Alkaline Battery Failures

[Peanut]

Like many I keep alkaline batteries in the house. I go through quiet a few over the course of a year since I supply 2 households. Since I keep so many batteries of different sizes I bought an organizer for them. Almost all are duracell which are advertised as having a 10yr shelf life. They even come with an expiration date on each battery.

I’ve had a rash of battery failures in the last few weeks. Tonight I found 3 more failures.

Pertinate data…

1) storage rm has a year round constant temp of 62 degrees. Gets no direct sunlight and is below grade. Humidity around 45%.

2) expiration date… 2031. Which means I bought these batteries in 2021.

3) I opened this case a week ago and got AAA's out of it. Everything looked fine.

4) so far the failures are only AAA and AA batteries.

5) excreted liquid is water soluble, clear and feels greasy. Turns white shortly after failure.

This liquid is different than the liquid from batteries in recent years. It feels and looks different. It reminds me of crystallized sugar. Even the white color is different, more of a bright white than off white color of years ago.

Anyone else having issues?

I went through all my stored batteries tonight. I also have C & D cells stored in a plastic ammo can with cardboard dividers. I intend to check all of them every week for the foreseeable future.

 

[Bacpacker]

A guy I work with pointed out he had been seeing failures with Duracell batteries, most AA and AAA sizes. And all had leakage from them. I started watching mine and have saw the same thing. I've started replacing with energizer brand mostly. But trying some others too for comparison.

 

[Hardcalibres]

I gave up on Duraleaks about a decade or so ago.

My batteries now are:

1. Panasonic Eneloops (mostly the white ones) - which are actually a 1.2V battery
2. Energizer Lithium - genuine 1.5V
3. Li Ion USB Rechargeables - which are recent and expensive - but have the edge over eneloops in being a real 1.5V battery

 

[Peanut]

A guy I work with pointed out he had been seeing failures with Duracell batteries, most AA and AAA sizes. And all had leakage from them. I started watching mine and have saw the same thing. I've started replacing with energizer brand mostly. But trying some others too for comparison.

Well, that rules out problems with local businesses or my storage methods.

Seems to be an issue with duracell. I've used their consumable batteries for 20yrs at least. Never had a problem with them until now.

I think I noticed the first failure in early nov but it was just singles. No big deal, batteries go bad from time to time. I didn't check the expiration dates. Didn't see the need. I go through a lot of batteries. Seems every couple or 3 years I buy at least 100 batteries of various sizes. I was running low on AAA's and had been thinking I should buy more.

But I've had 5 bad batteries in the last 10 days. I checked tonight's failures closely. Now that I know others are having an issue...

 

[Supervisor42]

Like many I keep alkaline batteries in the house. I go through quiet a few over the course of a year since I supply 2 households. Since I keep so many batteries of different sizes I bought an organizer for them. Almost all are duracell which are advertised as having a 10yr shelf life. They even come with an expiration date on each battery.

I’ve had a rash of battery failures in the last few weeks. Tonight I found 3 more failures.

Pertinate data…

1) storage rm has a year round constant temp of 62 degrees. Gets no direct sunlight and is below grade. Humidity around 45%.

2) expiration date… 2031. Which means I bought these batteries in 2021.

3) I opened this case a week ago and got AAA's out of it. Everything looked fine.

4) so far the failures are only AAA and AA batteries.

5) excreted liquid is water soluble, clear and feels greasy. Turns white shortly after failure.

This liquid is different than the liquid from batteries in recent years. It feels and looks different. It reminds me of crystallized sugar. Even the white color is different, more of a bright white than off white color of years ago.

Anyone else having issues?

I went through all my stored batteries tonight. I also have C & D cells stored in a plastic ammo can with cardboard dividers. I intend to check all of them every week for the foreseeable future.

