If there was a Battery Association award for Most Likely to Leak, I think it would go to either Rayovac or maybe -- just maybe -- the Radio Shack batteries on my shelf. And the Radio Shack ones might get a pass, because they're at least 5 years old.

I got a notification from one of the devices in the house that one of the others wasn't communicating. The first natural step was to check the batteries. Four Rayovac AA batteries in there, two of them leaking. I swear, these things must be wrapped in cheesecloth or something. I've never seen Duracell or Energizer so eager to leak. Good grief, half the new ones in my stock are leaking already.

Buy lithium I have never seen those leak.

I've never had any brand fail to leak. I think perhaps, possibly, Energizer less than the others, but all alkaleaks are prone to leaking.

That's why I never use 'em anymore. Even the ones that come free with products. Free alkaleaks get set aside for temporary use, or until they naturally expire, and either Eneloop or Energizer NiMH, or Energizer Lithium primaries get installed.

Where I work these same AAs have leaked in 3 devices in last 3 months. We're never buying those again, and threw out the unused ones.

Rayovac has been crap for years .

For AA batteries I use

Panasonic Eneloop LSD Ni-MH
Panasonic Carbon Zinc (clocks)
Panasonic Platinum or Plus Power Alkaline (only for temporary use like a label maker, etc)
Energizer Lithium Iron Sulfide (high drain applications)

Lithium or rechargeable are pretty much all I have used for at least a decade or more. No leaks, no muss no fuss.

I might use the free set of akalines that come with something (MIGHT) but generally everything has Lithium or Eneloops/Eneloop clones in it.

I’ve had good results with Aldi and Amazon batteries, never a leak.

This was a good reminder that I need to go around and test all my sealed battery smoke detectors and change out the AA’s and test my CO detectors, I always do this on Jan 1 of each year.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Rayovac has been crap for years .

I’ve always regarded Rayovac as crap, they are clearly inferior to Energizer and Duracell, they’re barely above dollar store batteries.

quote:

Rayovac AA batteries. Grrr.

Thanks a lot, I just bought an 8-pack of AAs. I did buy them because they were cheap, and are adequate for low(er) priority items like my cordless computer mouse and TV remote.

All brands of alkaline batteries leak. This is an inevitability. We had to just live with it in the past because there wasn't an economical alternative for batteries like AA/AAA/etc., but that's no longer the case.

Don't use alkaline batteries in anything that you care about, especially if they're going to be sitting unused for periods of time. NiMH or Lithium batteries are only slightly more, and don't leak.

I changed to Duracell a decade ago because they were the least leak-prone. Now they leak in everything, and even just sitting there on their own.

So it's back to Energizer. I use Panasonic Eneloops or Energizer Lithium in most things now, but my travel stuff all has alkalines because of airline rules.

And since when did Lithium batteries become HAZMAT items? The issue of spontaneous combustion is with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Yet now if I buy anything with so much as a 2032 coin cell in it, the package arrives with all manner of warning stickers for "OMG LITHIUM!".

I had some Rayovac leak several years ago and I contacted the company. The lady on the phone said a shipment had been in a truck or railroad car or whatever that sat in the sun for too long.

She sent me twice a many new batteries as I had bought old batteries. I have not had a problem since.

Rayovac was recently purchased by Energizer.

quote:

Originally posted by maxwayne:
Rayovac was recently purchased by Energizer.

Wow, that's interesting! Wonder if that will help Rayovac's quality record?

I’m old enough to remember going to Radio Shack every month and getting my free 9Volt.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I've never seen Duracell or Energizer so eager to leak. Good grief, half the new ones in my stock are leaking already.

Hate to break this to you, but Duracell alkalines also suck.


https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/8260005784

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/2460071434

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/1820044954

Huh - I only use Rayovacs - the only batteries I've had leak in the past 5 years were duracells that came with the device (headlamp) - completely ruined it.

I agree with whoever said all alkaline batteries are prone to leak.

Never leave them in a device you don't use frequently, so that you use up and throw the dead batteries away relatively quickly.