Hi folks,
I was gifted a Nitecore D20 that has suffered from leaking alkaline batteries. I stripped it all down and cleaned it up, but all I get is a very dim glow from the LED - I guess the driver is toast?
Thoughts appreciated,
Greg
Sounds more like the variable switch has crud on it from the leaked out alkaline liquid. If you have some baking soda and a small jar, put the electronic parts in a jar half full of baking soda and just shake it gently for a while, that will soak up the acidic liquid left behind by the leak, then you’ll need to wash them, yep i said wash them, get a cup, fill your kettle and pour hot water on the electronics they are solid state parts so nothing gets in them (that will clean off what’s been soaked up by the baking soda and because the baking soda has made the leaked acid inert in all the nooks and crannys it will clean the smallest residue) rinse them afew times with the hot water and then put them on some toilet paper to soak up excess water and because the parts are now hot they’ll dry out by themselfs quicker without rusting metal parts. Wait at least a day or use a hairdryer on the parts to go quicker and put the FL back together and try a light it up again with batteries in it. If it doesn’t work the first time try the baking soda part with half baking soda and a half water mix, then rinse like stated.
Don’t have much baking powder in the house so went straight in with a solution of baking powder and water, gave it a good soak and then rinsed with boiling water. Got two chances I guess.
edit: Cleaned it up really well. Now in the airing cupboard on a hot water pipe, I’ll try it again tomorrow.
Nope take them off the pipe and put them in a towel if you haven’t done that. Long exposure on a hot pipe will warp parts, but in a towel they should be fine.
Some functionality has been restored, it will now switch on and off and it is ramping - but it’s still very, very dim.
Good reason to buy a new light 
Had another go as advised, now have a working torch. Thanks for the help 
Glad it’s started working.
That’ll be £10, now cough up lol.
I’ve offered it back to the chap who gave it to me, so that should cover my Karma 
Edit: The batteries must have really leaked in this thing. Apparently he took it on a bunch of flights in a very short space of time while they were in the torch, and this is what Duracell have blamed the leak on (sounds about right). Unfortunately I didn’t take any ‘before’ pictures, but there is still a lot of evidence of the leak in the piston:
but it works:
I don’t actually own another AA light, I am now tempted to investigate further . . .
I’m glad you could bring it back to life with the excellent advice given by StyXSIS.
Also very cool that you offered it back, clearly the right thing to do, helping people feels better than hoarding all the nice stuff for yourself.
If he is a nice chap, he will compensate this gesture somehow.
(I would invite you to my place for a few cold beverages and some nice home made pizza. )
Edit:
Uhhh this piston looks horrible.
Booo! Nice work matey
The piston is horrible. The batteries move freely, but now I know it works I may wash that out with a baking soda and water solution as well.
Essexman, thanks fella
Vinegar ...and lots and lots of it... is what I used on my Nitecore ..I had a duracell alkaleak try to kill my Nitecore ezAA.So I know how you feel .plus I have a D-20 too and the thought of an alkaline leaking acid all over it's insides makes me cringe .
Easiest answer is to NEVER use another alkaline ever again . Buy eneloops ...they pay for themselves .and last forever .
It was the previous owner who had the battery leak, I’ve got eneloops in it now.
Duracell is saying it isn’t safe to fly with their batteries?
Awesome!