Duracell batteries issues?

[steelshooterco]

Was wondering if members had noticed this as well.

Over the past couple of years have had Duracell batteries leak in electronics as they near end of battery life. Usually not a problem, as remove and clean terminals.

Just opened an LED maglite and the batteries have leaked and are ceased into the body of the flashlight.

Going to call Duracell to return for warranty, but have since switched to EverReady, and never have had any issues.

Bought Duracell at Costco, as they were a deal, but not if they leak and damage things!

Wanted to see if members were seeing similar issues?

Thanks!

 

[Kanook]

I've switched to Energizer for the "No Leak" guarantee. http://www.energizer.com/pages/Guarantee-legal.aspx

 

[steelshooterco]

Follow up on this, Duracell is sending me out a Visa gift card for $17.37 to cover the cost of the flashlight, and a coupon for more Duracell batteries that I'll give to a buddy if he want it.

I had bought a conversion kit at HomeDepot to convert the Maglite from a standard to LED bulb, and was happy with the kit. Will now buy one of the Maglite LED Pro flashlight.

Fortunately have several of them, as it will take 2-8 weeks to get the gift card.

At least Duracell stands behind their product.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Was wondering if members had noticed this as well.

Over the past couple of years have had Duracell batteries leak in electronics as they near end of battery life. Usually not a problem, as remove and clean terminals.

Hi,

Just removed yet another leaky set of Duracells from a small electronic device last week. A Q-tip and some alcohol got the contacts cleaned up well enough to work, though there is some permanent damage. I have about two more sets to use up, and then it's straight Energizers for whatever doesn't have rechargeables. The Bunny has yet to give me any trouble. BTW, Duracell rechargeables haven't been too impressive, either.

Rick C

 

[ronto]

I'm having the same problem, I've already ruined one flashlight when the batteries were so corroded I couldn't get them out. No more Duracell for me.

 

[Dan in MI]

That's funny, my experince has been equal leakage issues with both brands. I quit using bunnies about 15 years ago because the failure rate was much higher. D's only leaked when the flashlights were ignored for long perids of time. I have used the warranty on both brands and been satisfied.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

You guys made me go look. Turns out I have mostly Rayovac flashlight batteries and some Energizers from Home Depot. Any complaints about Rayovac? :D

 

[Rick Courtright]

You guys made me go look. Turns out I have mostly Rayovac flashlight batteries and some Energizers from Home Depot. Any complaints about Rayovac? :D

Hi,

Haven't used any Rayovacs for years, but never had any complaints that I remember.

Speaking of remembering, wasn't Rayovac the company that had the ads decades ago (in magazines, or maybe the Sunday paper's comics?) about how somebody was lost in the swamp about to be eaten by alligators but his flashlight using their batteries lasted all night so he could signal rescuers who saved him? There was some similar tale of terror, adventure and a happy ending each time there was a new ad...

Rick C

 

[Number9]

Duracell is only 7 miles away.. I don't have far to go to complain. :mrgreen:

 

[Snake45]

Just opened an LED maglite and the batteries have leaked and are ceased into the body of the flashlight.

Going to call Duracell to return for warranty, but have since switched to EverReady, and never have had any issues.

I had Energizers do the same thing and ruin a 4D Maglite. I haven't bought another Energizer since. I'm using Rayovacs now and have been happy with them.

 

[dougader]

My wife's little AA car flashlight leaked with Duracells right away. I have since switched to Sanyo Eneloop NiMH rechargeable batteries.

All my other lights use 3v lithium CR123 batteries, which have a 10 year shelf life (my current Duracells are 12 years old and still work fine) and the lithium rechargeable 18650's.

 

[gramps]

I use Duracells due to leakage from Rayovac and Energizer's. :shock: Go figure!
gramps

 

[Jim Puke]

I will only buy lights now that use CR123 batteries. Our FENIX lights put out enough illumination to cover anything we need them for, so I have moved on from alkaline batteries.

