Several years ago, I was given a single-AAA Stream light Microstream at my workplace. It was a brand new light, still in the original retail packaging. I didn’t need the light at the time, so I put the unopened light in my tool box. A couple of nights ago, I found the light, and decided to check it out. On opening the package, I wasn’t able to unthread the tailcap. I discovered that the factory-installed AAA had leaked severely inside the light. I tried wrapping the body of the light with electrical tape and using strap wrenches but was unsuccessful. I finally ended up completely destroying the light getting it apart. The base of the cell had completely separated, and the entire inside of the switch assembly was packed with the battery leakage. The damage extended through the light and into the driver cavity.
The entire light was ruined by the installed cell. :cry:
Strangely, what I thought was an XP-C emitter is something different; the die and dome are XP-C, but the base is a narrow plastic pillar, almost like a scaled-down as if Cree made a fried egg emitter.
This is why I don’t like alkalines. They’re inexpensive but have a tendency to destroy things that aren’t. Used or not, drained or not, they often leak. Lately I’ve taken to buying ultimate lithiums for those lights that run on 1-1.5V so I don’t need to worry about them and can actually count on their use when needed. I’ve found that some nimh’s leak too and I’d just as soon not bother with too many different types of rechargeables.
Yup.
I see lots of Maglites at the swap meet, and I imagine modding projects—
But more than half have alkaleak damage inside, or the tail cap won’t budge from the
corrosion.
Slowly switching the ‘stashed’ lights over to Li primaries. Got a 3D Mag and a couple Solitaires I haven’t checked in a few years, and I expect to find the worst. No great loss those
If you start offsetting the cost of alkalines ad th ecost of objects ruined by them it makes buying lsd nimh much easier . PPeople may cringe when you tell them you have 150 to 200$ in nimh batteries but look at the items you didn’t destroy . i’m sure I’ve had alkaleaks take out hundreds and hundreds of $ worth of electronics ….Satan and duracell conspired to take out my electronic bible …Thank god for old i phones .
I had the displeasure to discover my first alka-leak some days ago (it was an older energizer cell) :cry: , fortunately my (almost brand new!) Thrunite T10 is still able to work properly, although the tail spring detached itself during the cleanup.
Duracell really sucks when it comes to leaks. Energizer is much netter with there new formula I think the new guarantee is 5 or 10 year leak protection even with a dead cell. The one alkaline I’ve come to like is the ac delco ones. Cheap, full of power and habnt had one leak yet. Even in kid toys I’ve forgotten about for 2-3 years. Can get 100 for about 20ish dollars.
Most aa powered lights only have a couple get nihm. Tn4a/ea41. Only the minimag gets alkaline. Its never used more of a emergency back up to my emergency back up lights if that makes sense it stays with the rest of them. So it gets checked every month or two. So not to concerned about it
Sorry for your loss keltex76. I’ve had many things ruined throughout the years due to leaking alkaline batteries :cry: . It seems the regular non-alkaline batteries rarely leak and perhaps that’s why they are provided with remote controls like when you buy a tv. I now only use alkaline batteries in clocks where it seems the constant current draw helps to prevent them from leaking. I’ve also accumulated plenty of cheap rechargeable Energizer AA/AAA batteries that I use in flashlights that get very little use and only use eneloops for the good stuff.
if it is a duracell or energizer, and its not past the expiration date on the cell, I am pretty sure they will both refund the cost of the damaged item
Yeah, that stinks keltex. You might try reaching out to Streamlight. I know they state they don’t cover battery damage but maybe since it was still in the package they’d make an exception? I’ve had good luck in situations like that before particularly by calling the company directly. Olight replaced my I3S EOS with no hassle at all and that was just because the key chain attachment had broken so I’d been carrying it in my pocket and I lost it. Just told the customer service person my story and they asked for my address so they could send me a new one which I had in less than a week. Nto all customer service people are that cool of course but it’s worth a shot.
I completely agree with what everyone is saying about Duracell. They are by far the leakingest (yeah, it’s a word ) batteries in my experience. I haven’t bought them in years. Any time I come across them in an old toy or something they are almost always leaking. Energizer is better for sure but you pay a premium for the extra quality. Personally I like Rayovac. They’re on par with Energizer quality-wise and a fraction of the price.
Speed4goal, thanks for the tip on the AC Delco cells. I’ve been eyeing those on Amazon for a while based on the low price and many good reviews. Last time I looked they were even cheaper than the Rayovac alkalines. I’ll have to give them a shot. :+1:
I’m currently trying out the Amazon Basics AA and AAA alkaline cells. I just picked up a little over 300 of them for a work project. Price was great and the reviews are really good. Time will tell…
I’ve had good luck so far with the Member’s Mark AAs from Sam’s. I buy the 48 packs and so far, I haven’t had any of these leak, in my several years of using them.
Whoopsie, my bad. Please forgive me keltex78. Somehow my coffee didn’t wake me up this morning. I also meant that I have plenty of cheap rechargeable Rayovac AA/AAA batteries. :person_facepalming:
I always buy Rayovac alkaline batteries since they are cheaper and have had issues with them leaking over the years. Just had some of their AAAs leak in a remote last year. Sounds like the Duracells are worse though.
glad to hear these are not leakers. I recently bought a 10 pack for $2 at my $0.99 store, so same price, could get 100 for $20. Would rather just buy 10 at a time though.
Running one on low in my Manker E02 right now. nearly 6 hours in. The lights current draw is between 0.1 and 0.15 A on this level depending on the voltage. Guessing I will get 8 or so hours out of it before the under voltage lock out occurs for the light.
) batteries in my experience. I haven’t bought them in years. Any time I come across them in an old toy or something they are almost always leaking. Energizer is better for sure but you pay a premium for the extra quality. Personally I like Rayovac. They’re on par with Energizer quality-wise and a fraction of the price.