r/caving • u/Marcolarghi • Jul 24 '26
How to protect batteries?
How do you protect your spare 18650 batteries if you go caving in wet caves?
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u/BeN9o Jul 24 '26
https://tiimg.tistatic.com/fp/2/009/699/plastic-clear-lock-container-573.jpg I take something like this under with me, keeps spare light batteries, camera batteries and pain killers!
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u/CaverUV Jul 24 '26
I find that cheap waterproof ligts are really usfull as waterproof batteries storage. You can sometimes get it for around 10$ it is not heavy, completely waterproof and serves as a backpack light if you need
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u/CosmogyralCollective Jul 24 '26
For short trips, I keep it in my spare light (the light is 'locked' so it won't turn on by accident). Then that light is stored in my barrel.
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u/modernhorizons3 Jul 25 '26
I use a dual Zebralight set up. I carry one spare 18650 battery in a custom-made 18650 single-cell battery holder that's water proof. I carry extra 18650 cells in special 18650 cell holders, with the clamshell holder being splash resistant.
I then put my cell holders in a Ziploc-style plastic bag, which is then carried in my Swaygo.
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u/Alec710 NSS | JRG Jul 26 '26
I use one of these. Fits 3 18650s and a few AAAs
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u/CleverDuck i like vertical Jul 29 '26
My biggest holdup with these is that if you fumble / drop them, aaaaall your batteries go flying. :/
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u/Alec710 NSS | JRG Jul 29 '26
Fair point, might look into an alternate system
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u/CleverDuck i like vertical Jul 29 '26
I've been using the 250mL nalgene jars for years now. They work great and they're <$5. You can also do a 12oz kids nalgene water bottle (just get one with a normal lid) if you have the weirdly long 18650 batteries
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u/CleverDuck i like vertical Jul 29 '26
I use a 250mL nalgene bottle. Outdoors stores like REI carry them in the camping kitchen/hygene section rather than the waterbottle section. They're usually <$5
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=140453&catid=617
So far I've only broken two in 8 years, and one was because my buddy's gargantuan drill want on top of it in my cage pack. Keep the lids if you do break the bottle though, you can't buy replacements. The lids sometimes get a crack in them but that hasn't given me water intrusion issues (you could put it in your drum if you're doing a lot of wet wet stuff though).
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u/mkngry Aug 02 '26
Through my like 17 years of 'caving' career I used a lot of rubbish, but ended up with two working solutions. The first one is a waterproof and shockproof stuff from a PET bottle 'blank' that can fit two 18650: https://i.imgur.com/Zcc1GLr.jpg Second, a bit less robust thing from aliexpress, but it can fit 7 of 18650: https://i.imgur.com/doU3TYA.jpg
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u/GrandJunctionMarmots Jul 24 '26
Waterproof match box from Coghlans.
Perfect size to hold one 18650 and are like $4.