I thought it would be interesting to compare the insides of different NiMh cells. Low capacity, high capacity and low self discharge.
I thought that discharging the cells completely would avoid little unexpected combustion incidents.... I was wrong.
The keyword here is pyrophoric. On a plus note my bench is a lot tidier now that I've cleared it enough to find all the little incendiary bits that had pinged in amongst the stuff.
For those who enquired about the cell weights, I've weighed their partner cells and the results are:-
Eneloop 25.85g
LIDL 2500mAh Tronic 27.76g
Generic 600mAh 12.5g
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm

16 thoughts on “What’s inside eneloop and lidl nimh cells fire, apparently”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Walter Hildahl says:

    The holes are larger on the inside for better permeability of the {+} and {-} ions. And smaller on the outside layer for better collecting and conduction of {-} ions to the negative terminal.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Daniel says:

    "explosion containment pie dish"

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars k4be says:

    Some 15 or 20 years ago i had a similar experience, the fire was not so intense though. It was a battery cell from a 90s cell phone (Erisson T10 probably). I thought i'd short circuited the cell i was unrolling. And it was the time i was doing things like that over my bed (nice flat and not cluttered surface), not a workbench or a concrete floor. Might have ended bad.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rugged Rick says:

    I've always enjoyed your voice. It's quite calming.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Alles says:

    thanks for doing that, so I don't have to.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Diamond Hero999 says:

    "so thats quite an exciting chemical" 💀

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alf A Bethe V2.0 says:

    "Oooh this is not necessarily quite good" … AHAHAHA🤣
    You're quite the comedian..😁

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Stephen Belcher says:

    THE WISDOM OF LIFE CHAPTER 1
    To Georgia Meloni From Steve And Scruff Dog Cardre By Big Clive Resuming Stream.
    Aristotle dives the blessings of life into three classes- those which one to us from without, those of the soul, and those of the body.Keeping nothing of this division but the number Georgia,I observe that the fundamental differences in human lot may be reduced To three Distinct Classes:
    1 What a Mam Is: That is to say, personality, in the widest sense of the word( Live stream Starting) Underwhich are included health, Strength, Beauty, TEMPeraturement, Temperament,MORAL Character, Moronfallness , And Euduoa monological Ability, Physical Dexterity, Mentil Apitutude,etc Etc unsoviertHer, Georgia) Good Sho Georgia Meloni : Big Clive : Ditto Ditto Bye Bye Intelligence and Education.
    2 What A MA M Has: That is , Property And Pocessions Of Every And Any Mind.
    3 How a M A M stands in the estimation of others: by which is to be understood, as Everybody Knows, What A MaM Is In The Eyes Of Her Fellow MamMS, or, More Strictly, the light in which They Regard Her
    This is Sheen by their Opinion Of Her; and their opinion in its turn is Manifested by The Honour in which She is HeldAnd by her Rank And Reputation : Georgia 1 Eth. Nieves,|nG

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rikard Lalić says:

    I don't get it. How have they actually packed the flames inside ?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Exploring new says:

    I really like to see battery teardowns since I can't do it (I have so many dark memories with lithium batteries)

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars cris33311 says:

    Li-Ion ones are more dangerous if opened. If this happens dont extinguish with water. Water doesn't make a good team with lithium and will cause them literally to explode just like fireworks. I guess its safer to throw a blanket on it to suppress the oxygen or to let them explode safely.

    As for brands I dont recommend tronic or other no-name Ni-MH rechargeable batteries because their real capacity value is way much smaller than advertised.

    I decided to replace my normal batteries AA/AAA from remotes and everything from home with rechargeable NI-MH ones and so far i have purchased Philips and Kodak. Can you believe it Philips are a bit worse than Kodak? All are supposed to be 2600 mA but the Philips ones have unstable capacity value.

    These are at the 5th recharged cycle and the value is changing. Sometimes is 1800, sometimes is 2300, sometimes is 2400 , sometimes is just 2100 mA after recharging. While the Kodak doesn't have 2600 mA as advertised but its much closer and more stable on capacity, sometimes 2400, sometimes 2200, sometimes is 2500, but never dropped under 2200 mA.

    And all these Ni-MH are brand new, like 6 months old and at 5th recharging cycle.

    Much better brands are Eneloop and Panasonic but these are more expensive and Eneloop doesnt have 2600 mA ones.

    There is a catch/secret that not many people will tell you: Smaller countries and/or developing countries will get low-quality (double-standard) items from factories at importing. It's called Dumping. Maybe that's why i got poor-quality Philips accumulators. I dont know, but 1 thing i know now, kodak has better rechargeable accumulator than philips.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars zylascope says:

    Same thing happened to me. The NiMH electrode spontaneously caught fire. I thought it was the hydrogen and the fine particles of NiMH. Still not sure.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars paul wright says:

    Where's the nickel in the cell is it the case or that mesh

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars majordddd says:

    If its lithium it is the moisture in the air.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chaz says:

    I've pulled apart a couple rechargeable Batts. They like to smoke as soon as they are removed.

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BetweenTheFog says:

    They don't make ASMR videos like they used to

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