The "Leakers" strike again!

Costco's Kirkland batteries are manufactured by Duracell.

Dale

No kidding Dale, that's why I specified Kirkland and Duracell!

No surprise to see this subject come up from time to time. I haven't purchased or used the Kirkland brand to date. I have however purchased batteries form all of the major supplies and had them leak weather installed or not. I have a 36 pack of Energizers purchased last December and just last week threw 7 away that were leaking and still in the package. Maybe buying in bulk because it's a better value isn't such a good idea. I do remove them from my remotes if there not going to be used for sometime. Obviously, there are a few things around the house (eg: thermostats, smokes alarms, flashlights and tv remotes) that need them 24/7. The smoke alarms are changed every fall. I do my best to check the reat every so often.

I am a teacher and I have a calculator set in my room…..they all leak….when I leave for summer I take all batteries out and store them in a cloth bag……I do not know if the expiration date on batteries matter,but I always try to get a good date……kinda like people do with milk, I always feel a little ridiculous doing this, but in 10 years I have not lost a calculator

Duracells have never failed me ... if I want to destroy a device with battery juice, I load it with Duracells and wait a while.  Works every time.

Completely unscientific question:

Is the leakage amount or time-line a function of usage? In other words, if you use them constantly (like a TV remote or a smoke detector, with a light but constant load) does it take them longer to start leaking than if they are installed in a seldom-used item like a flashlight?

I would rather have a battery that leaks verse one that explodes. My neighbor is the HR person for local trash company. They have a fire from lithium battery being thrown in trash almost once a week.

I bought some HDX batteries in the bulk package at Thanksgiving 2019.  Great batteries at 1/3 the big brands prices.  Bought a couple of bricks.  They worked great.  So at Thankgiving 2020 I bought about six or seven bricks (have a grandchild living with us permanently by then).  Didn't need much more in  2021 but looked for some more,  but couldn't find any.

We are now getting down to the last of the 2020 stockpile.  In two years, both in and out of the packaging, no problems, no leaks.  For the cheap price I could throw them away periodically (if I could remember to do so).

Don't know who makes them, but I like them.   Quit using Duracell a long time ago.  I find the Chinese batteries that come supplied with different electronics products to be just as good as Duracell.

@aussteve posted:

I bought some HDX batteries in the bulk package at Thanksgiving 2019.  Great batteries at 1/3 the big brands prices.  Bought a couple of bricks.  They worked great.  So at Thankgiving 2020 I bought about six or seven bricks (have a grandchild living with us permanently by then).  Didn't need much more in  2021 but looked for some more,  but couldn't find any.

We are now getting down to the last of the 2020 stockpile.  In two years, both in and out of the packaging, no problems, no leaks.  For the cheap price I could throw them away periodically (if I could remember to do so).

Don't know who makes them, but I like them.   Quit using Duracell a long time ago.  I find the Chinese batteries that come supplied with different electronics products to be just as good as Duracell.

Home Depot sells them but it's online only. Haven't had one leak yet.

Thanks for the reminder on this!  I had some batteries go bad in a controller, really ****ed me off because I knew better.     

I stopped using one time use batteries because of this.  I just was running my MTH stuff the other day and remote kept shutting down.  I opened it up and both batteries, were leaking.  They had not been in use for only a month.  Lately the Duracell's have been the worst and I bought their top-of-the-line ones that were expensive.   I decided to invest in Energizer rechargeables and replaced all my alkaline ones.  They are great and never had one leak.  Not sure if the cases are different but they just don't leak for some reason.  With Legacy and MTH Remotes so valuable these days don't want to ruin any of them!  Nothing worse than trying to clean the battery compartment of a remote with battery juice all over it.

I'm using rechargeable batteries in all my remotes, Lionel and MTH.  I've yet to have an NiMh battery leak and kill the device it's in.  I use Lithium batteries in my flashlights that don't get used a lot like the ones in the car or gunsafe.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Good thing I thought to take these out of the device they were in, it was a night vision 'scope.  Yet another warning not to leave Alkaline batteries in your remotes if you're not using them for an extended period of time!

These were brand new batteries that were stored with the 'scope a few years ago, I figured they'd at least get to their shelf date before leaking!  Interesting that the bottom of each cell leaked more than the top...  Yes, they're rotated, so the one with all the goo is a different battery each time.

Bottom like?  Beware of Kirkland and Duracell for sure!

John, deja-vu? You should consider listening to the sage advice of this forum member from DEC 2021... _{(sarcasm w/ tongue firmly placed in cheek)}

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The final couple of Duracell batteries I haven't replaced with Energizers bit me again!  This time it was the Kirkland (made by Duracell) batteries.  Note the date is 2025, and they were installed new into my magnifier headset in 2019.  It has a positive off switch, so there was no power drain, they just went bad in two years and ruined the battery box!

Still a good reminder post to periodically check our battery powered devices; especially those using Costco's Kirkland and/or Duracells.  IRRC the current Costco store stock of Kirkland batteries have an updated "new" packaging and claim a 12 year shelf life.

I wonder if this is an attempt to differentiate or distance itself from the prior bad batch(s) from the last 2 or 3 years that would leak in the store packaging.  Prior to 2019 I never had a problem w/ the Kirkland AA or AAA batteries.  As others and even with Costco's great return policy, I presently won't take the chance with the Kirkland or Duracell brand battery.

