Leaking batteries

I have had good luck with Energizer.  I avoid Duracell at all cost.  I have lost too many items to leaking Duracells.  
Doug

Thanks Doug

I second what Doug said about Energizer Batteries being more leak proof than Duracell.

I've also spent time removing caked up Duracell Batteries from various remotes and accessories. I will still use them, but I try to remove them when I'm done.

Never had that problem with the bunny!

I use rechargeable batteries to avoid leaking.

I keep reminding my family to avoid Duracell at all costs. Walking through a Costco, they are often highly visible, and my wife always says, "Ooh--do we need batteries?" I always reply "Nope, not those--bunnies only!" Too many devices of mine have been wrecked/damaged by Duracell, they pretty much seem guaranteed to leak. I never knew rechargeables were resistant to leakage, I'll try more of those.

I'll third the opinions on Duracell, i.e. do NOT buy those ****ed things! I will no longer even use them in the battery back-up in the smoke detectors. We now use Rayovac or Energizer.

I'm currently using Energizer batteries, I've also had Duracells and the Costco close destroy too many devices!

Nothing but Energizer or Rayovac batteries for me.

No Duracell or Costco batteries at my house!

Dale

Yep, only energizers for me. Duracells definitely have a leakage problem. Something certainly changed over the years.

I have had both Duracell and Energizer leak.

Panasonic Eneloop rechargeables or go home.

Since NiMH has a lower voltage, some devices will not work, for instance a FLIR amp clamp (used FLIR clamp $ << used Fluke clamp$). They work in Lionel Cab1 and Cab1L.

Looks like I am one of the lucky ones.  I have used Duracell exclusively for many, many years and have NEVER had a leak.  As for rechargables, I use Duracell too as they seem to last the longest. I should mention I don't buy the very expensive stuff (if that exists in batteries)

walt

Energizer......and or rechargables.

These were in a bunch of my kids toys.......

PS- The Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell.

Bob

I use Energizer lithium batteries.  They’re more expensive, but won’t leak and last longer.  An article I read said the cost difference vs alkaline is small due to the longevity of lithium.

John

In terms of battery leakage I would think any of them could leak if left in the device for too long.

With so many battery operated devices in the average home it gets to be difficult to keep track of them all, but taking them out (IMO) when not in use for an extended period is the only real solution.

If some of you younger members have kids the number of batteries to keep track of is mind boggling today.

That said, I am not crazy about rechargeable batteries, but the ones I like the best are Panasonic Eneloop.  Regular alkaline batteries I have used Duracell, Kirkland, and Amazon.  I don't see much difference.  That's for AA and AAA.   For 9V I haven't tried anything except Duracell.

John

A good case could be made that alkaline batteries leak more often due to their chemisty.  Experince here has regular carbon and NiMN batteries rarely leak compared with any alkaline.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

A good case could be made that alkaline batteries leak more often due to their chemisty.  Experince here has regular carbon and NiMN batteries rarely leak compared with any alkaline.

Actually, I don't know that regular carbon batteries leak less than alkaline...

Advantages and Limitations of Zinc Carbon Batteries

A clip from that article...

Zinc Carbon Batteries vs. Alkaline Batteries

The energy density of alkaline batteries is higher than that of zinc carbon batteries. They are more tolerant of high current discharge and have more capacity, and alkaline batteries outlast zinc carbon batteries in terms of shelf life. Zinc carbon batteries are utilized in low-energy gadgets, whereas devices with continuous higher energy use alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries are less likely to leak than zinc carbon batteries, which are more dangerous overall.

I used Duracells for a good many years, but in recent years had leakage problems with far too many of them (including with a Lionel Cab 1L controller that fortunately could be saved and continues to perform well). I now use Energizers almost exclusively.

Here is a recent acquisition with some battery leakage. I am surmising the battery before the white MTH battery, did the damage. I am installing a Tenergy rechargable battery when the clean up is completed…

Tom

WOW, that's a real mess!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

WOW, that's a real mess!

The speaker was totally corroded, the wire just fell off it. The engine does run and light up. I am gonna clean it up eventually.

It seems to be a QSI system, no smoke generator. Not sure if it is even PS1…

Tom

@Krieglok posted:

It seems to be a QSI system, no smoke generator. Not sure if it is even PS1…

Looks like MTH PS/1 to me, but I don't know what battery they had in there to make that mess!

@RSJB18 posted:

Energizer......and or rechargables.

These were in a bunch of my kids toys.......

PS- The Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell.

Bob

That looks exactly like my box of batteries to be disposed of! (Only I have a lot more of them...)

You have to understand why batteries leak.  All batteries have to off gas as they discharge.  Normally if a battery is in use constantly, it will discharge completely before enough gases get a chance to build up to rupture the seals.  But if you leave a battery sit for a long time in a device, even if it is not used, it still slowly discharges and gases start to build up inside.  Eventually the pressure can overcome the seals, and they leak.   This is one of the reasons I moved to all rechargeables.  Just by their nature they have to have more robust seals for the charging process (ever notice rechargeables have a just slightly bigger diameter sometimes)?  I have never had my rechargeables leak (although not totally impossible).  Not to mention how bad disposables are for the environment.  I use Tenergy Premium rechargeables.  They have an amazing amount of recharge cycles. 

@Tuscan Jim posted:

That looks exactly like my box of batteries to be disposed of! (Only I have a lot more of them...)

That was just the haul from clearing out the toys. I have a 5# coffee can that gets all of them for recycling.

@RSJB18 posted:

Energizer......and or rechargables.

These were in a bunch of my kids toys.......

PS- The Kirkland batteries are made by Duracell.

Bob

I used to buy Kirkland batteries in quantity, boy did they destroy a bunch of stuff after a few years!   Duracell and Kirkland batteries don't get anywhere near anything in my house now!

Thank you @Sean's Train Depot - maybe that's why I've had good luck using Duracells - Everything I use them in is constantly using them.

- walt