I have been trying to locate some type of closed storage containers for D and C cell batteries. There are numerous "boxes with lids" available for AA, AAA, etc., that we all have in our kits, but D and C cell batteries tend to be a problem storing in a kit, at home, or in the car. The only containers I can locate via Google are open style, hold it in with a spring, type storage. There has got to be something else out there or something that someone uses, maybe self made, that needs discovering. They definitely need to be contained because they like to roll. I thought about some PVC piping but have not had the opportunity to see if they would fit, and then there is still the problem of pluses and minuses touching each other. Maybe a side to side closed storage would be much better protection not only for the battery but because of the possible leakage issue.

When I ramble it just says I need HELP with an issue!



ONE DAY CLOSER

I thought I had some plastic battery cases bookmarked but unless I overlooked the bookmark, this is the closest I came to finding what I was looking for:

http://www.otterbox.com/category.cfm?Category=33

I'll keep looking. These are a bit pricey and are not specific to batteries but would make nice survival kits in general.

I don't know what you have in mind, or how many you plan to store but you could consider a Pelican 1030



That image is from a seller Dmartin15 on eBay and he sells them for under $14.

If you need to store a bunch, I'd just look into getting a tupperware container that's just tall enough to hold them.

You could also try here. They might have something that would come close to fitting. They even have a handly little selection tool that lets you put in the desired LxWxD and it spits out part numbers and pictures.

*EDIT*
Gator beat me to it. That is the company.

I keep some AAA's (alkaline) in a toothbrush holder (holds 8 of them), with a small piece of cardboard between the rows to avoid contact. Since it has a small hole in the end, i'm hoping no vapors collect. In selecting all my devices (lights, radios, steripen, etc), I have been successful having almost everything use AAA batteries (radio uses AA). One of my main considerations is minimizing types and sizes of batteries I need to carry, though I'll guess you don't want to consider other equipment that ues smaller batteries.. I think "C" and "D" would be a tough one. I'd look for some kind of soft case, maybe a small calculator case, camera case or stuff sack.

Michael

Readyone, behold! I found what I was looking for. They look great for battery storage but I would prefer more subdued colors! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

http://www.inanycase.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?

Be sure and click on "View more battery packs" at the bottom of the page. There are several inexpensive ones on that page.

Here's inexpensive plastic cases, designed to hold 8 C or D batteries each, though not as "bulletproof" as the Otters and Pelicans.

InAnyCase.com

Added edit: Sorry for duplicate info; Boone slid in a minute before my post.

Sorry Dan. Didn't mean to SCOOP you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I prefer "great minds think alike." <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I must be missing something. Hopefully someone will clue me in. Does everything really need to be that containerized?

At home, the original container (potentially including useful data re lot no., etc.).

In the vehicle or bags, I just use Ziplocs. They adequately contain the batteries as well as any possible leakage for my purposes). If fixing their location is important, wouldn't rubber bands do the job. This approach uses general container while minimizing bulk and weight. I haven't needed to provide extra protection. Also my kit is packed tight enough that things don't move very much.

Let me know what I'm overlooking,

John

John, this containerization thing is just merely survival foreplay before the main event! Don't you know nuthin"???????????? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for all the Great information. Some of your searches must have worked much better than my Google search. Now I can continue to get better organized and maybe this post will help someone else along the way.

If you need to store a single D battery, a common plastic pill bottle with a reversible lid works well and is water proof..

Does anyone EDC batteries on body? In your pants pockets or what not is what I'm asking. I don't really want to containerize anything else for on-body carry (I'm wondering if I've got too much now) but I feel somewhat exposed because right now I don't carry any extra batteries. Would vacuum packing batteries work? Keep the moisture off of them and keep them from contacting each other. Or are there considerations I've missed?

Do you carry just enough to reload the EDC tools you carry, or more? Remember, I'm thinking on-body. I use AA and AAA mostly.

Thoughts?

right now I carry my extra batteries in my bug out bag battery boxes I picked up from organize-everything.com.

http://organizeeverything.mercadosearch.com/Search.aspx?free_text=battery%20holder


I also have this nylon case for a few batteries to carry on my person, although I haven't started carrying them daily yet because I have my bug out bag with me at work.

http://www.greenbatteries.com/nylbatwal.html

My "on body" EDC lights are :
- SF 6P (sheath on belt, back right))
- Nuwai Q3 (in a pouch on my belt, front left)
- one white and one red Photon III (dangling from the pouch)

So I EDC in my belt pouch :
- 2 x CR123,
- 2 x CR2016,
- 1 x CR2032

I EDC 1-Lithium AAA on my key chain kit for my Peak LED. AAA battery fits perfectly in a lenght of #8 wire heat shrink tube.

I use a G2 as a spares carrier for my A2 and/or E1L.

I carry spare batteries in my pants pocket in Omniseal waterproof holders. These are basically super heavy duty ziplocks intended for ID cards or the like. It will comfortably carry six 123A type batteries. AA batteries will also fit in here - I used to carry a combo of batteries in one of these, but have standardized my lights on the 123A form factor.

These little guys are nice and cheap too. I figure each one lasts me six months before they start to crack a bit at the top. At about $1 each, this works out fine. I've tried various other "normal" Ziplock type bags, and none will hold up to pocket wear.

I have also tried vaccum packing, and that doesn't wear well either.

Here is an outdated picture of my EDC which shows batteries in an Omniseal bag. My current EDC still includes the batteries and the Sebenza, but I've converged the two flashlights in the picture into one HDS EDC U85 light with a 2x123A battery pack and dropped the little multitool (but picked up a Leatherman Juice Xe6 in my EDC bag).

