duracell batteries junk??

[tpolley]

last night i just cemented the fact that i'll never buy duracell alkalines again. i've had 2 sets of duracells leak and ruin or almost ruin my electronics in as many years. i've had them leak in the past but i've been using rechargibles for a long time so i kinda forgot about it.
it used to be i would reserve the rechargibles for the high drain electronics because i didn't want to put a set of expensive rechargibles in a remote control or LED flash light and have them ******* for a year or more.
about a year ago i had a set of duracells almost weld the cap on a nice streamlight flashlight. procter and gamble sent me a check to replace the light. i swore i'd never buy duracell alkalines again. i forgot about my weather radio untill last night. it had 4 duracells in it and one started to leak. the expiration date was 2013 luckily i caught it in time. i saved them in a plastic bag in case the radio quits working. i may go to sams tonight and buy a bunch of rechargible batteries and replace every alkaline in the house.
i've never had this problem with energiser. what about you guys?

 

[Rockaholic555]

I work at a battery location and have not seen a big issue with duracell or energizer. I'd recommend getting the Duracell Procell alkalines as they do hold up a lot better than the standard consumer grade. However, if they were left in the device for a prolonged period of time without use that is what caused the leak. The "expiration date" on the batteries only notes how long they might hold usable voltage in storage, not when hooked to the contacts in the device. That being said Duracell is usually pretty good about making things right and I believe they have a toll free number you can call. See if they won't figure out how to right things with you

NiMh batteries (or rechargibles) will work very well in the place of most alkalines. However, alkalines have a rating of 1.5v per cell and NiMh is 1.2v per cell. When fully charged they might read 1.6v or 1.7v making them perform for a shorter period of time than the alk's do. Meaning they will need to be recharged faster than a standard set of alk's would drain in the device. Just things to consider; every device works best with one chemistry.

 

[Vulturej]

I work at a battery location and have not seen a big issue with duracell or energizer. I'd recommend getting the Duracell Procell alkalines as they do hold up a lot better than the standard consumer grade. However, if they were left in the device for a prolonged period of time without use that is what caused the leak. The "expiration date" on the batteries only notes how long they might hold usable voltage in storage, not when hooked to the contacts in the device. That being said Duracell is usually pretty good about making things right and I believe they have a toll free number you can call. See if they won't figure out how to right things with you

NiMh batteries (or rechargibles) will work very well in the place of most alkalines. However, alkalines have a rating of 1.5v per cell and NiMh is 1.2v per cell. When fully charged they might read 1.6v or 1.7v making them perform for a shorter period of time than the alk's do. Meaning they will need to be recharged faster than a standard set of alk's would drain in the device. Just things to consider; every device works best with one chemistry.

+1....... On the ProCell batteries.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Last time that happened to me with a duracell was about a decade ago.

 

[porschedude996TT]

So send it in for a warranty replacement. They are garrantied no to leak or they will repair or replace the damaged item they are servicing.

Duracell Battery Guarantee from their website:

All DURACELL Batteries are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship. Should any device be damaged by these batteries due to such defect, Duracell will repair or replace it (at Duracell's option) if it is sent with the batteries, postage prepaid to:

Duracell
Berkshire Corporate Park
Bethel, CT, 06801 U.S.A.
Att: Consumer Dept.


http://www.duracell.com/care_disposal/care.asp

 

[HandyManny]

Seen it happen with lots of kids toys. Never had it happen in anything like flashlights or radios. Of course if the batteries don't run-out, they get replaced at least once a year anyway. But I generally run them out before that. The only exception being one of my 3 D cell maglites I forgot I'd packed away in an old beat up dodge truck that we rarely drove. Discovered it when it came time to sell the truck. That flashlight had sat there in the truck pretty much untouched for a better part of 15 years with the same batteries. To my surprise the Duracell batteries, while dead, had not leaked or corroded.

Personally I prefere either Duracell or Rayovac batteries, with Rayovac giving the most longevity in my experience, only thing I don't liek about Rayovac is that they are a few microns narrower than Duracells, so they rattle a bit more in flashlights, but last the longest.

 

[Stuey]

Yep, Duracells corroded one of my Maglites. Maglite said they had an arrangement with Duracell and would replace the light, but I decided to pass since the shipping would have been almost as much as a new flashlight.

 

[HandyManny]

Yep, Duracells corroded one of my Maglites. Maglite said they had an arrangement with Duracell and would replace the light, but I decided to pass since the shipping would have been almost as much as a new flashlight.

Yeah, that's the problem I have with warranties or service agreements where the work or service can't be done locally. Most of the time the cost and effort to ship it back is more than the product cost to begin with.

While my 15 year old duracells didn't leak or corrode that Maglite, I sure would not go out of my way to do this again on purpose to that same light or any other Maglite I own. I was just lucky, that's all.

