NO, me either, I learned a decade ago servicing security systems how shocked I was to seeing Duracells leaking and ruining the older sensors that used AA and AAA. Some newer high powered out door sensors still use those sizes.
Alkaline batteries leaking
- Thread starter rekit
- Start date
I've had multiple bad experiences with Duracell alkalines, too, and not just recent ones. I also had a never-used Ray-O-Vac leak, still inside its original blister pack.
For very low-drain applications, carbon-zincs (including "heavy-duty" ones) are adequate, and less risky.
For very low-drain applications, carbon-zincs (including "heavy-duty" ones) are adequate, and less risky.
Both are from same company .
I guess you've never seen one swell up and leak inside a flashlight? Usually, when that happens, the flashlight is junk because you'll never get that carbon-zinc battery out.
I've seen carbon-zinc batteries leak in other applications, too. The leakage residue is brown, as I recall (it's been years since I've seen this but I have no reason to believe that current carbon-zinc batteries won't do the same thing). The case of the battery is zinc and once it's discharged enough, the case is eaten through and the battery will leak.
Sure about that?
Energizer is the successor to the Eveready Battery Company, which was originally a part of Union Carbide before they divested all their consumer brands (including Glad and Prestone). It was odd for a time when "Energizer Holdings" included other consumer stuff like sunscreen and wet wipes before they spun that off.
Rayovac was a battery company that swallowed a bunch of different companies in different industries.
I remember when Duracell batteries carried the "Mallory" name. And they're part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway empire now.
As you said, "once it's discharged enough" (although I haven't actually seen that happen in a long time). Alkalines, at least some brands, too often leak corrosive electrolyte long before they're discharged.
It can happen easily enough. Just forget to check that battery for long enough and you have a mess...kinda the same with alkalines.
The main reason I haven't seen it happen in a long time is that I haven't used those batteries in a long time.
I just use a name brand and keep vinegar if I have to clean a leak.
Generally my batteries in devices don’t get old enough to leak but I’ve had a few new ones self destruct.
I’ve also found the 10 year expiration to be a suggestion as at year 8/9 unused they were too weak to run the outdoor thermometer.
I might have to pay attention to brands, I always bought whatever long life stuff was at Sam’s, my experience with anything not name brand is that they don’t even work as well as heavy duty junk.
Oddly I’ve had a few low draw devices that work better with antique heavy duty cells over alkaline.
Also I do recharge my alkaline batteries whenever possible (lots of gizmos use AA AND AAA)
Honestly besides shorter run time I’ve had good luck recharging the not rechargables and I haven’t gotten any to leak and boy have I tried.
All my leakers seem to be new in package C batteries that I don’t use up fast enough.
Generally my batteries in devices don’t get old enough to leak but I’ve had a few new ones self destruct.
I’ve also found the 10 year expiration to be a suggestion as at year 8/9 unused they were too weak to run the outdoor thermometer.
I might have to pay attention to brands, I always bought whatever long life stuff was at Sam’s, my experience with anything not name brand is that they don’t even work as well as heavy duty junk.
Oddly I’ve had a few low draw devices that work better with antique heavy duty cells over alkaline.
Also I do recharge my alkaline batteries whenever possible (lots of gizmos use AA AND AAA)
Honestly besides shorter run time I’ve had good luck recharging the not rechargables and I haven’t gotten any to leak and boy have I tried.
All my leakers seem to be new in package C batteries that I don’t use up fast enough.
Funny seeing this old thread is alive again - the day after finding about a third of the cells in an *unopened* pack of "2031" alkaline Ray-O-Vacs had leaked.
Not sure any brand is that great, nowadays. Just don't know if after the Hg-ban - when manufacturers started advertising 100% Mercury-Free batteries - they ever really compensated for the loss of the thing which was preventing leakage (by suppressing zinc electrode corrosion into the electrolyte/hydrogen gas production etc.). Or maybe it's gotten too expensive to keep using whatever substitutes in chemistry or design they came up with.
PS (FWIW) From their website:
Energizer Holdings battery brands "include EverReady, Ray-O-Vac, and [in various regions] Varta"
and
since this is BITOG
"Our auto care product lineup includes well-known brands ... such as A/C Pro, Armor All, Bahama & Co., California Scents, Driven, Eagle One, LEXOL, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, Scratch Doctor, STP and Tuff Stuff."
Not sure any brand is that great, nowadays. Just don't know if after the Hg-ban - when manufacturers started advertising 100% Mercury-Free batteries - they ever really compensated for the loss of the thing which was preventing leakage (by suppressing zinc electrode corrosion into the electrolyte/hydrogen gas production etc.). Or maybe it's gotten too expensive to keep using whatever substitutes in chemistry or design they came up with.
PS (FWIW) From their website:
Energizer Holdings battery brands "include EverReady, Ray-O-Vac, and [in various regions] Varta"
and
since this is BITOG
"Our auto care product lineup includes well-known brands ... such as A/C Pro, Armor All, Bahama & Co., California Scents, Driven, Eagle One, LEXOL, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, Scratch Doctor, STP and Tuff Stuff."
2014
On November 14, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway declared its intent to acquire Duracell in an all-stock deal, consisting of $4.7 billion worth of P&G stock then owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
https://www.zippia.com/duracell-careers-1110388/history/
I’ve had good luck with the “Blue” Thunderbolt batteries from HF. Wait until they are on sale and you can get 18 AA for less than $6.
I haven’t noticed them leaking, but I take them out of stuff I don’t use, and I try to remember to replace flashlight batteries once a year.
I haven’t noticed them leaking, but I take them out of stuff I don’t use, and I try to remember to replace flashlight batteries once a year.
Yeah - it's been a while. The last time I had any Ray O Vac batteries was when my power company was giving them away at a "convenience station" to deal with planned power outages in 2019. I got some junk, snacks, and water, along with a couple of mophie USB power banks (really nice) and cheap portable lights. But they let us grab several packs of Ray O Vac alkaline AAAs. I still have them and the label still says they're from "Spectrum Brands" with a Feb 2029 date on the label (I guess a recommended use by date). So that was probably made in Feb 2019 (after Energizer bought Ray O Vac) with a standard 10 year recommendation.
So apologies if I missed that Energizer bought the Ray O Vac brand in late 2018. I'm trying to figure out how they managed to do that without getting into antitrust issues. Panasonic had to sell their consume NiMH battery business after they bought Sanyo. And that was prompted by regulators in the US and China even though they're a Japanese company.
Nothing really. This has been a problem with alkalines for years. The worst I've ever seen was with Varta alkalines made in Germany and sold with an Ikea label. But they clearly stated they were made for Ikea by Varta. Those things leaked in the package.
They are not fakes, they are just a brand name that’s been cheapened for profits or compromise, to be able to claim more power packed into the battery
I gave up on them along time ago, actually, I gave up on all name brand batteries. I buy the cheapest ones I can, typically $.20-$.35 apiece for our alkalines. The most amazing part is the cheap ones never leaked on me.
Granted, without question by far, Duracell was the worst of all of them
