New in box batteries leaking

[AnnoyedOne]

(11-02-2024 08:13 PM)Jase Wrote:  Unfortunately, that has been my personal experience as well

Mine too

I think that I've banished "Duraleaks" from all my devices. I've had good experiences with Energizers (no leaks). And a less well known brand. I usually buy whichever is the best bulk value (cost/cell) at the time.

As for rechargeables the new Lithium's maybe better than NiMH's but I'm pretty much done. For my usage patterns disposables work fine and are a lot less expensive. Most have a long shelf life (around 10yrs) these days so I buy in bulk (10+) and have a "battery (only) drawer".

There are only a handful of manufacturing plants that make AA's so most are "badge engineered". The same with coin cells. By all means check graphs etc but I discount small variations as manufacturing batch related.

A1

PS: I checked and found more leaking C cells. Out they went and what they were in has been cleaned (with vinegar etc) as is now as good as new. So check your "toys".

[HPing]

(11-03-2024 01:48 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  I think that I've banished "Duraleaks" from all my devices. I've had good experiences with Energizers (no leaks). And a less well known brand. I usually buy whichever is the best bulk value (cost/cell) at the time.

As for rechargeables the new Lithium's maybe better than NiMH's but I'm pretty much done. For my usage patterns disposables work fine and are a lot less expensive. Most have a long shelf life (around 10yrs) these days so I buy in bulk (10+) and have a "battery (only) drawer".

We have had terrible results with most disposables, unfortunately. Even the AC remotes suffered leaks after 6 months of use.

I suppose we could make a list of all our devices and check them every month. . . just what we need.

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(11-03-2024 01:48 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  I checked and found more leaking C cells.

Nothing beats a 4-D-cell Maglite with leaked batteries ;-) Or my beloved 300-series Compucorp calculators, which usually come (if you can still find one) with four NiCd D-cells. All of them suffered from battery leakage unless the previous owner thought about removing the batteries. Cadmium is an extremely toxic substance and a D-cell contains a lot of it. That c**p should have been banned 50 years ago just like leaded petrol.

For many years I used mainly NiMH batteries to replace disposables (which I have avoided for decades when rechargeables of the same size are available) but I don't like them any more. They are supposedly not suffering from memory effect or self discharge, but this is not my experience. Maybe this is true when you charge and discharge them regularly, but otherwise they just silently die.

Now I use rechargeable lithium batteries with USB connectors in sizes AA, AAA and 9V block. They are perfect replacements for the originals, cost around 2 Euros a piece, which is a lot less then disposable lithium cells, and so far I have not had one that failed. They deliver 1.5V instead of the 1.2V of NiCd and NiMH batteries which is good for flashlights and other applications where voltage matters. All my calculators love them! One can even leave them inside the device for charging because they do not have to be inserted into an external charger.
And of course I use LIR2032 coin cells instead of disposable CR2032. So far no failure or damage.

Regards
Max

AAA cells insdide an HP-71B:

[HPing]

(11-02-2024 05:10 PM)Ren Wrote:  In the electronics forum I frequent Duracell batteries are often referred to as Duraleak.
Apparently Proctor and Gamble bought them and are milking their reputation for profit while the quality has been steadily decreasing.

I would bet you are right with respect to Procter & Gamble dropping the quality of the Duracell batteries. P&G acquired Gillette in 2006 and Duracell was part of the deal.

OT - My buddy developed surgical cutting tools and speculated Gillette was manipulating the expensive blade coatings for marketing & cost reduction purposes. The coatings on the blades were an important factor for smooth shaves for a long time. They helped reduce friction, resist dullness (e.g. chipping), and prevent oxidation. He was convinced Gillette dialed down the coatings several months before releasing a new model. Of course, the new models would be loaded with coatings so the blades stayed sharp for an extended period of time. This was one way of pushing everyone to the new model. P&G seemed especially greedy with this tactic IMHO.

I recently found some Gillette Mach3 blades labeled for the Indian (?) market at a certain job lot; the blades cut great for a long time! I would not presume that P&G is trying to take the market with high quality then will pull its usual stunts. . .

[AnnoyedOne]

(11-03-2024 02:38 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Nothing beats a 4-D-cell Maglite with leaked batteries ;-)

I have the 3-D cell model. Converted to LEDs. The Energizer batteries in it have never leaked

As for Lithium rechargeables perhaps they're better but as I've said before "no more".

A1

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello,

(11-03-2024 02:47 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  ... but as I've said before "no more".

Intelligence sometimes manifests itself in the form of a change of mind :-) (can't remember who said that).

Regards
Max

[HPing]

(11-03-2024 02:38 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Nothing beats a 4-D-cell Maglite with leaked batteries

We lost a nice Maglite with leaky AA Duracells. Looked everywhere for a way to get them out but the just wouldn't budge. Finally gave up.

(11-03-2024 02:38 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  AAA cells insdide an HP-71B:

I like the USB charger trick.

The 3000mha rating for a AAA is optimistic!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAA_battery

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(11-03-2024 03:11 PM)HPing Wrote:  We lost a nice Maglite with leaky AA Duracells. Looked everywhere for a way to get them out but the just wouldn't budge. Finally gave up.

It took me the best part of a saturday morning to remove the leaked batteries from the Maglite. The trick is to drill a hole in the batteries (which makes an ugly mess of electrolyte and other battery chemicals) and screw in a large screw to pull them out with. I will not do that again, the next one goes right into the bin. Anyway, Maglites are a thing of the past, there are better and cheaper flashlights now.

(11-03-2024 02:38 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  The 3000mha rating for a AAA is optimistic!

That number is pure Chinese fantasy... i have not measured it yet but the real figure will be between 500 and 1000mAh which is still a lot more than NiCd AAA cells.

Regards
Max

[gentzel]

(11-03-2024 03:59 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Maglites are a thing of the past, there are better and cheaper flashlights now.

For light output, sure, but those Maglights could also double as a quite effective weapon if needed.