Alkaline AA & AAA batteries.

[Thefishguy77]

Ok so I am sure we have all had a problem or 2 with leaking batteries in our equipment.
I recently had a battery pop in my Fenix flashlight. So after some vinegar and distilled water to clean it all up I did some research.

Turns out Proctor & Gamble who owns Duracell and makes Kirkland Signature batteries has an ongoing issue. From what I have read these batteries will begin to leak long before their best by date. After following a few links from candlepowerforum.com I came up with this blog link regarding a battery comparison and performance test.

Kirkland Signature Alkaline Batteries - Paul Allen Engineering

In a short summary I would not use Duracell or Kirkland signature batteries in high discharge or water tight devices, i.e. GPS, flashlights, ect.

While Duracell does have the best warranty in the business it sucks to have to send your equipment back. Energizer apparently has the worst warranty as well i.e. "It's your fault", from what I have read.

I am switching to Panasonic alkaline batteries until I can order some Panasonic enelope rechargeable batteries. This enelopes seems to perform very well in high discharge flashlights.

Hope this helps some.


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[RedSled]

Thanks for this post, i have had duracell batteries leak while still in the package. Although not as bad as in your equipment it still pisses me off.

 

[TK-422]

Interesting.

I haven't had a problem with the Duracell's but I quit buying the Kirkland ones because they would be dead in storage long before the expiration date.

I had a six pack of Rayovac D cells that were in the plastic clam shell around a year old and when I went to use them they were covered in acid.


All my flashlights these days have 18650 or 26650 cells that have their own problems but at least they are rechargeable.

 

[SavedbyHim]

I just yesterday tossed a Mini Mag Lite as I could not even get it open to replace the battery but usually keep rechargeable batteries in anything I have. As long as they are not left in the charger longer than it takes to charge I can't see wasting money on non rechargeable batteries.

 

[Thefishguy77]

I just yesterday tossed a Mini Mag Lite as I could not even get it open to replace the battery but usually keep rechargeable batteries in anything I have. As long as they are not left in the charger longer than it takes to charge I can't see wasting money on non rechargeable batteries.

If you just tossed the mag light and it had Duracell's in it. Call them up and let them know their batteries ruined your equipment. They will probably send you a check. Or you can ship your light back to Mag and they will repair or replace it. Most major companies have a deal worked out with the battery manufacturers because they know it's inevitable.


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[philsey]

All my flashlights these days have 18650 or 26650 cells that have their own problems but at least they are rechargeable.

This. Been using these for years in my LED lights with never an issue. Amazing how long they hold a charge.

Any flashlight I still have that uses AA/AAA/D is considered expendable, and I never keep the batteries in them.

 

[TK-422]

I thought I would add this for those interested. This is my go to flashlight, in fact I have three. One in my 4Runner, one in my work vehicle and one at my desk at home. The Ultrafire can be purchased at Amazon for under $15 and it comes with two 18650 batteries and a crappy charger. The charger might charge both batteries or might not. It is brighter than a 4 cell mag light.

Since I have multiple rechargeables I also have a Intellicharger I4 which works great. It will also charge any legacy rechargeable batteries. I have another flashlight that uses 4 26650 batteries and is more powerful than a cars high beams but it was way more expensive.

With these batteries they can sit for a long time without charging but if they go completely dead and sit for a while they become useless. You have to use them once in a while and charge them every few months.

 

[TK-422]

Just for giggles the 18650 vs the 26650 batteries. Also the head of the beast. It has 12 CREE 6 LEDs vs one on the Ultrafire.

 

[Nick2cd]

I thought I would add this for those interested. This is my go to flashlight, in fact I have three. One in my 4Runner, one in my work vehicle and one at my desk at home. The Ultrafire can be purchased at Amazon for under $15 and it comes with two 18650 batteries and a crappy charger. The charger might charge both batteries or might not. It is brighter than a 4 cell mag light.

Since I have multiple rechargeables I also have a Intellicharger I4 which works great. It will also charge any legacy rechargeable batteries. I have another flashlight that uses 4 26650 batteries and is more powerful than a cars high beams but it was way more expensive.

With these batteries they can sit for a long time without charging but if they go completely dead and sit for a while they become useless. You have to use them once in a while and charge them every few months.

this may be perfect for a knock around light....thanks

 

[Thefishguy77]

Alkaline AA & AAA batteries.

Alright so I called Duracell customer service to see if they can do anything. Fantastic customer service!! Best I have ever dealt with. Ever.

Apologized for the failure and got the basic information on the battery and flashlight. Got my name and address and they are sending me a check to replace my flashlight and coupons to replace the batteries.


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[philsey]

Alright so I called Duracell customer service to see if they can do anything. Fantastic customer service!! Best I have ever dealt with. Ever.

Apologized for the failure and got the basic information on the battery and flashlight. Got my name and address and they are sending me a check to replace my flashlight and coupons to replace the batteries.

That's cool. You just never know what you'll learn on this forum.

 

[nevada]

Alright so I called Duracell customer service to see if they can do anything. Fantastic customer service!! Best I have ever dealt with. Ever.

Apologized for the failure and got the basic information on the battery and flashlight. Got my name and address and they are sending me a check to replace my flashlight and coupons to replace the batteries.


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we recently switched from Kirkland batteries, they always seem to leak.
them leaking, and your experience above is the reason we switched.
so far, we have never had a Duracell leak.

in fact, we checked a toy that belonged to my girl when she was a kid. the batteries were 20+ years old, in the toy the entire time. it still worked, and no leak!
though, it was very weak, the fact it worked at all was amazing, and a testament to their quality.

 

[Thefishguy77]

we recently switched from Kirkland batteries, they always seem to leak.
them leaking, and your experience above is the reason we switched.
so far, we have never had a Duracell leak.

in fact, we checked a toy that belonged to my girl when she was a kid. the batteries were 20+ years old, in the toy the entire time. it still worked, and no leak!
though, it was very weak, the fact it worked at all was amazing, and a testament to their quality.

20 year old duracells are not the same as today's. in fact they also unofficially make Kirkland signatures. Both are made by P&G so one would have to assume P&G doesn't have 2 separate plants and Kirkland is famous for having a name brand company make its products and then rebrand them. Now a days they are one in the same.


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[Thefishguy77]

That's cool. You just never know what you'll learn on this forum.

Totally Random



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[nevada]

20 year old duracells are not the same as today's. in fact they also unofficially make Kirkland signatures. Both are made by P&G so one would have to assume P&G doesn't have 2 separate plants and Kirkland is famous for having a name brand company make its products and then rebrand them. Now a days they are one in the same.


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perhaps. but personal experience tells me they are NOT the same quality.

we have had tons of Kirkland batteries leak, and NONE of the Duracells.

made by the same company, MAYBE, but not to the same standards.

 

[verbutani]

Two problems contribute to the battery leakage.

One is that caustic chemicals are used.

The other is that multi-cell situations cause the middle cell to reverse polarize.

This exacerbates the situation.

Best solution is to remove the batteries, if you can, when not using them.

 

[jrandom]

I have scrubbed quite a few terminal ends courtesy of both brands, I consider myself well versed in the art.

I have decided to stick strictly with Li rechargadles, for the time being. I have several single 18650 and rc123 lights (really like the AW protected cells they are getting harder to find since lighthound closed its virtual doors ), and handful of maratac AAA pocket lights (these kick ass btw, stupid 120 lumens from a single aaa) plus a couple BD headlamps that I use Panasonic eneloop pros in. I have a couple other gadgets that run these in to. To date, no leaky, super happy.

 

[lucky7]

I have those eneloop batteries for my camera flash, and they're great.