Thread: Button battery ban

I wonder if the button battery ban will affect products used in our hobby.

Things like small digital measuring devices like digital calipers with the plastic cover over the battery are probably not supposed to be available for sale in Australia now.

Originally Posted by .RC.

I wonder if the button battery ban will affect products used in our hobby.

Things like small digital measuring devices like digital calipers with the plastic cover over the battery are probably not supposed to be available for sale in Australia now.

is that the same battery type used in car fobs ? i need to replace mine soon.

Only effects household consumer items, not industrial.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

Only effects household consumer items, not industrial.

We had to take a heap of cigweld welding helmet off the shelf today and send them back because of it

Rick

There's no ban on button batteries - what's banned is gismos that have easily accessible ways for kids to get at the batteries like pop or slide off lids on battery compartments. This includes child resistant packaging.

I've been looking at getting a splash/coolant proof set of Calipers and see that there are still quite a few with simple slide on lids, but increasingly they now have screw on or screw down battery compartments which are apparently

Mitutoyo Screw cap.

Screen Shot 2022-06-23 at 6.32.38 pm.png
or 3 philips head screws.
Screen Shot 2022-06-23 at 6.34.30 pm.png

My cheap arsed set fell into my lathe tray and there was just enough coolant in there to make them start acting super erratic. I'm going to have a go at cleaning them (I've done it before) an then I'm going to relegate these to way electronics bench and get an IP67 rate set.

The specific requirement is s follows.

General requirements

1. Button batteries in consumer goods must not release during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions.
2. Young children must be unable to open the battery compartment of consumer goods containing replaceable button battery.
3. If the button battery compartment cover is secured by screws, the screws must remain with the cover.
4. Consumer goods containing a non-replaceable button battery, but which is accessible by the consumer, must meet the requirements in section 6.4 of UL 4200A.

My understanding of all this is it will make little difference, as the most likely times kids get hold of these batteries is when they're replaced in devices ands batteries left laying around instead of disposing them properly and immediately.

As bob said there is no ban just regulations to make less accessible to children e.g. the new child proof packaging most come in these days.