May I add a safety warning regarding the batteries sometimes used in HiFi equipment?

A friend recently suffered some nasty chemical burns after removing a leaking Nickel Cadmium battery from his radio tuner. He needed hospital treatment for the burns which took some time to heal, but thankfully didn't need a skin graft.

The electrolyte in rechargeable batteries is strongly alkaline, (KoH or Potassium Hydroxide), and WILL cause burns. In the case of Nickel Cadmium cells there will also be cadmium ions, which are toxic.

Likewise the electrolyte from alkaline cells is, err, strongly alkaline.

Needleless to say gloves and safety specs should be worn whenever handling this stuff, and hands must be washed thoroughly afterwards and before eating.

Nigel.