I've tried real hard to get over my battery fear for years, but I just can't do it...

my poor Gameboy, Wonderswan and Wii Remote had their batteries changed back in April 2009 and I've left them in there since... I'm afraid they might have leaked by now, but I just can't check! not only am I afraid of putting batteries in or taking them out regardless of battery corrosion not being there, but when battery corrosion could possibly be there, I end up just wanting to get rid of the item right away with out checking (my GBA went through that fate)

anything I could do to get over this fear or will I end up getting rid of Gameboy, Wonderswan and Wii Remote?

My Battery fear is a sad, haunting thing that started around when I was 8 but a little bit back when I was 5 due to sticking my hand into a holiday bag and finding a plush bunny that had red colored battery acid all dripping from it which made me fear red colored things, then I started not to fear Red things after a few years but rather detest them... then in 2009 due to my Yokoi fan-ness and that I had a dream I found a VB and then starting to focus on it and slowly accepting Red being cool after all, I got a Virtual Boy

This is one of those irrational posts again that almost makes me irritated , why would you throw away perfectly fine items without even checking first??

Anyways, battery acid is still a very real threat. I thought it was something of the past (like 10+ years ago), and that modern batteries nowadays are better and won't leak, but I was wrong!

I took out my almost brand new japanese Game Boy Light some month ago that had been sitting in the closet for over a year, with batteries in it, and the whole battery compartment was all gooey

I was able to clean it all out, so it still works (just the springs are a little corroded), so you should definitly check them as soon as possible. The longer you wait the bigger chance that they have leaked.

But throwing them out without even checking is beyond silly, that's just plain dumb.

Open them. I've had old consoles with leaked batteries before, but at this point, the acid has probably dried up and you can carefully (maybe with the help of a thin stick) remove the batteries from the device. But even touching them with your fingers won't do much at this point (that is, the point where it's actually dried up).

Make sure to clean the contacts and wash your hands with soap afterwards, if the batteries indeed turned out to have leaked.

DO NOT get rid of your devices. If you really can't get yourself to open it, the least you should do is have someone else try it, or sell them on eBay with the note that you don't know if batteries have leaked. That way they will finally turn out to be of some use.

I mean heck, who has a Wonderswan? Not many people. Don't waste it.

well heres the thing, my Wonderswan (has batteries) is on top of my Gameboy's carry case, and inside the case, my Gameboy (has batteries) also has extra batteries UNDER the Gameboy...

I'm probably surrounded by Battery Corrosion!

its all in my Handhelds drawer (thats what I call it since it has every handheld I have in it) and everytime I go in the drawer I don't see anything gooey coming out of my gameboy's case or around the wonderswan above it but I'm not sure if its contained

I really don't want to get rid of my Gameboy since 1. I named it after Gunpei, and that would feel weird just getting rid of it 2. it has about 8 or so games in that carry case 3. its Super Mario Land in its cartridge slot 4. its one of my "Fan-Tastic" machines (inventions by Gunpei of course)

and come to think of it my Wonderswan has GunPey in it and I like that game too

I'm a bad Yokoi fan

Just open them. If you really have such a severe irrational phobia about removing battery lids, then I really suggest seing a shrink about it, for your own sake.

I've put my hands on batteries that have leaked in the past, when it's dried up it's nothing to worry about (I did wash my hands afterwards to be sure though). Acid would probably go through the plastic of the handhelds first before it goes through your fingers, so if you handhelds can handle it, so can you!

I hate to be pedantic, but there isn't any acid in an alkaline battery. Even if there were, it wouldn't "go through" the plastic case (guess what kind of bottles they store most acids in) or your hands. The chemicals in the battery are mildly toxic in large quantities, but you'd probably have to eat a handful of the things just to get mildly sick (unless they're really old, in which case they have Hg in them, and let's not even joke about eating that).

Just use something to pry the batteries out (and dispose of them in a responsible manner; see above article), scrape the residue out of the compartment, make sure the contacts are still okay (an emery board cleans tarnish off quite well), put the new batteries in, and wash your hands in a reasonable amount of time. You'll be fine.

And next time follow the instruction manual!

Quote:
but technically my Gameboy did not come with an instruction manual

Quote:

That's okay, just use the manual for anything battery-powered made in the last 30+ years

Ok, I need to say something now...

I should be ashamed of myself, especially when I claim I'm a Yokoi fan... why?

well: I went to go get my PSP from my Handhelds drawer to charge it, and something caught my eye... on the right side of the drawer, in which the Gameboy's carry case is.........
a moist splatter spot on the wood (that looks new) that looks like what happens when wood gets wet, now this CAN'T be humidity since its only around the opening of the gameboy case

you know what this probably means right? since it doesn't appear its around my WonderSwan?

Rest In Peace-Bleepei the Gameboy 1989-August 4th 2010

Bleee*cry*eeeeeee*cry*eepeeei nooooo!

I'm a big wimp who can't change batteries and I probably would make Gunpei himself frown

also in response to DanB: I'm always told that I can't go see a shrink