Flashlight Ruined By Batteries

[Notorious BRT]

I use Energizer Ultimate Lithium in my Aimpoint optic and anything else valuable or exposed to temperature swings. Supposedly they won't leak, and while expensive, they are considerably cheaper than an $800 red dot. They also have a 20 year shelf life, which is nice.

 

[kblee27]

I had a Stanley tripod LED flashlight. One of the legs filled with 3 alkaline batteries was damaged. A leaked battery is still stuck inside the aluminum tripod.

 

[valentine]

Not sure why but it does seem that batteries leak more today than they used to. In my experience, brand doesn't matter; they all leak. I've lost a number of Maglites in recent years because the corrosion caused by the leaking batteries prevented me from getting the bad cells out. I decided that it wasn't worth my time and effort to chase the battery manufacturer down to make a claim. I just buy new lights. They one thing that I do now is to check the batteries in my lights at least once per month. I have discovered more leaking batteries but at least I found them before the lights were destroyed. Frequent checks have been working for me.

-Valentine

 

[Two Speed]

Its like rust paint, it used to have good chemicals in it that worked, now, the 'green' and 'safe' replacement chemicals are no where near as effective.

 

[bonneyman]

A trick I use for D cell flashlights: I insert a toilet paper roll inside the light and then slide the cells inside that. Helps prevent looseness of the batteries in the light, and minor leakage gets absorbed by the cardboard. Cheap, too!

 

[unslow1]

I was given a red 3 D cell Maglite today. It has the batteries corroded in it. I figure I'll play with it and if nothing else will have some spare parts.

 

[Norcal]

Got a 2 cell Maglight that had corroded batteries in it, drilled a hole into the 1st battery & used a easyout to get it out, did the same for the other and after fighting the both of them, tried to put new batteries in it but the corrosion on the inside walls prevented it, after cleaning it out the flashlight works fine. I doubt my method would work on 3 cell and larger Maglights, due to the difficulty of getting easyouts in there with a longer flashlight.

 

[unslow1]

I saw where one guy used a long bolt to thread into the batteries.

 

[LA1]

I use rechargeable batteries in just about every battery operated device I have. They don't seem to leak as much. Having said that I still remove the batteries when I am not using the device.

 

[fatfillup]

I have had issues with duracell but not energizer.

 

[MikeF2316]

I've noticed batteries leaking alot more in the last few years too. I assumed that they were using thinner steel shells (remember the "sealed in steel" ads from years ago) so there is more room for the active ingredients.

 

[pedrodagr8]

I was given a red 3 D cell Maglite today. It has the batteries corroded in it. I figure I'll play with it and if nothing else will have some spare parts.

If it has name brand batteries in it, you can get them to replace it for free. You HAVE To keep the batteries though.

 

[unslow1]

If it has name brand batteries in it, you can get them to replace it for free. You HAVE To keep the batteries though.

Maybe I'll get lucky and still be able to make out the name.