Apple trackpad has a corroded AA battery stuck way down inside barrel

[Blue House Computer Help]

I have been given an original Apple trackpad (model A1339) that has a corroded AA battery stuck way down inside the barrel. I have cleaned most of the corrosion, but it's still stuck.

Here's a close up inside the barrel:



Any ideas for how to get it out?

Or alternatives? I'd prefer to have a trackpad as I don't have room where it's placed to use a mouse comfortably and I use the multitouch gestures a lot. I know I can replace it for ~£30 but I'd like to try to fix it and become more skilful along the way.

 

[Blues]

It is risky but I have heard of people drilling a little into the end of the battery and then driving a screw in partly to pull a battery out. This might just be a redneck solution people do but I would think the risks a just slight exposure to some toxic and caustic chemicals.

 

[MudRock]

Almost looks swollen too. Going to be a heck of a time if it is swollen and not just corrosion build up. No space to even flood it with a non conductive solvent to loosen the corrosive.

Wonder if a neodymium magnet with hole in it, screwed into a wooden dowel or similar, would work. 10mm would be suffice to touch the negative contact by the looks of it, or see if you can find as close to 14.5mm as possible even for the bit of attraction to the area of the negative terminal that is sunken. Chassis of trackpad should be aluminum so could be your best bet without drilling.

EDIT: Something like this:

Neodymium Disc Countersunk Hole Magnets,JUNAN 20 Pack 9.5mm x2.7mm hole 3mm Strong Permanent Rare Earth Magnets with 20 Screws… : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Neodymium Disc Countersunk Hole Magnets,JUNAN 20 Pack 9.5mm x2.7mm hole 3mm Strong Permanent Rare Earth Magnets with 20 Screws… : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[Markverhyden]

Assuming it's an alkaline battery, which is a base metal, the "stuff" can be cleaned up with something like vinegar, a mild acid. You could drop in a few drops along the inside of the tube. Let it get down to the end of the battery. Then turn it so the battery tube is facing down. Capillary action will get the acid moving up between the battery and tube. Let it sit for a while, maybe 15 minutes. Then bang it down on something like wood or cardboard to see if it's loose. If not try the vinegar again, wait a while then maybe try the screw or magnet if hitting the surface still doesn't knock it loose.

 

[Blue House Computer Help]

Good. Sounds easy enough. Work could possibly go wrong? ;-)

So I had already used vinegar to clean off a lot more corrosion. I'll try and letting it work its way down/up the sides. Do you reckon that would work better than just letting the vinegar run down the sides of the battery? I mean, is the capillary action in this case more penetrating?

And if not it's on to the neodymium magnets.

 

[Markverhyden]

In theory, and probably practice, up and down doesn't impact capillary action. Also the corrosion will have absorption properties to a certain extent. The only reason I was suggesting down is you don't want to chance having fluid settle in/contact the other end. It's not made to be fluid proof.

 

[MudRock]

In theory, and probably practice, up and down doesn't impact capillary action. Also the corrosion will have absorption properties to a certain extent. The only reason I was suggesting down is you don't want to chance having fluid settle in/contact the other end. It's not made to be fluid proof.

Yeah. Vinegar is a solvent. Don't want to see what else it eats. Let it wick up. Great idea @Markverhyden

 

[mikeroq]

 

[Computer Bloke]

Applying a weak acid followed by drilling sounds good, but you can't be sure that it's an alkaline battery stuck in there - it might be a NiMH, a NiCd, or even a lithium cell. I have no idea how they would react to acid followed by sudden pressure release, and I suspect that you don't either.

My personal first rule of experimental chemistry is to do it outside while wearing gloves and eye protection. And (based on a bad experience with LiPo cells) be prepared to run.

 

[Sky-Knight]

And if it's anything lithium and you poke a hole in it... that's a 2000 degree fire that cannot be put out. It burns on contact with O2.

 

[Computer Bloke]

And if it's anything lithium and you poke a hole in it... that's a 2000 degree fire that cannot be put out. It burns on contact with O2.

So we might be in "do not look into battery compartment with remaining eye" territory? Perhaps epoxy-on-a-stick instead of drilling and screwing, then.

Edited to add: Does anyone know how the non-removable end cap is attached? If there's a not-too-destructive way of popping that off (or even making a small hole in it) then the stuck battery might be pushed out instead of having to be pulled.

 

[Blues]

This appears to belong to OP so I think he knows the type of battery though I admit to not thinking about NiMH or NiCd but I also doubt a rechargeable type was left in a devices long enough to corrode as well alkaline are the more notorious for swelling and/or corroding then becoming stuck.

Yes confirm this battery is standard Alkaline not something else.

 

[Blue House Computer Help]

It was a gift from a friend, complete with stuck battery. That's (probably why it was a gift)... You know, "He's that computery guy. I bet he can sort it out". I will ask said friend if they remember.

I'm pretty sure it was alkaline in that in my ignorance I already used vinegar to clean out a lot more of the corrosion. And from what I understand if it was a rechargeable battery of some type that might not have gone well.

Anyway, I plan to try the few drops of vinegar down the side capillary action thing today, so I'll let you know how that goes. If not actually the epoxy thing is a great idea.

@mikeroq Wow! The Internet truly does have a video for everything.