 

[98Redline]

Same experience as many with Duracells. I have to date had 3 flashlights destroyed and a Garmin GPS. They seem to leak well inside a year and well inside the expiration date on the side of the battery.

Now all of my flashlights run on CR123 batteries and anything that takes standard batteries has them pulled out as soon as I am done using it.

 

[Phoenix too]

Yes. Most recently two AA, due to expire next year, leaked in the remote control for my shop air filter.

Previously I sent leaking Duracells back and received something, a bunch of batteries or a 'gift' certificate as compensation.

 

[nvbirdman]

I bought some Rayovac batteries for my blood sugar meter. They were too big to fit. I sent an e-mail to Rayovac giving all the information off the package. All they did was send me a coupon for some free batteries. That was the last time I ever bought one of their batteries.

 

[Rick Courtright]

My wife's little AA car flashlight leaked with Duracells right away. I have since switched to Sanyo Eneloop NiMH rechargeable batteries.

Hi,

Those Sanyo Eneloops have been the best rechargeables I've used so far... but I haven't bought any new ones since Panasonic took 'em over. The latest "generation" is blue instead of white, and I understand it changes from dark to light (or vice versa) as the batteries discharge. Hope somebody didn't take a good product and go screw the pooch in favor of some "Ooh, ahh" nonsense!

Rick C

 

[Pat-inCO]

I have yet to have any brand go bad in less than five years. And I'll bet my
changing them out by three years has something to do with that.

For my high output flashlights (over 600 lum) I use rechargable LiIon and
recharge them at least once per month.

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I recently borrowed some audio books from one of my mentors, wanting to listen to these right away, I pulled out several CD players that were still packed up nice and neatly after moving into the new house I bought last year.

One of the CD players had no batteries in it, so I installed a set of freshly recharged AAs (enercell or something. Well it did nothing but make clicking noises. Tried a different disc, same result. Tossed the CD player in the trash. (After retrieving said discs)

CD player 2: went to put said Enercell batteries in this one, it already had batteries in it. Duracell "coppertop" batteries. They had leaked all over the inside the battery compartment and down further into the electronics. Tossed this CD player into the trash also.

CD player 3: grabbed the last CD player in the box. Excitedly popped the battery compartment opened and saw no batteries in it. Grabbed my Enercell rechargeable AAs and shoved them in there. Put my audio book disc into the CD player and it played. But when the disc spun up to full speed it vibrated so bad the audio skipping was unbearable. Tried several discs yielding the same results.

I'm going to buy a new CD player soon. My car has one, but need one for the house too.

 

[speedsixman]

I gave up on Rayovacs years ago because of the frequent leaky ones.
I have had several Duracells leak in my Maglites.

Myron

 

[Cholo]

I use Duracell's in everything that will take them. I've only had them leak one time, and that was in an old Maglite C cell that had them in there for well over 10 years. It took quite awhile to get them out. I honed the tube and it was good to go once again.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I saw some battery duration test on YouTube and they did not do well with Rayovacs. hmmmmmmmmmm!!! :?

 

[hittman]

I've never had a Duracell problem and have used them for many years in everything that needs a better. Now. this thread has caused me to check the Maglite, smoke detectors, TV remotes, etc. and there's no problem ..... yet.

 

[loiblb]

My Peltor Hearing Protector for shooting, you know the one that supresses impulse noise amplifies low level sound has been damaged by AAA Duracell leaking onto the contacts and internals.
Changed to EverReady but it's too late the ear protector set is history.

 

[slippingaway]

You guys made me go look. Turns out I have mostly Rayovac flashlight batteries and some Energizers from Home Depot. Any complaints about Rayovac? :D

I was just cleaning out the garage yesterday and found several small electronics and got worried about finding leaking batteries and ruined contacts. All of them had Rayovacs, and none of them had any damage. One had a tiny amount of leakage, but not enough to damage anything.