View attachment 170702View attachment 170703View attachment 170704

I abandoned alkaline in AAA and AA and went with lithium only, years ago.
Yes, they are hella expensive, but I just hold my breath and chant: "I'm worth it ".
If you calculate their runtime, they aren't that much more expensive.
I just wish they made lithium "D" batteries. (And no, I wouldn't care if they were $10 each ).
My soldiers standing by:

 

[Hardcalibres]

I abandoned alkaline in AAA and AA and went with lithium only, years ago.
Yes, they are hella expensive, but I just hold my breath and chant: "I'm worth it ".
If you calculate their runtime, they aren't that much more expensive.
I just wish they made lithium "D" batteries. (And no, I wouldn't care if they were $10 each).
My soldiers standing by:
View attachment 170709

You can get Li Ion rechargeable D cells (1.5V) that charge by USB cable on Ebay.

They are expensive, but cheaper than any non-rechargeable over time.

I use them in my battery rotisserie for campfire spit cooking. They have been doing well.

I recharge them using foldable solar blankets.....that makes them part of my INCH gear.

Just because the world has come to an end does not mean I have to give up good barbecue.

 

[Caribou]

I had a Costco card of AA’s go bad on me. I emailed Duracel and they sent me a coupon for more batteries. It more than covered my loss.

 

[Peanut]

I had a Costco card of AA’s go bad on me. I emailed Duracel and they sent me a coupon for more batteries. It more than covered my loss.

Did some reading on the net... someone did the same as you. My problem is I don't know where are when I bought these. Or if the failed batteries were purchased at the same time or place.

I'm sure they have markings for lot numbers etc. but I tossed the other batteries. I'm saving these last 3 failures. If I get more maybe they can be traced. A refund would be nice. I'd settle for a coupon, as long as they pay for the failures I'll keep using them.

 

[Caribou]

Did some reading on the net... someone did the same as you. My problem is I don't know where are when I bought these. Or if the failed batteries were purchased at the same time or place.

I'm sure they have markings for lot numbers etc. but I tossed the other batteries. I'm saving these last 3 failures. If I get more maybe they can be traced. A refund would be nice. I'd settle for a coupon, as long as they pay for the failures I'll keep using them.

I bought the batteries at Costco. Costco would not accept the coupon so I had to get my batteries elsewhere. I don’t think that where you bought your batteries matters.

 

[Supervisor42]

I bought the batteries at Costco. Costco would not accept the coupon so I had to get my batteries elsewhere. I don’t think that where you bought your batteries matters.

Calculate in $5/hr for your labor and see what the 'free' replacement batteries cost you...
I figure that in because changing batteries is a PIA for me. My time is worth money to me.
Also, if a lithium lasts 4X as long as an alkaline battery, but costs 3X as much, is is really more expensive??

 

[Caribou]

Calculate in $5/hr for your labor and see what the 'free' replacement batteries cost you...
I figure that in because changing batteries is a PIA for me. My time is worth money to me.
Also, if a lithium lasts 4X as long as an alkaline battery, but costs 3X as much, is is really more expensive??

I probably spent half an hour sending the email. The wife bought new batteries as part of her regular shopping. The batteries had to be replaced anyway. I didn’t make much of a profit but I didn’t suffer a loss. It probably paid for the wife's gas. If I had no response from the email I’d have dropped it and eaten the cost of the batteries. As it is I got a reasonable response. I’ll keep buying their batteries.

I may look into buying lithium batteries after reading your post #5. Lately I’ve been buying flashlights with rechargeable 18650 LI-PO batteries.

 

[Supervisor42]

I probably spent half an hour sending the email. The wife bought new batteries as part of her regular shopping. The batteries had to be replaced anyway. I didn’t make much of a profit but I didn’t suffer a loss. It probably paid for the wife's gas. If I had no response from the email I’d have dropped it and eaten the cost of the batteries. As it is I got a reasonable response. I’ll keep buying their batteries.

I may look into buying lithium batteries after reading your post #5. Lately I’ve been buying flashlights with rechargeable 18650 LI-PO batteries.

I have been a big fan of the 18650 and 16340 batteries for years and have worked thahell out of them! (Both rechargeable)
Those super-bright spotlights and 250mw lasers on my rifles give them a big workout.

 

[viking]

Well, that rules out problems with local businesses or my storage methods.

Seems to be an issue with duracell. I've used their consumable batteries for 20yrs at least. Never had a problem with them until now.