 

[tpolley]

i don't mean to sound like i'm razzing duracell. i'm certianly not suggesting a boycot or whatever. i think they make fine rechargible batteries. i was very pleased that they sent me a check to cover the cost of replacing the flash light. the weather radio i was speaking of is still fully functional it just has a bunch of corrosion in the battery compartment. it's not worth sending in for warranty. i'm just questioning the alkaline's failure rate vs energiser or rayovac. i've never had any other band fail like the duracells. i've never heard of a rechargible battery leaking at all.

 

[GSteg]

I'll just use whatever Alkalines I have. For rechargeables, I use Sanyo Eneloops. They're my favorite battery since they retain at least 80% of their charge after a year of non-use. The Duracell Precharged batteries (made in japan) are rebadged Eneloops also.

 

[48548]

I have been using energizers for a long time and haven't seen an issue, but the n size duracells I had ruinded my HP 41c calculator battery holder and I had to get a new one.

 

[Rockaholic555]

Check out "Powerex" when it comes to NiMh batteries.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I had good luck with cheap AC delco from menards....

 

[JDM5LugHatch]

Yep, Duracells corroded one of my Maglites. Maglite said they had an arrangement with Duracell and would replace the light, but I decided to pass since the shipping would have been almost as much as a new flashlight.

same thing happened to my Maglite and I had the one that took 4 or 6 D batteries. I couldn't force them out of the tube... so i just chucked it.

 

[-B-]

Here is how it was explained to me years ago at a pager place by an electrical engineering student.

Duracells have an initial high voltage output usually above the rating of the battery that drops off fast. It is sort of like running a 110v on 220v ( not as bad ) at some point all that extra initial voltage can take a toll on the product. For low powered devices he surprisingly sad to get cheap alkaline as they will have a more stable voltage output through their life.

I used procells when I could get them ( much easier now with the internet)I used 9v's for paint ball and d's for flashlights they work.

 

[joecaver]

I've lost 3 mini mags to the copper tops.

 

[fatfillup]

I seem to get better life with engerizers than duracells. Haven't had leakage problems with either.

 

[skeletonizer]

Wow, I haven't thought about throw away batteries in years.

The only things I have that take them use the lithium 123's and get changed out every month whether used or not. I use SureFire brand.

I also use Energizer rechargeable AA's in my personal reading light. They work great and have been recharged many many times.

 

[48548]

I am glad that pace makers and other important things use duracells, or at least that is what they advertise, good thing I don't have a pace maker, I might be dead soon.

 

[Ramblur]

Union Carbide Corporation! D cell manufactured in March,1958. No leaks here.
OK wadda I win?

 

[moogoob]

How about a toxic waste leak. There was a trucker that dumped a bunch of union carbide waste in central NJ.

I havnt had any battery problems, even with the el cheapos.

 

[nate379]

I think the only thing I own that uses Duracell type batteries are a few flashlights. Everything else is their own brand of rechargeable... drill, saw, camcorder, etc. I can't remember the last time a battery leak. Maybe some old toys I had that my Mom dug out a while back, but those batters were 15-20 years old.

 

[The Cobbler]

changed out my smoke/co detector batteries with Duracell when the time changed.
basement battery is totally dead tonight & the detector was chirping.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

If you are old enough to remember, batteries leaked all the time and ruined stuff back in the 60's and then they came out with better batteries. It would say right on the battery that they would replace any device that was damaged by the batteries if they ever leaked. I left batteries in stuff for years, even over a decade on a few things without problems. Seems like since they sent MFG to China, they are worse than ever. As for Maglites, I stopped buying them. They make nice clubs for self defense, but they **** as a flashlight compared to other options we have today.

 

[joseywales]

I have to say, I noticed Duracell leaking 1.5 to 2 years ago. I have to believe something changed in their manufacturing, because it seemed like any battery that had blown and leaked was a Duracell. I only buy Engerizer anymore. Can't explain it, but I rarely see them leak.

I remember Everactive, sold at either Costco to Walmart. Blue with a goldish streak I think. Those things were the best. They were inexpensive and you couldn't kill those things. Then they disappeared.

I have to believe there are only a few factories making these things, why is Duracell leaking?!?!

 

[6PTsocket]

I had a bunch Kirkland from Costco. They are made by Duracell. Virtually every one leaked either in service ir before it was ever used. I have heard complaints about Duracell for years. Alkaline cells, in general, are leakage prone but I have had good luck with the HF alkalines for not leaking and good performance. and buy my AA and AAA when they are on sale. Do not confuse these with the "heavy duty" cells, which are carbon zinc and made for economy rather than performance.

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[dogdog]

have the Duracell C-cell 1000Lm ones from Costco.... so far so good...

if you guys have this much problem then spend a little more and get the lithium ones.... they are suppose to last.... (it's non-rechargeable lithium)

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

. it had 4 duracells in it and one started to leak. the expiration date was 2013 luckily i caught it in time.

They store for 10 years, you ran 5 or 6 years past that, and are complaining?

