A LONG time ago, Staples ran a promo for Duracell AAA (and AA) batteries in 16 or 20 battery packs - you paid $x and got $x credit in their rewards program. Effectively ‘free’. We were buying lots of things at staples so we could easily spend the rewards money. So we bought 10 - 20 - 30 packs?
Now years later and I look at the unopened packs of batteries that are still left and 2 - 3 out of each 20 pack of AAA batteries are foaming / leaking at the ends. I’ve had that happen to these batteries I put in devices over the years….Oh yeah, the date printed on the batteries are in 2018… that’s the ‘fresh for 7 - 10 years’ date they proudly print on each battery. So besides still not making it to that date with the full power, they are leaking.
This happened only with the AAAs. the AAs with similar dates still look good.
And it wasn’t 1 batch at 1 store. I bought these over a few weeks of the promotion at different locations (there was a limit to the number of packs you could buy at 1 time).
I got Duracell to send me coupons for some of these unopened packs. But is this experience typical? They ruined / tarnished several flashlights / devices.
Yup, that’s normal. If you want to destroy your devices, just use alkalines in them. Eventually, they’ll leak and ruin things.
Use a low-self-discharge NiMH rechargeable battery as a replacement. Eneloops are generally rated as the best. They cost a lot more than alkalines, but you can recharge them thousands of times, and they won’t leak. They will also hold a charge for years, so you can put them in your devices and use them like you normally would.
I have completely replaced all my battery needs with Eneloops.
thanks for the comments. interesting though - I have harbor freight FREE batteries… and batteries that came with cable TV remotes / other no name batteries. Maybe not as old, but certainly if I have a leaking battery, it’ll be the duracells. And only the AAAs. The duracell AAs don’t have have the leaking just sitting in the packages
Hello Feetsdr,
I had same issues with those Duracell Alkaline batteries from Staples (both AA and AAA size).
Some time you still need them in devices require 1.5V for operation. My solution is stocking them in group of 2 or 4 by small plastic bags so if some leaking happened, you just throw that bag away.
Informative thread, i didnt know this. From what I’ve seen on here, the rechargeables work better in flashlights.
Last time I used alka lines in a camera flash, I wasn’t really that happy with them. Worked fine, but recharge times are almost 2x. Supposed to get more flashes on alkalines, though
I usually take the alkalines in vacation sometimes, though, for flashlights, especially if other people are likely to use them
No, you won’t get more flashes from alkalines. Camera flashes are high-drain devices. Anything that is high-drain, is bad for alkalines. You will always get more energy out of rechargeable NiMH batteries in a high-drain application.
The only case where alkalines win is in low-drain application, such as TV remote controls, clocks, etc. Of course, then you run the risk of the alkalines leaking and ruining your device. So, I really wouldn’t consider it a “win”.
This is why I hate alkaline in general, for high drain devices the battery life is terrible, and for low drain devices they last long enough that there is a good chance of them leaking. Medium drain applications at 5 to 50mA is about the only good application for them.
It’s the luck of the draw as to how soon alkalines start to leak. I bought two packages of Ray O Vac AA’s when they were on a before Christmas sale at Home Depot. I think they were pacs of 24, and several of the batteries in one pack started leaking 2 years before the expiration date. The other pack just passed it’s date, and none of the batteries are leaking yet (I don’t leave them in any flashlights, just keep a couple of packs around in case of power failure).
I also had several of the red and black? AAA’s that Harbor Freight gives away with a coupon and purchase. Those started leaking at least a year before the expiration.
My wife bought a couple of packs of Duracell AA i stuck them into are wall clocks we have about 5 one in each room . Each one of those clocks suffered because of leaky Duracell i put the rest of the packs in the bin have used Eneloop batts in everything else since with zero problems. Lesson learnt dont use Duracell any more.
Weird. I’ve recently discovered a leaked Energizer. My duracells have been fine, but I try to use up all my alkalines within a couple of years and then dump them.
You are correct that Eneloops do not have the highest capacity ratings among NiMH batteries. However, if you’re looking for a replacement for alkalines, then highest capacity is probably not what you want. You probably want a battery that holds a charge a long time (without self-discharging). For that, regular Eneloops are the best. That is, the AA Eneloops with 1900 mAh capacity, or AAA with 750 mAh capacity.
You can stick Eneloops in a remote control, and it will last for years without needing to recharge.
I've rarely suffered from device damage due to leaking alkalines, and I must admit I recharge some once in a while (I own a Maximal Power FC999 clone). I always use off-brand hypermarket alkaline packs, but never in flashlights or any other moderate to high drain appliances.
