Reliability of batteries and their damage to equipment

Over the years working as a service tech I have seen a great deal of electronic equipment destroyed/damaged by leaking batteries.

Because of that, I have not used the ordinary carbon/zinc type of battery for years. Instead, I use either Ni-MH batteries, or whenever voltage sensitive items are used, I use Alkaline batteries. Lately, I have found two cases of an Alkaline battery leaking. In all my years of servicing these are the only cases that I have ever heard of. I wonder if the manufacturers of batteries are doing something to lower the cost of production.

When standing in the check-out line at the local $2.00 shop, I frequently see cheap zinc/carbon batteries on the hangers, that are clearly bloated and having an internal hemorrhage. The acidic discharge of these batteries does not have to contact the equipment to do damage, the fumes alone are enough to do great damage.

I advise all collectors, enthusiasts, to not leave batteries in their equipment, unless inspected weekly. Even the precaution of using Alkaline batteries can no longer be considered as fail safe insurance.

Now to further my theory, note, I said theory, not theorem, I am posting photographs of 1. A leaking Alkaline battery, 2. A couple of 80 year old batteries from one of my coffin radios. The C batteries are still providing voltage and current after all this time. (Tested with a 20,000 ohm per volt meter) which is harder on the batteries than a grid circuit of some valves.

Anyway, have a look at the photographs. I welcome your thoughts on this subject.

Wayne End of part 1

[Celt]

Wouldn't you know they'd be Duracells. Those are the only brand of alkalines that I've ever witnessed to leak.
Have seen them corrode up like that and to also leak a green alkaline jelly.

part 2

[ChrisW6ATV]

I have experienced leaking alkaline batteries for decades. In fact, I think they leak more often than other types. The "heavy duty" ones, they may be leak-resistant, but I never buy them. I have not seen a carbon-zinc battery for sale for years.

[Eric H]

Interesting coincidence that I removed two sets of leaking Duracell Alkalines today, one from a CD player the other from a remote control.

One pair had an expiration date of 2015, Neither device was seriously damaged.

I just checked all my remotes, all Duracell's with 2009, 2014 and 2016 exp dates and they are all fine.
I think the problem occurs when the batteries are dead and remain in the device, dead ones corrode.

I bought a huge pack of AA Enercell Alkalines from Radio Shack a few months ago when they had them on sale for $10, hope they hold up.

[Celt]

I've had my best luck (and life) from Panasonic brand batteries.

[jstout66]

Great.. another thing for me to be paranoid about. LOL!
I've had problems with leaking alkaline batteries the last few years. In my case.. they were all Ray-O-Vac, and figured it was limited to that brand and to never buy them again. I'll have to do better on checking the other brands I have at home.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Interesting coincidence that I removed two sets of leaking Duracell Alkalines today....

Were they as bad as these? Expired in 2009, picture from 2008. I've seen the same destructive leakage from Energizers too.

[Mal Fuller]

I've found that alkaline cells that have been subjected to a high current drain first use cycle, but which have plenty of remaining punch left are highly susceptible to becoming leakers before very long.
What they will leak is a clear liquid that isn't nearly as corrosive as the magunga which used to leak from zinc carbon cells.

[Ed in Tx]

Vast majority I've seen have been in low current remote controls, just sitting too long usually. What' bad is when they leak in a Mag Lite-type flashlight and corrode the threads so you can't get it apart. Trapped gasses will slowly eat away the aluminum coating on the reflector. A slow agonizing death to a flashlight.

[andy]

...

[compucat]

I have found alkalines to leak badly sometimes even before they are run down. I have a calculator that I use at work every day and I noticed a little alkaline battery corrosion on one of the terminals. Check your batteries often and never leave them in anything unused. In fact, maybe I will remove the alkaline batteries from my CCRadio 2 that I run exclusively off of AC. I would hate for anything to happen to that. In my expensive pocket flashlight, I use AA lithium cells. They are expensive but don't seem to leak and they last a while.

[dewdude]

Pinball machines!

Some pinballs use 3 AA batteries for their CMOS ram backup. Operators usually knew about them...homeowners that have machines...don't. Usually when I customer calls us about a problem...chances are the batteries are 10 to 15 years past date and destroyed the board. I mean...I've had boards I've had to throw away because the battery damage was so severe it could not be repaired.

I've seen every brand of alkaline do this...usually long past expiration. Super heavy dutys I've seen split a seam..but rarely ever cause corrosion damage.

Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by dewdude

Pinball machines!

Some pinballs use 3 AA batteries for their CMOS ram backup.

Thank you for reminding me. I need to check my Firepower machine.

[ctc17]

This is a huge problem now. I first noticed it when I was doing sound for a show and the duracel 9 volt exploded in the wireless mic. Then I noticed the bottoms were blowing out on duracel batteries while they were in the package.
All of them seem to leak now.
I have a feeling its due to China or the no mercury thing.
I have moved into rechargeables and Li ion where I can.