Mr. Dudley Battery Operated Peppermill Repair

Fig.1 Directions

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Alcohol-rubbing liquid (isopropyl alcohol)
Batteries-AA alkaline
Bowl or small cup
Cordless screwdriver with Phillip Bit
Cotton swabs

We received Mr. Dudley® Battery Operated Pepper mill as a Christmas present from the our family. It worked for years then one day it stopped working.

This post shows the nine steps to repairing a battery operated pepper mill.

Step 1: Fig.1 above shows the direction on how to operate the pepper mill. Put peppercorn inside pepper compartment and grid. This battery grinder is the best, just press the white button on the top and pull off the bottom lid and out goes nice clean pepper.
Step 2: Take the unit apart. Fig.2 shows the use a cordless screwdriver with a Phillip bit and unscrew 3-metal screws holding the top to the bottom unit.

Fig.2 Bottom of grinder

Step 2: Fig.3 below shows that all 6-AA batteries leaked into the pepper mill battery compartments and within the device.

Fig.3 Damage from batteries

Step 3: Fig.4 shows the AA batteries have been removed and notice that each battery is also damaged and deformed.

Fig.4 Damaged batteries

Step 4: Fig.5 shows the pepper mill battery compartment has battery acid all over the sides of the pepper mill battery tray.

Fig.5 Battery acid damage

Step 5: Fig.6 shows the liquid Rubbing Alcohol also called Isopropyl Alcohol. Do not use drinking alcohol. Use the cotton swabs to clean the peppercorn grinder. The swabs will remove the acid from the compartment and positive and negative electrodes. Fig.7 shows a glass bowl that will hold the rubbing alcohol.

Fig.6 Alcohol and cotton swabs

Fig.7 Dirty cotton swabs

Warning Note: Contact a Poison Control Center or medical professional if you consume Isopropyl Alcohol. For brief exposure to isopropyl fumes, wait to see whether symptoms appear and then contact a health-care professional for immediate medical attention. It is best to use isopropyl alcohol in a well-ventilated area to avoid the risk of improper inhalation. In the state of California use the California Poison Control System. Another very good site is the National Capital Poison Center. 

Step 6: Fig.8 shows how to clean up the battery acid from the pepper mill battery compartment using a cotton swabs and Isopropyl Alcohol. Disposed of the cotton swabs after use in the trash can.

Fig.8 Clean up battery compartment

Step 7: Fig.9 shows the new 6-AA batteries inserted into the pepper mill.

Fig.9 Six new batteries

Step 8: Fig.10 shows the battery compartment with new batteries and being put back together for use.

Fig.10 Placing cover back on

Step 9: Fig.11 shows how to put the pepper mill looks like after the assembly. Now we can use the pepper mill to give us an abundance of pepper for our salads.

Fig.11 Pepper inside compartment

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