Flash light and batteries

EBEBRATT-Ed

Lately I keep running into tools like flashlights, meters, test equipment that you open them up and the batteries have leaked making a mess.

Seems to be happening more often. Or is it just me? Had to toss a few things that cost $$$

Most batteries I buy are Eveready or Duracell.

At first, I thought it was stuff I keep in my truck that I don' use often. But we had a power failure last weekend and were without power for 12 hours, so I had all my flashlights out and most of them were stored in the house and one of them that I use often was all crapped up.

Larry Weingarten

Hi @EBEBRATT-Ed, You bring up a good observation. I've had tools ruined by leaking batteries. It would take getting used to, but how about not keeping batteries in tools that you don't use everyday, but keep them separately, maybe bagged, in the glove-box or elsewhere and install them when needed? I know it's a cumbersome idea, but it's no fun to have a good meter or other tool ruined. Maybe someone has another approach?? 🤔

Yours, Larry

109A_5

I suspect the housing of the batteries are not what they use to be, so they corrode through faster. No leakage used to be an advertising enticement, have not heard or seen that lately.

heathead

Duracell use to, might still coved repair or replacement of the device damaged by battery leakage. I have done it once when it happened to a mag light. I do agree with you that batteries are leaking more often.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I have read where it is due to "off gassing" from the batteries. I have also read that there are better quality batteries available. I will have to look into that. Read about that a while ago but forgot what they said.

I have kept batteries out of tools and meters but that is a PITA when you need to use it but I am keeping batteries out of the things I seldom use.

I had a $350 Klein Circuit tracer that sat in my truck all winter and i had to toss it

Condoman

I have had problems with flashlights for years. Not used and when finally trying to use batteries are toast. This goes for AA and AAA Duracell, Every Ready or store brand.

The only replaceable battery system that has never given me trouble is the CR123A Lithium. They have a 10 year shelf life and never seem to leak. They cannot be charged but with the long life I don't care.

I have several single cell EDC lights and a few double cell ones.

Just FYI

Kaos

I've replaced a bunch of AA with rechargeable LiFePo4 cells. These are 3.3V nominal and can replace any pair of AA with a jumper wire. The mAh is not that great on them but they don't self discharge like NiMh.

Sal Santamaura

For AA and AAA batteries that don't ever leak, have a 20+ year shelf life and around 20% higher maH capacity than alkalines, I spend the extra cash for Energizer Ultimate Lithium. They're particularly good in applications that place higher current demand on them.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Sal Santamaura

Thats probably what I remember reading but it was some time ago and I forgot what I read other than there was something else available

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1864680#Comment_1864680

"no leak" batteries only didn't leak until they went dead. it has been a problem with things that don't get used or half a decade or so as long as i've been around. very few things get ruined by it, usually you can scrape and brush and rinse the electrolyte and corrosion off and clean up the contacts up well enough to make it work. the only thing i really had a problem with was a simpson 260 that was my grandfather's where the electrolyte change the values of the precision resistors it leaked on to and threw it out of calibration.

mattmia2

changing the chemistry to remove mercury and other things we don't want to just be tossing everywhere may have made them more leak prone but they always had a high probability of leaking if you waited long enough. i have some packages of batteries that have leaked still in the package that i didn't use in time.

keeping them in the freezer will slow the chemical reaction.

hot_rod

I have switched yo Milwaukee flashlight that use the same 12v as many of my tools. I gave a charger in the truck

In the camper a rechargeable that has a USB connection

bburd

Vinegar, a mild acid, is good for neutralizing the corrosive leakage from alkaline batteries. Rinse carefully with clean water afterwards. This applies to casings and contacts, not so much to electronic components like resistors.

EdTheHeaterMan

there are three tools that use batteries that I always remove the batteries from. I could go 4 or 5 months in the summer without using my combustion analyzer. That gets the batteries removed over the summer AC season, and after all the oil burners are tuned up. If I install a boiler or need it for some diagnostic work on a service call, putting the batteries back in was not that much of a hassle. I left the screws out of the cover and the rubber cover kept them from falling out.

Number 2 was the scale I used for weighing in refrigerant. That can go unused for several months over the winter. Didn't have that many heat pump customers and the cover for that 9 volt battery was lost long ago. The scale sat in a blue plastic case that had a recess just below the battery compartment that was perfect for battery storage. I rarely left that battery in place because it was so easy to pop out and pop back in.

Third was my spare multimeter/ampmeter. What is the good of carrying a spare meter if your daily meter fails and you grab the spare to find a gross battery compartment and now you have 2 useless meters. A trip to the hardware, or drugstore to grab batteries can't be charged to a customer, I don't care how unscrupulous your boss is. You need to eat that 30 minutes (or more if you're out in the sticks)

EBEBRATT-Ed

It's always been an issue but seems to be happening more often