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

Completely unscientific question:

Is the leakage amount or time-line a function of usage? In other words, if you use them constantly (like a TV remote or a smoke detector, with a light but constant load) does it take them longer to start leaking than if they are installed in a seldom-used item like a flashlight?

Most often, a lack of usage causes Hydrogen to build up in the cell which eventually ruptures the jacket thus producing the leak.

John

FYI...All the Dec 2025 Kirkland and Duracell batteries are defective. All will leak and should be discarded. Lots of electronic equipment have been damaged as a result.  I'm just waiting for the class-action lawsuits to come.

Huh, what timing...I have Walgreens batteries in my DCS remote. In the midst of moving things around in order to set up a "stage" to resume my collection photographing effort, I was prompted to examine the batteries in my remote for some reason. Checked out A-OK.

I only wish I had thought to do that with the set of AAA's (don't recall which brand, may have been Energizer) that were sitting next to my 'test track' yard, and managed to spring a leak during a stretch of a few days when I wasn't in the room, eating an unsightly divot into the woodwork.

---PCJ

The only brand I have never ever had a problem with in any size is Panasonic.

I get mine from Battery Junction

John

In another thread we covered this issue. My conclusion was that the best non-leaky batteries were either Lithium or Rechargeable but both come with other issues.

Lithium-- Pros: generally long lasting; Cons: Very, very expensive; Warning: Nominal voltage is higher than listed on the battery

Rechargeable -- Pros: reusable; Cons: More rapid voltage drain over time, some batteries are a bit larger and may not fit into battery compartment; Warning: Nominal voltage is lower than listed on battery.

Even given the above, sometimes alkaline batteries may be the best choice.

I have had good luck with lithium ion rechargeable batteries that are now available in AA size. They have great capacity and have a built in voltage regulator so they deliver 1.5 volts until they shut off. They also do not lose charge when not in use like NiMh batteries do.

I know it's a pain in the neck, but I take the batteries out of any high value items I don't use every day. That includes my train remote, camera and flash.

@iguanaman3 posted:

I have had good luck with lithium ion rechargeable batteries that are now available in AA size. They have great capacity and have a built in voltage regulator so they deliver 1.5 volts until they shut off. They also do not lose charge when not in use like NiMh batteries do.

What rechargeable lithiums come with an internal regulator?

I tried Lithium batteries in my Verizon TV remotes, and they discharged very quickly!  Apparently the slightly higher voltage was enough to cause them to draw excessive power and quickly discharge.  I went back to Alkaline batteries.  So far the Energizer brand hasn't destroyed anything.

Batteries!  Whew!  When I saw leakers strike again I thought my brothers were out drinking again.

I have used Amazon branded AA and AAA batteries for the past few years w/o incident.

My information is that they are made in Indonesia by a company called FDK, which is supposedly a subsidiary of Fujitsu, an old-time Japanese company.

My biggest problem is they are all made by china!

@Dan Kenny posted:

My biggest problem is they are all made by china!

I see that comment a lot here.  But is there anything in our hobby that isn't?

John

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

What rechargeable lithiums come with an internal regulator?

All lithium rechargeables do AFAIK. They need to step down the 3.7 volts of lithiums.  They are rated for over 1000 charge cycles too. Most charge with USB.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N...16676ef3b2a&th=1

CraftechOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Unfortunatley not and the reason for supply chain issues, can't say more as it will be considered political.

I use Energizer rechargeables in my remotes. I recharge them ~ monthly. Even now running trains daily, that is enough. Never had a problem in over twelve years.

I've used rechargeable nickel hydride (NiH) batteries, AA and AAA, for several years now without any problems.  Anyone know of a way to remove a bad AA Duracell from and aluminum walled flashlight?  I have been thinking about drilling it out.

Jan

I’ve been using NiMh rechargeable’s in all train related remotes for a while. On the other hand I’ve been using pale blue rechargeable Lithium batteries in my Fluke 902 for work, they last a good 6 months in a meter I use everyday the downside is they do put out 1.5V until they die and when they do die I don’t get the usual low battery signal and my meter just stops working 😅

@Jan posted:

Anyone know of a way to remove a bad AA Duracell from and aluminum walled flashlight?

I use various combinations of WD40, Deoxit-5, and vinegar to loosen the battery crud. Then I take a 6" hex bit extender or screwdriver to push the battery out of the cylinder if it is still stuck. If it can't be pushed out and gravity is not sufficient, then I would try the drill to pull it out.

We've been buying Kodak AA's at our local Shoprite--haven't had on leak yet (fingers crossed).

A very timely thread for me...Our household just went through a complete change- out from single use batteries to rechargeable in all gadgets and remotes. So far it's been great. The cost savings alone will be worth the initial investment.

The one glitch I have come across is that the Tenergy AA rechargeable batteries are just ever so slightly fatter around than the single use batteries. This became apparent when I put them in my Lionel Cab-1 remote. The slide on cover was a very tight fit.  A side by side visual of the two types of batteries confirmed the diagnosis of weight gain. Anybody else encounter this issue?

John

Imagine stumbling into this discussion tonight! I just pulled a leaking Energizer out of my weather station today.

@West Side Joe posted:

I know it's a pain in the neck, butI take the batteries out of any high value items I don't use every day. That includes my train remote, camera and flash.

We do the same with the club-owned remotes we use on our club layout, and the Lionel dedicated remotes for the dozen or so locomotives available for visitors' use.