 

[gungatim]

alkaline batteries in a flashlight is just asking for a problem. regular batteries used to be marketed as "flashlight batteries" before everyone thought they needed alkaline for everything. regular carbon zinc work fine for flashlights and rarely cause corrosion.

I buy used radios all the time, have a couple 60's transistors with the old batteries in them with no leaks and only minor corrosion from age, including a 9v oddball short wave. they are all dry cells and never caused trouble, yet several 2m radios with rechargeable ni-cad packs and/or alkalines left in are completely destroyed from them leaking. not sure if Li-on or the newer rechargables leak like that yet or not.

 

[Dave455]

Duracell batteries used to be marketed, in the U.K. at least, as ‘guaranteed leak free’!

At the time, and I’m talking 80’s here, they certainly were! Never had any Issues!

Then they dropped the ‘guarantee’ and also started making them in the Far East, and surprise surprise, they started leaking!

No big problem, and you certainly don’t need to stop using alkalines, just switch to a better make that don’t leak!

I’ve used Panasonic for about the last 15 years (made in Japan) - no problems! Never had one leak! I have colleagues who use Varta (made in Germany) who report the same!

 

[Mechanical Noise]

They store for 10 years, you ran 5 or 6 years past that, and are complaining?

This is an old thread. The complaint comes from 2008.

 

[dirtydogintex]

It's still a valid complaint - Duracell & Energizer alkalines still leak - have a box of maglites, headlights, DVM. None are charged, really no rhyme or reason.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

The worst cells I ever came across were a bunch of Sunbeam carbon-zinc types from the Dollar Tree store. Got them about 10 years ago and they started leaking very soon after they were put in service. Those cells still put out good power at the same time they were also leaking profusely. I needed a few cheap D cells for a recent project. Took a chance on the Sunbeam carbon zinc batteries and they held up OK. Maybe the earlier problem was a one off.

Maybe those old Sunbeams weren't the WORST leakers. I remember some really cheap carbon zinc cells from the 60s which were easily identified by the cheap paper label glued around the zinc can. Really basic construction. No "Sealed in Steel" or "Leakproof" on the label.

Used to be, name brand alkaline cells were just about leak proof. Of course, they used to be alot more expensive, in an inflation adjusted sense. I bought a thrift store GE World Monitor radio and it still had it's 6 D cells in it. Expecting the worst, I took off the battery cover and was pleasantly surprised that none of the six Burgess (!) alkaline cells had leaked. These things were OLD, from before the bar code era and each had it's own price tag. Somewhere around 75 cents each, if I recall.

I guess my point is -- the manufacturers can make any type of cell, carbon-zinc, alkaline, whatever, leakproof IF they are willing to compromise more on such things as amp-hrs or price.

Duracells have been, by far, the most leak prone alkaline batteries I've used. Until maybe 10 years ago, i thought they were the best. I now have no intention to ever buy another damn Duracell again.. I've been using the HF alkaline batteries. They don't seem to last quite as long as the Duracell/Energizer cells, but I haven't had a single leaker in over five years. And I'm just fine with that.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The absolute BEST NiMh AA batteries are Eneloop !

 

[6PTsocket]

Duracell batteries used to be marketed, in the U.K. at least, as ‘guaranteed leak free’!

At the time, and I’m talking 80’s here, they certainly were! Never had any Issues!

Then they dropped the ‘guarantee’ and also started making them in the Far East, and surprise surprise, they started leaking!

No big problem, and you certainly don’t need to stop using alkalines, just switch to a better make that don’t leak!

I’ve used Panasonic for about the last 15 years (made in Japan) - no problems! Never had one leak! I have colleagues who use Varta (made in Germany) who report the same!

Panasonic in the US is made here and I have no problems with them either. I got them in 4 packs from Dollar Tree, marked "buy 3 and get one free". $.25 a cell ain't bad for US made alkalines.

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[pstemari]

I imagine that Duracell suckitude dates to when P&G bought the brand from Mallory. Knowing P&G, the first thing they probably did was outsource production to the cheapest hellhole that could make a credible product.

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[tool_scrounge]

I just had a 3 month old Duracell AAA battery corrode my flashlight. Bought batteries at Costco. I called up Duracell and they are supposedly going to replace the flashlight. We will see.

 

[B17E1943]

We went to the moon and back several times and we can't make a leak-free battery?

 

[6PTsocket]

We went to the moon and back several times and we can't make a leak-free battery?

With the government paying for the parts there was no incentive to save money on lunar vehicle parts. With batteries they want to make them as cheap as possible and it is no big deal if they have to replace the occasional flashlight. Most people will not even bother to make a claim if batteries eat their device. If the batteries were made to NASA specs they would not leak.

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[Spacey_G]

Just use lithium primaries instead of alkalines. Virtually any device you'd put them in can handle the slightly higher starting voltage and they don't leak. Longer shelf-life and better temperature tolerance too.