[MRCA] D Cell in Parallel CAUTION

[B. Smith]

         Several members are evidently using two (2) D cells in parallel 
to power the filament chain of receivers such as the GRC-9, BC-611, and 
GRC-109. I've mentioned a "Melt Down" problem with this procedure 
numerous times on my BC-611 and BA-48 page.
         Over the years I and several other membershave experience 
multiple instances of D cell battery packs consisting to two Alkaline 
Manganese Dioxide cells wired in parallelcreating very high 
temperatures. We call this phenomenon "Melt Down."In BC-611's the case 
gets so hot you could not pick up the radio if you touched the area 
where the battery pack was inserted. Fortunatelyeach time the "Melt 
Down" occurred the radio was either in the field or on the bench and not 
being stored or on the shelf.
          In each case the manufacture was Duracell or Energizer. It is 
mentioned briefing in their safety sheets that the "Batteries may 
explode or leak, and cause burn injury, if recharged. . ." I hate to 
mention brand names but these manufactures make an excellent battery and 
thus their cells have enough energy to cause "Melt Down" which occurs 
when one battery is trying to charge the other battery.
         In most cases two D cells are overkill in powering the filament 
chain of our military reeivers when one battery wouldsuffice. I 
recommend that if you insist on using two cells in parallel that you 
insert the batteries only for the exact time that you need the receiver 
to be powered and that you monitor for over heating. Remove the 
batteries when not in use.Do not store the battery pack on the shelfin a 
parallel configuration. It has been reported that batteries that were 
exposed to high temperatures in the sunlight prior to use were prone to 
"Melt Down."

Safety sheets for these batteries should bedownloaded and read.

K4CHE
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