pump crack/leaking battery

barbarac · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008, 10:47 PM

Thought it was strange this morning that I got a low battery warning. I have the Animas 1250 pump by the way. So went to change the battery and it was all black on the end--like oil. I cleaned it out good with Q-tips then put a new battery in. I called Animas and they said "we don't like people poking around in there". Then they said to look for a crack. Sure enough, there was a small crack just below the battery cap. No reson for this. Wasn't dropped or anything. So they are sending out a new one--should be here tomorrow if UPS will deliver it on Sat. The pump is still working, but they recommended I take it off and wait and use Lantus in the meantime. Which I didn't do--will if I have to, but too complicated I think.

I have read on here before about people getting cracks around the battery cap (under it really)--mine is on backside, close to clip from battery down towards the grip place. After remembering other people talking about it I am thinking that maybe this is a problem with the Animas. Seems strange. She said I probably over tightened it, don't think so, but . . .

So for all you new people. Watch for cracks around the battery cap. Also, anyone know why the battery would look like oil leaking out because of a crack? I take it off to bath and shower. Did go swimming a few weeks ago, but changed battery since then.

Any ideas?

spyer-secol · #2 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 01:35 PM

Sounds like the electrolyte is leaking out of the battery. (The liquid that makes the battery work.)

JediSkipdogg · #3 (**permalink**) 08-16-2008, 02:05 PM

The crack is very common on the IR 1200 and 1250. I think I have been through 3 of them due to that crack. Supposedly they made the plastic thicker on the 2020. Why they couldn't just insert a metal ring is beyond my answer.

As for the fluid inside, sounds like a bad battery.

squidsdc · #4 (**permalink**) 08-17-2008, 07:47 PM

I've had my 1250 for 3 yrs and have never had a crack, nor have I heard of any cracks before I saw this thread! (Save for the warnings they tell you when replacing the battery, not to turn it too tight. I guess I've just been overly careful or something?)

barbarac · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2008, 10:08 PM

Quite a while ago I read other peoples threads about the 1250 and getting a crack. I thought the same--that hasn't ever happened to me, checked and all, it was OK. Someone even had a picture I believe showing the small crack. I didn't even notice it until it said low battery (I just changed it recently) and I thought that was strange. Went to change the battery and it was leaking--maybe the two had nothing to do with each other. I called Animas and she is the one who told me to check for a crack. Sure enough--there it was. I had not I don't believe overtightened it. Did it just like always. Hadn't dropped it. I only wrote the threat to sort of tell people to check once in a while for a small crack on the battery cap side--mine was between cap and the side grips. Very small, but there. Don't know, but suspect it would have leaked had I gone swimming. Pump was still working though. Animas sent a new one out and it arrived the next day. Just a pain putting all the numbers back in and don't know what to do about the food diary. I don't really use it anyway, but had modified it for the fast foods I do eat and stuff like that. Not sure if I can transfer it some way or have to redo the whole thing. Waiting until tomorrow to call and ask.

Anyway, back to the point--if you use Animas 1250 I would check once in a while and look for a small crack. Hopefully you will never see one, but I have a feeling it happens more often than Animas is saying. That was the very first thing she asked me "does it have a crack at the battery cap".