Contact Enhancer, Battery Mfr

[Ron D.]

Everything here is about right. Use Duracell or Rayovac for the warranty. Duracell will be a little hard to execute.

Do not leave batteries in a device.

I've never used dialectic grease on battery contacts. Your best defense is keeping them clean and dry.

I just experienced my weirdest failure of a drugstore branded (CVS) battery. The negative contact domed inward in a Maglite flashlight. The most stupidest failure ever.

Rust and oxides don;t conduct well. Sorry.

This stuff: http://www.cool-amp.com/new_site/product%20info/CL%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf isn't anywhere near cheap, but it does enhance contacts

Dialectic grease keeps the water out. Keeping the leaking battery insides away is more difficult.

 

[rickman]

Jeff Liebermann wrote on 6/6/2017 11:31 PM:

On Tue, 6 Jun 2017 13:59:20 -0700, BatteryUser
BatteryUser@BatteryUser.com> wrote:

So you are saying that brand new batteries that still have many years
left on their printed cover are at end of life ?

I guess you mean this:
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/crud/Kirkland-AAA-leak.jpg
The expiration data on the package is 2014. I took the photo in Oct
2016, 2.8 years after the batteries expired. I don't recall when I
bought the batteries, but based on my typical consumption rate of AA
and AAA alkalines, I would guess 2009. I would expect that such
batteries should gracefully lose some percentage of their rated
capacity after the expiration date, and not belch electrolyte all over
the package and whatever they're powering.

I'm surprised that you would not see the problem here. If you bought milk
with an expiration date of Tuesday, would you complain that the milk went
sour on the Friday after? Batteries contain corrosive chemicals and are
guarantied to leak if you let them sit long enough. Two years past
expiration date doesn't sound like a lot, but you can't say it is the
battery's fault.

BTW, if you check around you will find dated alkaline batteries are
typically dated for a 10 year shelf life. So you likely bought that pack in
2004 or 2005. The article you cite talks about 2024 dated batteries and the
article date is 2014.

Note that this problem is not unique or unusual:
http://www.paulallenengineering.com/blog/kirkland-signature-alkaline-batteries
Read through the first few reader comments on Duracell and Kirkland
batteries.

I see a lot of applesauce. "Duracell "AA" and "AAA" alkaline batteries
consistently leak at a 20 - 30% failure rate from packages no older than 4
months." So if I buy a pack of 48 cells, I should see leakage in 10 of them
in 4 months? I've never seen a Kirkland cell leak and I've bought some half
dozen packs, not counting the 9 volt batteries.

I thought that Durcell stopped with the warranty protection.
It leaks in an expensive gizmo and that is that.

It's my understanding that the warranty is still in place, but that
it's more difficult to obtain compensation for damage.

I think the only way to tell is to try. Did you contact Duracell about any
leaking cells?

I will try Panasonic batteries next buy.

I guess you didn't read my rant upon which you're commenting. I don't
think you're going to find any alkaline battery, from any
manufacturer, that does not leak. I suggest you switch to
rechargeable LSD NiMH, which also leak, but leak less. Or, if
possible, but devices powered by LiIon batteries, which leak and self
discharge even less than NiMH and alkaline.

The issue is not leakage, but premature leakage. I've had two devices
impacted by leaking alkaline batteries. One was clearly not left in a
device past it's date because it was a clock that ran until the battery
failed and the cell was dated so Duracell paid for it. I don't recall the
other so much. It was a much less expensive item and the battery was a
Rayovac. Their warranty required the return of the clock to them for
examination and possible repair.

--

Rick C