+AtwellFamily Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Come prepared, bring your own. This is what happens to batteries in caches. Quote Link to comment
+tomfuller & Quill Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Not all batteries are created equal. I picked up a pair from a cache that had not been found in 5 months. They worked for several hours in my GPS. Quote Link to comment
+Trucker Lee Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I don't understand the logic of regular alkaline batteries being left as swag, often the usuable shelf life is greatly diminished before they are purchased. However, leaving a pair of rechargable AAs seems a nice bit of swag as many have gone to using these. Quote Link to comment
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I never mind alkaline cells left in sealed packages, inside a sturdy watertight ziplock plastic bag for protection against water and moisture (at least here on the very damp East Coast of the USA), but I have NEVER understood the silly people who feel the need to leave loose unprotected alkaline cells in a cache container which regularly gets damp, in a damp climate environment such as the East Coast of the USA. This is a recipe for disaster. Must be a few screws loose somewhere, along with the loose batteries. Quote Link to comment
GPS-Hermit Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I like it as a trade item and will take them and use them immediately - I also take extras so I can let them run out if they are not full. Usually they are full. It might help someone pushing night time and unprepared. Might help someone get a picture - should leave four of them. Yes zip them up. I seen alot worse swag than batteries. A whole lot worse! Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 (edited) I've found them in caches and was thankful that I had a replacement for the nearly discharged batteries in my unit or camera. I usually have extra along, but go through them quickly and have been caught without a few times. I've placed them in caches and have seen logs from grateful finders for whom the batteries saved their geocaching day. That's why. Edited November 25, 2007 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+CYBret Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I can also echo the big THANK YOU for those who leave "GPS Food" in caches. I've been very glad to trade for them on a few occasions. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I've seen plenty of them, never had a need bad enough to try them to see if they were still good. Usually though, they don't even LOOK good. Definately MUST be bagged separately, though. Quote Link to comment
+Mudfrog Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 (edited) Finding batteries in caches has been helpful to us a couple of times. We had placed them in a few caches as well. But then about 4 years ago, i was told by a Texas State Park superintendent that batteries weren't allowed in caches placed in the park he oversees because they are bad for the enviroment. Seems there was a cache that got muggled in that park and they found the remains of it, which included AA batteries laying on the ground. While i don't see them as being a big problem, i can see his concerns to an extent and have just made it a practice not to leave batteries in caches. Don't quote me on this but i think that i read somewhere that this guideline pertains to all Texas State Parks. Edited November 25, 2007 by Mudfrog Quote Link to comment
+Team SCR Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I think batteries are a great cache item if they are placed in the cache properly. I have put batteries ina new cache before and I have left them, luckily for me I have never had to take any from a cache, but I would if needed. Quote Link to comment
+9Key Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I've never found crusty bateries in a cache like in the OP photo, but when I have seen batteries in a cache I assume they're depleted and leave them. If cachers would attach a note to them like "new!" it would help. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 But then about 4 years ago, i was told by a Texas State Park superintendent that batteries weren't allowed in caches placed in the park he oversees because they are bad for the enviroment. Oh, Good Grief!!! What is this country coming to? We ban a pair of AA's as being bad for the environment? What about the environmental damage caused by the manufacturing of said AA's? Absurd. Simply absurd. Quote Link to comment
Influence Waterfowl Calls Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I have seen them in caches as well! I have never taken them because I figured they were dead! I did see a pair of AAs with electrical tape wraped around the ends which not only held them together but also covered the contacts to keep them from shorting out on the ammo box and swag. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 But then about 4 years ago, i was told by a Texas State Park superintendent that batteries weren't allowed in caches placed in the park he oversees because they are bad for the enviroment. Oh, Good Grief!!! What is this country coming to? We ban a pair of AA's as being bad for the environment? What about the environmental damage caused by the manufacturing of said AA's? Absurd. Simply absurd. I agree that it is an absurd argument. Are billions of discarded batteries in landfills across the nation something to be concerned about? Probably. But a pair of AAs in the woods, give me a break. As far a placing FRESH batteriesin caches, I think they are great trade items. Ideally they should be in their original packaging, but if that won't fit, then they should at least be in baggies, or taped together and the terminals covered. Quote Link to comment
+zoltig Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Come prepared, bring your own. This is what happens to batteries in caches. HMMMM! Ya know those could be mine that I had left in that cache way back in March of '04. I never did think that they would have not been taken out and used after all of this time. I did include a note on my log that stated they were new batteries. Looking at those, I would definately agree that leaving them unprotected isn't the right thing for sure. I, at the time, thought that is one of the best gifts to give a fellow cacher. The ability to get out and have another 15 or so hours of caching on me. Quote Link to comment
rickctroop13 Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I'll put them in new caches I place, taped together in pairs & baggied. I carry spares, but you never know... Quote Link to comment