-john

FoodSaver Vacuum Packer. I vacuum pack a "set" of batteries together for each device. Waterproof, nonconductive, won't rattle, etc.
But then, as I've disclosed in other threads... I'd vacuum pack air if given a chance. I use my FoodSaver for so much of my kit.

I've tried this as well - even double packed batteries - and they don't hold up well to pocket carry.

-john

For secure, waterproof, low-bulk packaging of strictly-for-backup batteries, would it work to use plastic dip? Or would its temporarily-liquid nature harm the batteries before it dried?

The idea came when I was replacing the battery pack in one of my cordless phones this weekend. Those come bundled in some sort of plasticized shrink wrap.

Dan

I don't think that is a dip - I think that is heat shrink wrap.

-john

You're right John – it is a shrink wrap of some sort. But like I say, I wonder if a dip would work as well? Opinions?

I think the Dip is electrically insulated, so it shouldn't conduct if you use it. Only really cheap batteries would allow any of it to leak in. But if you dunk a whole set together (I assume you tape with cellophane or similar first) you have to be careful when slitting it open or just break it.

Heat shrink tubing (they make it pretty large diameter) might prove very useful. Not quite water tight unless you use the adhesive variety and leave extra on the ends.

I have some experimenting to do! :-) I like the idea of standardizing on one or two battery format, especially in an emergency. I can get AAs anywhere including the local mom & pop or gas station, but maybe not 123As...

They both will have thier own problems.

Heatshrink- batteries don't like being hot. The could swell during the shrinking.

Dip- getting that gunk off will be your big problem. If you don't get contact, or can't get the battery into the battery well, you might as well not have them.

CR123s carry nicely in a paintball tube, and should carry nicely in a shotgun choke carrying tube. AAs, find yourself some 1/2" tubing with end caps. The "speedloader" tubes for blackpowder should work well enough, but they might need to be trimmed.

I once ordered rigid clear plastic tubing & end caps from a packaging catalog. (pre-internet!) These came in 6' lengths of various sizes. Caps in bags of 100. You cut what you need & with 2 end caps you have a custom length container. HOWEVER, I cannot remember the company & have searched all over the internet to no avail. If anybody finds a company selling these things, please be so kind as to post it. I will be eternally grateful.

I was looking at some of these a few days ago...

VisiPak

Wrap in cellophane/cling film then dip? Just an idea.

eeph

Because you will only need your new batteries after exhausting an existing set, why not vacuum encapsulate the new ones in a food storage sealer? Date the bag and check the batteries annually. Unless you are using lithium 3 volt; those should be checked every 5 years.

My experience is different. I've never had a problem. This isn't a long term storage idea, anyway. I'm using them up before the plastic vacuum bag wears out.

Those VisiPaks are what I've been looking for home made firestarters. Any retail link for them?

Unfortunately I haven't found anything like these sold retail in stores by themselves. However, I did find some cheap bath salts packaged in them in one instance, glitter in another, beads in yet another, and bubble blowing liquid that had a lanyard that attached to the cap as well, so I bit the bullet, bought a few, dumped the contents, and cleaned them up. Most of the time I ended up paying around $1.00 to $2.00 for these, so it can get expensive depending on how many you need and if you experiment with different sizes.

I have seen them on ebay from time to time. If you do a search there for "plastic tubes" then some will generally show up for crafts storage, or in some instances as labware, though the latter are essentially plastic test tubes with caps.

When I started playing paintball about 15 years ago or so, paintballs came in tubes of 10 with a plastic cap. I can't think of how many of those I threw away back in the day. LOL

I do have a pack of ten left, but I keep them with my old Splatmaster as nostalgic pieces and part of the display of markers I've owned over the years... OK... They're all packed in a box, but it sounds better to say that they're displayed. HAHAHA

If you use cr123s, the orange Coghlans matchcase works really well, and you can silence it using the sheets of foam from a craft store, cutting 2 disks the diameter of the tube, one the diameter of the cap. Put 1 tube sized foam disk in the base of the tube, place 1cell in the case, put the second disk in between it and the second cell, and line the cap with the third foam disk. No movement (thus no noise), non-conducting, waterproof, and costs less than 3 bucks.

Sounds familiar. I have my old HP48SX packed away in a drawer because I had to use my whole tax refund from my very first job to pay for it so it because too valuebale to me to get rid of even though I haven't used it in years.

Why not make a trip to a hardware store and pick up some plasitc plumbing pipe and a couple end caps and cut your own tubes?

2 CR123s fit in a Kodak 'Advantix' film canister like they were made for it. The film/canister are oval in shape.

I EDC a Fenix and a CMG Infinity Ultra, so if one dies on me and I still need to use it I can just swich the batteries.

I like the looks of this
but its only available in AAA. Anyone seen something like that in AA size?

If you carry a pouched Leatherman tool that has pockets on the sides (like the Charge), you can fit a AAA and probably a AA in one of the side pockets. It wouldn't be a bad idea to insulate the battery if you do this. I used to have an ARC-P flashlight in one pocket and a spare AAA battery in the other. Right now I'm carrying the Charge with the belt clip though. I also just received my Doug Ritter Photon and it's already clear that it'll be my new EDC light. Plus it's so small that I'm considering simply carrying two of them and forgetting about carrying spare batteries. I still think the ARC is a fantastic light though.

I have some of these for my AA and they are great. Kinda bright, but easy to find in a bark bag/ backpack.