AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

So my question is nearly as important as how do you solve world peace, and I woke up with it on my mind. I always like to carry the least amount of equipment with me as possible, with a bag dedicated for my Fuji X-T2 and another for my Olympus Pen-F. Everything has its place in the bag. I bought a remote shutter release for each camera, their brand name is unimportant. The design on both the sender and receiver has a button that protrudes well above the surface to activate and fire the shutter. I opened the bag several days after the last shoot to find the units back on and furiously blinking away because they have pressed up against something inside the bag, and are using up battery power. The most obvious solution is to remove the batteries, and then finding something to safely store them inside the bag. I bought some neoprene washers with the holes slightly larger than the buttons, glued them on and have probably solved the on/off issue. I'm wondering though what happens if you store both AA rechargeable eneloop batteries in the device backwards. I'm expecting that the device won't work, but will it short out, overheat, or damage the unit? Has anyone already done this by accident, and what happened? Thanks in advance for any responses.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DO NOT STORE THE BATTERIES IN A DEVICE BACKWARDS, EVER!

Insert a small square of paper over the "+" button of each battery to keep the battery button from touching the terminal. Make the strip rectangular (a tail) so it is easy to remove when required.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

The paper insert, much like when you receive a device with batteries inserted, makes perfect sense. Thanks very much, didn't even think of that. I think the McGyver in me wanted to go out, drive to the hardware store, find and select the right size washers, mix up the epoxy, center and tape the washers carefully over the buttons, and wait to see if it worked.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Paper/plastic strip.

Yup, done the MacGyver route a few times....

BebuLamar

Some devices have protection circuit to protect them from reverse polarity but most don't and they can be damaged.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

And one will not know until the device is damaged...

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Thanks Bebu

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Rather not wait until that happens. Glad I asked.

BebuLamar

I know because I hook up the batteries in reverse many times by mistake. So I know it doesn't always end up in disaster but sometimes it does.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Sometimes would be bad enough.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I store my batteries outside of what ever unit in plastic medication bottles.

Be sure your washers are not so thick as to jam the battery door. I think you might be better off with paper or adhesive paper, tape, or similar on your battery terminals while storing them in your device.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Paper strips can tear
Plastic is probably stronger
Mylar or something that doesn’t stretch would be best

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

This is a constant problem with small battery driven devices. The designers are cretins. I have found the easiest and most secure method is to find a small container (a solid one that won't allow being squashed), cut out a foam insert that will hold the device within the container with clearance over the on/off button. Works for our camera remote triggers so far.

User ID

The washers are not inside the battery chamber. Read again the OP. They guard the switch button. Ive done the same thing, works very well.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Ah, as they say Great minds think alike. It's the old McGyver thing.