+Mudfrog Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 But then about 4 years ago, i was told by a Texas State Park superintendent that batteries weren't allowed in caches placed in the park he oversees because they are bad for the enviroment. Oh, Good Grief!!! What is this country coming to? We ban a pair of AA's as being bad for the environment? What about the environmental damage caused by the manufacturing of said AA's? Absurd. Simply absurd. I agree that it is an absurd argument. Are billions of discarded batteries in landfills across the nation something to be concerned about? Probably. But a pair of AAs in the woods, give me a break. As far a placing FRESH batteriesin caches, I think they are great trade items. Ideally they should be in their original packaging, but if that won't fit, then they should at least be in baggies, or taped together and the terminals covered. I agree with you both as well. They are but the tiniest drop in the bucket as far as being detrimental to our enviroment. I'm just stating what was told to me personally and in this case, it doesn't matter what we think. Geocaching would most likely be banned in that state park if this little guideline was ignored on a regular basis... Quote Link to comment
+Lacomo Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Dang I wondered where I left them darn things! Really though I think batteries are a great cache item if they are fresh and in a sealed package when placed in cache. I've seen the time when I would have loved to find some although a always try to have spares along with me while caching. Quote Link to comment
+SidAndBob Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 We have left batteries once, but for a good reason. This cache is in the middle of a disused 3/4 mile railway tunnel. Two visits later they were picked up, with this comment: Our torch was fading fast so we are eternally grateful whoever left the batteries. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I, at the time, thought that is one of the best gifts to give a fellow cacher. The ability to get out and have another 15 or so hours of caching on me. Nice sentiments, and if I had found them, and seen your note, within a reasonable period of Minnesota summer, I might have grabbed them (although I use NiMh rechargables 100% of the time). Now, if you really wanna give me another 15 hours of caching, leave a gallon of gasoline in the cache! Quote Link to comment
BDSmileys Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Come prepared, bring your own. This is what happens to batteries in caches. umm what cache did you get that from, it might be my little bros XD Quote Link to comment
+zoltig Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 umm what cache did you get that from, it might be my little bros XD CASSE Aviation is the cache. I found the cache back in March of '04 and did leave some new batteries. knowschad, I think you are asking alot wanting a gallon of fuel. By chance I was wondering if the Atwell Family is going to respond to the post they started? I would have thought they would have more input regarding this. ps. I am not being critical of the Atwell Family. They are good people. Quote Link to comment
+zoltig Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 SO. What are the "positive" (+) sides and negative(-) sides to this argument? bwaHAHAHA! Quote Link to comment
+Scare Force One Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 There are lot's of worse things you could find. Golf balls, dead rats, pie. The list goes on. If the worst swag in a cache is a wett AA cell then you are having a good day. ~.~Scare Force One Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 There are lot's of worse things you could find. Golf balls, dead rats, pie. The list goes on. If the worst swag in a cache is a wett AA cell then you are having a good day. ~.~Scare Force One On the other hand, golf balls make really nice little caches and everybody likes pie. Quote Link to comment
CoyoteRed Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I always thought securely wrapped and labels AA lithiums would be a great trade item. Toss a pair in the bottom of your gear bag for the times your GPS runs out of its regular food. "Emergency Rations for GPSs" Quote Link to comment
BelchFire Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Now, if you really wanna give me another 15 hours of caching, leave a gallon of gasoline in the cache! knowschad, What in TARNATION do you drive that gets 15 hours out of a gallon? Back on topic; I think batteries are a limited life thing; if they aren't picked up in a reasonable amount of time, they should be removed by the cache owner during a maintenance run. For this reason, in addition to being bagged, and terminals covered, shouldn't they be dated as well? Quote Link to comment
+Team Cotati Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 The day that I find batteries in a cache at the same moment that my own batteries are just about to go dead, is the same day that I'm gonna drop what I'm doing and catch the next aeroplane to Vegas. Heckfire, I won't even wait that long if I am in a state that has OTB going. Astounding beyond belief. Quote Link to comment
+Rockin Roddy Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I like them...I leave them. I'll usually wrap them in packing tape or a baggy and tape though...and usually label them! Quote Link to comment
Team CDCB Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I just left some in one of my caches that I was restocking a little bit. It was a new package of 4 double-As, so there should be no question on whether they are new or not. I also shrink-wrapped the package for extra protection. Quote Link to comment
+ROOKIE49 Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I just left some in one of my caches that I was restocking a little bit. It was a new package of 4 double-As, so there should be no question on whether they are new or not. I also shrink-wrapped the package for extra protection. 2 AAs fit nicely in a plastic film canister, it's water tight , the bats wont short out and you can get them for free from many camera stores. BTW my GPSer wont run on golf balls!! LOL Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 2 AAs fit nicely in a plastic film canister, it's water tight , the bats wont short out and you can get them for free from many camera stores. BTW my GPSer wont run on golf balls!! LOL I don't know where you get your AA's and/or film cannisterss from, but its been my experience that the batteries are just slightly too long for the film cannisters. They tend to pop the top off, if you can close it at all. Quote Link to comment
+Stephanie2427 Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 When I first started caching we went through batteries like crazy. Many times we'd go on spur of the moment cache runs. Once I did find batteries just as mine where getting low. Saved me from a trip to the store. Another time I bought batteries at a convieniece store on my way to an event. After I got there I went to put them in my camera and they looked like the ones in the picture. They didn't last any better in the store then they did in the cache. My kids also like to trade for batteries for their cd players. I like the suggestions of tapeing them together, placing in a baggie, and marking the date on them. Thats a good swag item to me. Quote Link to comment
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