[Elecraft] Safety/risk of internal SLA battery ?

[Mike McCoy]

While at that local FD activities, a couple of us were discussing our
respective K2's. One of the club members remarked he wouldn't opt for the
internal battery because he 'just didn't think having an SLA inside a $600
radio was a good thing and *especially* with it hanging over everything like
it does". The implication being if the SLA ever leaked/etc. it would
definately be a disaster.

Well, having a shiny new K2 (with the internal batt option) that remark
really woke me up to the grim potential of ruining a K2 if the SLA were
somehow mishandled!  Now I'm totally paranoid. I can just envision me
screwing up the charge somehow and next thing I know the bottom of my K2
looks like a scene out of Alien (you know.. the acidy spit that eats gaping
holes in the steel deck?)

I'm just wondering what the general risk might really be (and how to totally
avoid it)? Has anyone ever experienced a leaking gel-cell/SLA type battery,
etc.?

73,
Mike - AD5IU