Leaky batteries

[Refugee]

I have found a Duracell battery with the test button on it that has strangely rotted along the test indicator.
There is a little bit of rot on the negative terminal level with the indicator strip that looks like it has spread from the mess under the strip. The rest of the battery is fine.
Has anyone else found one that has rotted in this way?

[ppppenguin]

How old is it? Is it many years beyond the date on it?

[Refugee]

It was dated 2003.
The odd bit is why it had rusted only under the indicator.

[Murphyv310]

Perhaps damp stored and dissimilar metals in contact?

[Alistair D]

A few years ago I contacted Duracell about an in date AA that had leaked and damaged my Maglite torch. One of the questions asked was where on the battery had the leakage come from? When I answered the -ve end it seemed to be an acceptable response. I got the impression that this type of leakage is a known problem with Duracellls.

As an aside I have just bought a set of Energiser AAs that are guaranteed not to leak for at least 2 years after they go flat. 'Terms and conditions apply' We shall see.

Al

[Refugee]

The battery had been left in a product that was almost useless from new for over 10 years so it was one of the older good batteries from Duracell.
Modern batteries appear to be awful these days. Supermarket own brand appears to be best.

[ed731pdh]

There is a spate of Duracells leaking rusty coloured fluid from around the negative terminal, even brand new ones in packets that are still in date. The manf quality of Duracell has gone down badly to the point I now use Energiser, Sony, Panasonic etc.

Bottom line is they have cheapened the product.

[Mike Watterson]

Here in Ireland, the Energiser, special Panasonic and Duracell are often x4 price of other brands.
The cheaper Duracell battery "value branded packs" are inferior capacity to most other brands.
Duracell used to be Mallory.
Tests show that Energiser (US Eveready / Purina) and regular Duracell are no better than other brands of Alkaline cells, and that some other brands are consistently better. There is a guy that properly tested a very large sample in the USA.

I've seen leaking Alkaline AAA, AA, C and D cells. That is purely poor manufacturing. They should not leak even in 15 years of storage or in use. Shelf life or very low drain (1/1000th C) should be 10 years.

Store Alkaline upside down and regular Zinc cylindrical cells (though I now only 996 packs) upside down. PP3 Layer cells are OK and unless you need long shelf life better value than Alkaline "PP3".

[Murphyv310]

I rarely buy Duracell mostly only GP or Pro Elec from CPC. The GP are fine in digital cameras whereas the Pro Elec don't supply the current, they are perfect in low current devices though.

[ed731pdh]

Not just Duracell, the home badged "Wilko" ones are p*** poor as well.