I think I noticed the first failure in early nov but it was just singles. No big deal, batteries go bad from time to time. I didn't check the expiration dates. Didn't see the need. I go through a lot of batteries. Seems every couple or 3 years I buy at least 100 batteries of various sizes. I was running low on AAA's and had been thinking I should buy more.

But I've had 5 bad batteries in the last 10 days. I checked tonight's failures closely. Now that I know others are having an issue...

Duracell used to be one of the best batteries for me over the years, however in the past 10 years so many have leaked and ruined battery compartments that I have given up on them and have gone to Nuon NiMH rechargeable, they hold a charge as long as the life of an alkaline lasts. Thing is Everyready batteries were some of the first alkaline batteries to go bad for me, more than likely battery failure may be due to them all being made in China and yes the Nuon batteries are made in China but seem to be a much higher level of quality. The only issue I've had with the Nuon batteries is that they are slightly a larger diameter and they take a bit of pushing to get them in place, otherwise I'm very happy with them.

 

[Supervisor42]

Like many I keep alkaline batteries in the house. I go through quiet a few over the course of a year since I supply 2 households. Since I keep so many batteries of different sizes I bought an organizer for them. Almost all are duracell which are advertised as having a 10yr shelf life. They even come with an expiration date on each battery.

Here's my unopened Duracell D-batteries, less than 2 years old. Note the "Use by 2032" date on them.
They were stored negative side down, and I have been thinking about finding a way to store them negative side up, but their packaging makes that impossible.
Why I care: These are the ones my life will depend on to power my radiation detectors.

Big thanks to @Peanut for starting this thread!
P.s. You may want to check the D-batteries in your organizer. I see the gold top on them.

 

[Caribou]

If you have battery leakage in a battery compartment of your device spray Corrosion Block in the compartment, let it sit, then clean it out.
https://www.amazon.com/CB12-Corrosi...437&sprefix=anticorosion,aps,194&sr=8-23&th=1

 

[Supervisor42]

If you have battery leakage in a battery compartment of your device spray Corrosion Block in the compartment, let it sit, then clean it out.
https://www.amazon.com/CB12-Corrosion-Block-12-Ounce-Aerosol/dp/B000N9OY6E/ref=sr_1_23?crid=O54PUJUGPC71&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0WJ6mFNB2X-TsQxc-SdRhG-v18nb-HahRPNkoIPLPfQ11iip3l2LIPRhxv16fDzZ9ixjWKN35eE0a1Qt5ahWvZmshz06BiSZmHWvy9oiqo2D24eEmou9HTZ5IW7XIB7pIW_f9k6FFlwsrC6Q_3GCEGGxXPWFLavEUMUlEwf8spIDgGTHiveQ1S6ySy7NnQhkKfci-UUnlxruNO82h2iYHAwDrgwXVTy4yt4-GTbQfVJIWTXJFQtfZT3GoKhpblraNRqjsta83qqYt544u2wpTHL2HA79ANEHkDGBkH6oRe4rh7UNcJIfC3xsrxRMaqbRLRbSIgjt5JuOL9niLzyY0f7jnjPRxaSZvMMWMCDTyu7mxrdNeTvJ5dBo6pyeBH0GuUYtCrt8B1GtsBJifNlYnKBOD5QXZY86y5b6ha1MPL92FCaQdTojiLZclliHDoLS.vzE6r6067XqeeXFKIboej0r8UEVBg7J2If2cCXQSjNE&dib_tag=se&keywords=anti+corrosion+spray&qid=1735261437&sprefix=anticorosion,aps,194&sr=8-23&th=1

I got an idea: How about we have batteries that don't leak corrosive acid out their butt?
I have NEVER seen a lithium battery that leaked.
Anybody remember Zinc-Carbon batteries?
Guess why they are extinct today?
They sucked!

 

[Caribou]

I got an idea: How about we have batteries that don't leak corrosive acid out their butt?
I have NEVER seen a lithium battery that leaked.
Anybody remember Zinc-Carbon batteries?
Guess why they are extinct today?
They sucked!

That’s a great idea but my post was an answer for when it was too late to change batteries. I will look into getting lithium batteries for more stuff. Currently I use them for stuff that lives outside in very clod weather.

