To test this feature, visit your live site.

New Audiomoth Melted

I recently bought a set of 8 standard audiomoths, which were briefly tested and clocks/settings updated without issue.

Today however during their first proper recording session, one of them got extremely hot and melted through the battery case. The SD card is still working but didn't record anything beyond a filename.

Evidently some short circuit has occurred - has anyone had any similar issues? Could it have been a dodgy battery?

The recording was done indoors so wasn't wet or anything. All other audiomoths working in similar conditions were fine.

7 comments

7 Comments

ni kcherb

Oct 07, 2024

I'm going to find a voltmeter today. However I also have some possibility : the audiomoths were being placed 'face down', could they have shorter across here?

Alex Rogers

Oct 07, 2024

Replying to

Hi, If those contacts were shorted that would generate a high current. However, the AudioMoth would have to be placed face down on a conducting surface for that to happen. Another possibility is that the battery was inserted the wrong way round and the wire spring shorted the positive battery terminal to the negative body of the battery. Which end of the battery shows the effect of the heat? Alex

ni kcherb

Oct 08, 2024

Replying to

The Audiomoth was indeed placed on top of an aluminium enclosure, face down, so it's likely these contact shorting which caused the issue. Thankfully with new batteries the device still seems to be recording. Have now added a layer of tape to the surface 😅

Alex Rogers

Oct 09, 2024

Replying to

Ah, yes that would do it. You should avoid shorting any of the other bare terminals on the top surface of the AudioMoth - the GPIO pints, programming pins and the microphone jack footprint.

ni kcherb

Oct 04, 2024

Hi Alex, have attached some photos of the batteries. The one in the melted slot has some discolouration but this may be from overheating as I can't see any other deformities.

Alex Rogers

Oct 04, 2024

Replying to

Hi, Which is the end of the battery which was closest to the melted terminal. Can you provide some photos of that. If possible can you measure the voltage of the batteries to see if they are all discharged or just one is discharged. Alex

Edited

Alex Rogers

Oct 03, 2024

Hi, What type of battery was used? Can you share a picture of the battery that was inserted in the holder. It looks like the battery terminal has shorted out the battery somehow. Alex