releases. If any doubt exists about whether a release is reportable or not, District Commanders
must contact MLC(1) and/or the regulatory agency for further advice.
3.
DESCRIPTION OF ATON BATTERIES
A.
PRIMARY BATTERIES
Primary batteries are those that cannot be recharged. Primary batteries were used on ATONs as
early as 1918. By the 1940s, secondary batteries were in use. Primary batteries were used on a
large scale in the early 1960s. Efforts to replace primary batteries with solar power panels and
backup secondary batteries began in the early 1980s.
The first primary batteries were manufactured by Thomas A. Edison Industries. These batteries
contained a copper-oxide plate, zinc plate, and a caustic soda electrolyte. A small amount of
mercury was used on the zinc plate to protect it from corrosion. It has been reported that the
copper-oxide batteries were reclaimed by the manufacturer for the copper content. In 1953,
Thomas A. Edison Industries introduced Carbonaire batteries, in which the copper-oxide plate was
replaced by porous carbon. Because of this change, the primary batteries were no longer returned
for reclamation, often resulting in on-site disposal. Union Carbide introduced EVEREADY Air
Cell batteries, but use of these batteries was discontinued in the mid-sixties. Other major suppliers
of primary batteries to the Coast Guard have been: Saft, Inc.; Nife Inc.; and Carbone Corporation.
Ice Buoy Dry Cell Battery. This specially designed EVEREADY brand primary battery is made
from 240 Zinc Carbon 1.5V (F) dry cells, providing 12V, 320 Ampere-hour (Ah) capacity. Ice
Buoy batteries are used on floating aids to replace lighted buoys during ice seasons. The battery is
9" in diameter, and 32" in height.
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