Somewhere I have C-cell and D-cell size sleeves that fit AA batteries.

 

[Haertig]

I had a pack of Duracell AA's go bad on me about 9 months ago (that's when we noticed they were bad). It was an unopened package bought from Costco about two years ago. One of their forty quantity battery packs. It appeared that about six of them had started leaking inside their unopened package. Costco gave us a refund, no questions asked. We didn't have a receipt. Costco probably figured that nobody but Costco sells Duracells in such ridiculously large packages, so they knew we had purchased them from Costco.

Most of my AA and AAA things around the house are powered by Eneloop NiMH's. Some of my flashlights that can handle them are powered by rechargeable Li-ION. I only use primary lithium AA's (not rechargeable Li-ION which are a different voltage) in one item - a Kestrel wind and weather meter.

We keep one of those Costco packs of alkalines in AAA, AA, C, and sometimes D and 9v sizes stored for emergencies. These are kept inside the house. We are dry as a stick here, so it's not excessive humidity that caused the failures we saw. Since this has only happened to us this one time, I can't say if this is a Duracell failure, or an alkaline battery in general failure. Or even a "one time never gonna happen again" failure.

 

[Peanut]

Yeah, everyone has a few alkalines in the house. I have yet to see a smoke detector without an alkaline 9v.

At least there seems to be a consensus... duracell's are crap. I won't be buying anymore of those. I wonder if it's limited to aa's and aaa's?

I haven't had any C or D cell failures so far. But seems I skated by without aa or aaa failures for years when everyone else was experiencing them.

Maybe it's the way I store them, constant low 60's temp laying on their sides, no sunlight. Still not a solution but maybe an explanation why I personally haven't seen the same failures.

 

[Hardcalibres]

When I logged onto the Survivalists Boards and typed Duracell Leaking into the search function, I got 13 pages of results........from posts about leaking duracells dating back from just recently to ten years or more.

This really is a problem that has been around for at least a decade.

Those who think it is just some unlucky break they or someone else got........perhaps should reconsider that assessment.

 

[Supervisor42]

...
I just wish they made lithium "D" batteries. (And no, I wouldn't care if they were $10 each ).

OMG! They DO exist!!!

(note the weight: 12 batteries, 24 pounds! )

Edit: I couldn't get this in the screenshot...

• Safely power everyday professional devices with batteries that are made to last, not leak

 

[dademoss]

Duracell SUCKS. They sucked since P&G bought em and "improved" them, and continued to suck after they got sold to whomever. Lost too much equipment to their leaky to EVER trust them again. Long term stuff gets Enerloops or Everready
Lithium, short term gets amazon basic alkalines.

 

[Haertig]

I have yet to see a smoke detector without an alkaline 9v.

They come powered by 2xAA now. That's what I've bought recently. Those 9v batteries are expensive. The 2xAA's last about half as long as a 9v in the smoke detector in my experience, but they are so much cheaper even given you have to replace them twice as often.

Here's some at Costco that take AA batteries:

https://www.costco.com/first-alert-precision-detection-talking-wireless-smokeco-alarm,-2-pack.product.4000303392.html

You can also get rechargeable lithium 9v batteries to save money as well. I have some of the ones below. I don't use them in smoke detectors, I use them in a TENS unit we bought. They work fine in the TENS - I assume they would work fine in smoke detectors as well, but I haven't tried that. I like that you don't need a separate charger for them. You can plug a standard microUSB cable into them (the cable comes with the batteries in case you don't have one laying around already).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z7979WM

They come in larger quantity packages as well so you can save a few bucks if you need more than just the two quantity above.

 

[Peanut]

So far I've heard no comments about the energizer bunny batteries. Seems to be a better choice for alkalines than duracell.

Anyone have complaints about the bunny?

 

[Supervisor42]

So far I've heard no comments about the energizer bunny batteries. Seems to be a better choice for alkalines than duracell.

Anyone have complaints about the bunny?

My only complaint is I can't find them in my little store, nothing but Duracell on the rack.
I would think since they make my wonderful lithiums, they know that selling a quality product is far better than selling leaky junk with an over-hyped warranty (that nobody ever uses).