Reliability of batteries and their damage to equipment

[andy]

...

[Jon A.]

The off-brand batteries that came with my and my mom's DVD players, I threw them out without even removing the plastic wrapping. Wouldn't even trust them for testing. My '87 Trinitron remote came with off-brand batteries, and my '82 RCA remote came with Energizer alkalines that had technically expired the year before. Fortunately, they hadn't leaked, and actually still worked. Tossed them anyway.

Originally Posted by VintagePC

Conveniently on-topic episode of EEVBlog today for those interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9JGfoLxVCo

Looks like I'll be using Duracell 9-volt batteries from now on.

[lnx64]

Speaking of leaky newer batteries again. My bluetooth keyboard for my Mac, it's got exploded AAA's in it. These are the same batteries it came with, a year and a half ago (Logitech brand, and OEM Duracell's).

Damn.

[Jon A.]

While stocking shelves at the thrift shop today, I discovered a remote with a single battery left in it that had leaked somewhat. Of course I turned it back in rather than putting it out on the floor.

[Jeffhs]

I had a bad experience with a sealed nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) battery pack recently. The pack is used with my 2-meter FM hand held transceiver (Yaesu FT-207R); recently I found corrosion around the battery terminals in the radio as well as what appears to be electrolyte leakage around the terminals of the battery pack itself. The battery had not been used for quite a while (months or even a year or more). I'm afraid to try to charge it for fear of the thing exploding and wrecking the radio, or worse.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by lnx64

Speaking of leaky newer batteries again. My bluetooth keyboard for my Mac, it's got exploded AAA's in it. These are the same batteries it came with, a year and a half ago (Logitech brand, and OEM Duracell's).

Damn.

Does your keyboard work with new batteries, or did the old ones leak electrolyte on the battery terminals? If the latter, I'm afraid your keyboard may be ruined, as the electrolyte in all alkaline batteries is extremely corrosive and will eat through the terminals in short order.

[lnx64]

Cleaned up it works fine with new ones. Scary though even though the old ones were leaky, they still were working with 70% charge. I was surprised.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by KV-1926R

The off-brand batteries that came with my and my mom's DVD players, I threw them out without even removing the plastic wrapping. Wouldn't even trust them for testing. My '87 Trinitron remote came with off-brand batteries, and my '82 RCA remote came with Energizer alkalines that had technically expired the year before. Fortunately, they hadn't leaked, and actually still worked. Tossed them anyway.

Looks like I'll be using Duracell 9-volt batteries from now on.

My sister always throws the included cells away, unless they're Energizer or Duracell.
I, myself, use them, but keep an eye on them. I always remove the cells from remotes, I'm not using for a while.

[KentTeffeteller]

Reason why the insulin pump is carried on the station insurance under technical support equipment, it would be $6500 to replace it. The station insurance agent recommended this.