Had an alkaline battery just fail

[y_p_w]

Probably time for NiMH batteries, but maybe not just yet in this application. The batteries were installed (new) just a few weeks ago. It was in a remote and I heard it just pop last night. Thought it might be an electrolytic cap in the remote, but it was still working. At least until this morning when I tried it and it wasn't powering anything. I used a couple of NiMH batteries I had (from another device) and the remote was still working. Then I took a battery tester to the batteries, where one looked show almost new voltage while the other was well in the "replace" area. It doesn't display voltage, so it's pretty crude. But clearly one of the batteries just had a sudden failure and probably that sound was the result. It's showing a lower reading than the batteries that I replaced when there was a low battery warning from the device (which communicates with the remote).

 

[chexxers]

alkaline batteries that WERE good are now crap, so be sure to NOT leave them in whatever for too long!! duracells are now one of the WORSE!

 

[goblin]

I discovered a sealed pack of copper tops with a 2026 expiration date all encased in blue-green leaked and dried goo, and had to drown a Petzl headlamp in alcohol to bring it back to life after pulling out another three 5 years old copper tops (AAA this time), so nothing surprises me anymore.

All I know is that two things have made me skeptical prepper-wise these last years: the notion that batteries can last 10 years on the shelf, and the logic of having electronic chips in a headlamp, ready to break. Revenge is mine on both counts.

 

[Kira]

Ever see/get an alkaline battery which exhibited reverse polarity?
I have.
I mentioned it to our local TV repairman (good guy-RIP) and he said, "oh yes, it happens".

To the OP's point, I've become fastidious about removing batteries from things when not in continual use.

 

[dubber09]

If your device/s can work on a little lower voltage then I'd suggest Ikea's Ladda rechargeable batteries.
I switched most everything to them a few years ago and not looking back.

 

[dishdude]

Ever see/get an alkaline battery which exhibited reverse polarity?
I have.
I mentioned it to our local TV repairman (good guy-RIP) and he said, "oh yes, it happens".

To the OP's point, I've become fastidious about removing batteries from things when not in continual use.

Yes, strangest thing! I had 2 recently that did that.

 

[circuitsmith]

I swore off alkaline last year.
For applications where NiMH have insufficient voltage I'm using non-rechargeable lithium.
Started with Energizer Ultimate in my HVAC thermostat, but they are pricey.
I'm getting good results with EBL brand from Amazon.

 

[y_p_w]

I swore off alkaline last year.
For applications where NiMH have insufficient voltage I'm using non-rechargeable lithium.
Started with Energizer Ultimate in my HVAC thermostat, but they are pricey.
I'm getting good results with EBL brand from Amazon.

Most of these devices can operate off of a fairly wide voltage range. If it's alkaline, it can be pretty well depleted before it finally gives up. However, if I've got NiMH batteries in a remote, I'm likely to just top it off at random times. I mean, why not?

I've never had a Panasonic-branded Eneloop (or Ikea LADDA) leak/fail although I had a few Sanyo-branded ones fail. The ones that failed went into Siemens cordless phones, and I think overcharging (in pairs) might have been the reason. Individual charging circuits are far better than charging in series because of cell inbalances.

 

[Vil_Riker]

I've never paid attention to the type of the battery, just avoid Duracells.

 

[John105]

Surprisingly have come across 5 bad brand new Costco AAA’s. Threw me for a loop thought my thermometer went bad.

Also have noticed lately as I test. When a device needs new batteries, I’ve found one still good and one dead.

 

[Carmudgeon]

I just tossed out a bunch of brand new (2030 exp date) Costco Duracell and Kirkland alkaleaks because they started to fuzz before ever being installed in a device.

 

[odie]

Watched this a few days ago . Is about 4 years old . Also talk of batteries leaking and why .

 

[ripcord]

It does seem like my cordless mouse is going through these Kirkland brand AA batteries a lot faster than I remember.

 

[odie]

Use this to check batteries in remotes and other things on occasion . Purchased years ago at H.F..