six types of
batteries ETs are most likely to see:
1. Carbon-zinc
2. Manganese-dioxide alkaline-zinc
3. Mercuric-oxide
4. Lithium
5. Lead-acid
6. Nickel-cadmium
Carbon-Zinc Dry Cell Battery
This is a very common battery in the Navy. It has a
zinc outer container, a carbon center electrode, and a
chemical paste for the electrolyte. It is usually sealed in
a cardboard or plastic casing.
There are three important safety precautions
concerning using, storing, or disposing of carbon-zinc
batteries:
1. Do Not store carbon-zinc batteries in electronic
equipment for extended periods. The corrosive
electrolyte could leak out of the battery and
damage the equipment.
2. Do Not throw carbon-zinc batteries into a fire;
they could explode. Keep them away from
incinerators.
3. Do Not throw carbon-zinc batteries overboard
while at sea. These batteries contain metal
pollutants. Store them on board (in a steel
container) until you can properly dispose of
them ashore.
Manganese-Dioxide Alkaline-Zinc Cell Battery
Commonly called an alkaline battery, this type of
battery is similar to the carbon-zinc battery. The only
difference is the type of electrolyte used. You’ll find
these batteries in portable electronic equipment. The
safety precautions for alkaline batteries are identical to
the safety precautions for carbon-zinc batteries.
Mercuric-Oxide Zinc Cell Batteries
Commonly called mercury cells, these batteries are
small and powerful. They have longer shelf life than the
two previous types of batteries. They were first used to
power miniature equipments of the space program.
Today these batteries are used in electronic test
2-6
equipment, cameras, hearing aids, periscope cameras,
missiles, cryptographic equipment, and sonar devices.
Mercury cells are safe when used properly. But, if
they’re misused, BOOM!, they could explode. Use the
following safety precautions for mercury batteries:
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
5 .
Do Not place a direct “short circuit” on a
mercury cell.
Do Not discharge a mercury cell after its voltage
falls below 70 percent of its original voltage, or
after it fails to operate the equipment it is in.
Do Not leave the battery switch on when the
equipment isn’t in use, or after the mercury cell
fails to operate the equipment.
Do Not expose mercury cells to temperatures
over 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do Not keep exhausted mercury cells. Discard
them as soon as possible. If you’re at sea, store
them temporarily under water in a steel
container until you can dispose of them properly
ashore. When you store exhausted mercury
cells, never purposely puncture their jackets.
Lithium Cell Batteries
Lithium batteries are high-energy, long-lasting bat-
teries with a longer shelf life than most other batteries.
They are making their way into electronic equipments.
They’re used in computers, communications and cryp-
tographic equipments, torpedoes, and missiles. Unfor-
tunately, lithium batteries can be very dangerous.
They’ve been known to release toxic gases or to ex-
plode. If you handle lithium batteries, observe the fol-
lowing safety precautions to prevent injury to yourself
and damage to your equipment:
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
5 .
6 .
Use only lithium batteries that are approved for
use in your equipment.
Store them in cool, well-ventilated areas away
from flammable items.
Always observe polarity when you install
them.
Do Not pierce, short-circuit, recharge, crush,
cut, burn, drop, dismantle, modify, or otherwise
carelessly handle them.
Do Not leave them in equipment that won’t be
used for long periods.
Do Not throw them away with daily trash.
Dispose of them properly. See the
