AA battery caused leakage in battery compartment (Page 2): Seen a vid on you tube , the guy used Q tips soaked in vinegar. Haven't tried it yet.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Seen a vid on you tube , the guy used Q tips soaked in vinegar. Haven't tried it yet.

mrtaxi Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL

First Use vinegar on a Q tip this will break down the acid. Dry completely with paper towel pieces and Q tips. Use pencil eraser on metal. Then switch to AA Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries. They do not leak and although expensive to purchase are way cheaper over time.

Bill_de Loc: US

If the batteries weren't expired, take pictures of batteries and damaged camera. Email them to battery manufacturer. You never know what their response might be.

Then clean it up the best you can following the suggestions already provided.

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larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Keep in mind that the citric acid in vinegar is very strong and reactive itself. It will itself cause corrosion, and will wreak considerable havoc if it gets into spaces where it cannot quickly be removed. You must immediately follow your vinegar swab with a dry one, then use a swab with clean water, and finally another dry swab to remove all traces of the vinegar.

chippy65 Loc: Cambridge

You did not state the battery type................. Zinc / carbon electrolye is acid so use bicarbonate of soda and "wash" with minimum trace of water

on cotton bud, when clean dry with isopropanol, finish with WD40.

If alkaline battery leakage, neutalise with a weak acid, usually vinegar in most homes, again follow with the cotton bud wash etc.

best of luck

chippy65 Loc: Cambridge

larryepage wrote:

Keep in mind that the citric acid in vinegar is very strong and reactive itself. It will itself cause corrosion, and will wreak considerable havoc if it gets into spaces where it cannot quickly be removed. You must immediately follow your vinegar swab with a dry one, then use a swab with clean water, and finally another dry swab to remove all traces of the vinegar.

advice is good but vinegar is acetic acid...............citric acid is in lemons

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

ICUQTPIE wrote:

Hi Everyone,
I am asking for advice to help me get rid of AA battery acid that leaked into my infrared cam battery compartment. I left the batteries in for approximately 14 months while storing it.
Someone told me to use a q tip dipped in vinegar. Do any one of you have any other suggestions other than taking it to a shop to be fixed? Thanks in advance.
ICUQTPIE

You are done, time for a new camera. I hope you have learned a valuable lesson. NEVER leave AA or AAA batteries in your camera.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

billnikon wrote:

You are done, time for a new camera. I hope you have learned a valuable lesson. NEVER leave AA or AAA batteries in your camera.

Yes, if the corrosion leaked into the camera itself, then the camera may be toast ( an expensive repair).

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

ICUQTPIE wrote:

Hi Everyone,
I am asking for advice to help me get rid of AA battery acid that leaked into my infrared cam battery compartment. I left the batteries in for approximately 14 months while storing it.
Someone told me to use a q tip dipped in vinegar. Do any one of you have any other suggestions other than taking it to a shop to be fixed? Thanks in advance.
ICUQTPIE

If it is a nationally known manufacturer, it is very likely they have a guaranty of some sort. Call them and they "might", (operative word),
clean it for you.

Back in the 90's an Everyready battery leaked in an old flash unit a small amount. I called the mfg. to let them know about the problem after self cleaning it. They offered to repair it or pay for the damage. Having cleaned it myself, I just reported it to them and did no other follow up.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BebuLamar wrote:

The battery chemistry is alkaline and thus acid would help remove it. And so vinegar works well.

Yes! How about a water/baking soda paste, like you use on a car battery?

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

BebuLamar wrote:

The battery chemistry is alkaline and thus acid would help remove it. And so vinegar works well.

👍👍

Used vinegar and swabs to clean many a vintage camera battery compartment and the cap. Be sure, though, to avoid using a dripping wet swab inside the battery compartment and letting liquid vinegar get inside the body. A damp swab, used repeatedly, will take more time but will avoid vinegar migrating into the camera body.

Stan

Kaskazi Loc: Ontario, Canada

ICUQTPIE wrote:

Hi Everyone,
I am asking for advice to help me get rid of AA battery acid that leaked into my infrared cam battery compartment. I left the batteries in for approximately 14 months while storing it.
Someone told me to use a q tip dipped in vinegar. Do any one of you have any other suggestions other than taking it to a shop to be fixed? Thanks in advance.
ICUQTPIE

I also successfully used a q tip dipped in vinegar - after probably TWENTY YEARS of neglect of an old Minolta. It's worth a go, particularly if the battery compartment can be removed from the camera itself (or swivelled away).

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

This happened to me. I took it to Larmon Photo in Jenkintown, where the fellow behind the counter used a Q-tip and spray to clean it up. It took about a half an hour, and he didn't even charge me. I will be their customer for life.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

There is a product call Deoxit that works great for this purpose. It is oil based like WD-40. This product is particularly for cleaning electrical contacts. I would purchase the product in a bottle and not spray. Apply with a Q-tip or the brush. I would keep this away from optics as it is oil based.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

burkphoto wrote:

Vinegar moistened Q-tips, followed by 91% isopropyl alcohol wipes is usually enough. Don’t use abrasive tools.

Yup, my method as well when I don’t remember that the leaking risk for alkalines is notorious for if they deep discharge.