DuraHELL batteries

[Veteran68]

I had to stop buying Duracells years ago because of the leaking.

While it's true that it's virtually impossible to guarantee any alkaline from ever leaking, I go through lots of batteries and have never seen the level of leaking with other brands that I've seen from Duracell. Energizer, Ray-o-vac, and AC Delco batteries I've used by the dozens, and don't think I've ever had a leak. But Duracells? All over the place, all the time. And I had one big-box house brand leak in the package (9v's even) within a couple of years of purchase.

[SilverSolder]

FYI I have two new Energizer 9V lithiums leaking blue syrup from two different batches but they two years before expiry.

I hadn't seen (or heard of) Lithiums leaking before...   Please say it's not true, I've got Lithium batteries everywhere now lol

[madires]

I haven't seen any leaking 9V lithium batteries yet. Maybe it's the latest feature "we make them leak too".

[Red Squirrel]

Just came across some genuine Durahell leakage porn right here.

I have two wireless doorbells that I don't use anymore, and I just never took them down. I randomly realized today "why are those even still there?" and took them down, and of course, I had to check the batteries.  Both units looked similar. 

I replaced it with a wired unit a long time ago as I was tired of dealing with changing batteries.

[PlainName]

Ummm....

edit: showed up after a refresh. Hate imgur.

[madires]

I have two wireless doorbells that I don't use anymore, and I just never took them down. I randomly realized today "why are those even still there?" and took them down, and of course, I had to check the batteries.  Both units looked similar. 

Well, the batteries are in spec, i.e. leaked before Dec 2022.

[GLouie]

Here's some AAA I had in a zip bag, never used, stewing in their own juices. Dec 2025 dates.

[Red Squirrel]

I don't know if I can blame Duracell for this since I couldn't even get the batteries out to check the brand, but it might be safe to say it is Duracells in there. 

You'd think I'd learn by now to stop leaving alkaline batteries in devices. 

RIP Radioshack laser pointer.

[RoGeorge]

Dismantle and clean it in the sink, with kitchen vinegar and a toothbrush, then with running water.  Don't scratch off the oxides with metal tools, and don't use abrasives.  If the mess doesn't go off easily, keep the leaked parts under vinegar to soften the crystals, then try with the toothbrush again.

Maybe it's still usable, eventually with a replaced microswitch and battery spring.

[schmitt trigger]

Here's some AAA I had in a zip bag, never used, stewing in their own juices. Dec 2025 dates.

Yummy! They look delicious!
Mix them with old PC boards and rusted screws, and you have got a wonderfully toxic salad.

[Red Squirrel]

Dismantle and clean it in the sink, with kitchen vinegar and a toothbrush, then with running water.  Don't scratch off the oxides with metal tools, and don't use abrasives.  If the mess doesn't go off easily, keep the leaked parts under vinegar to soften the crystals, then try with the toothbrush again.

Maybe it's still usable, eventually with a replaced microswitch and battery spring.

the batteries slide in right from the end, so there was no way to pull them out as they were fused inside.  I ended up just throwing it out.  (this was a while back only found the pic now) Although alkaline batteries are not as spicy as lithium ion, I could have just drilled a screw through the cell and pulled it out, now that I think about it.

[AVGresponding]

At last, some honest battery branding!

[schmitt trigger]

I was reading through this thread, and my wireless mouse started acting erratically.
Hmmmm, could it be the batteries? Let’s find out.

And guess what, the culprit was indeed a pair of leaking Duracells. I immediately went to my wireless keyboard, and it also had leaking Duracells.
Both had been replaced a few weeks earlier.

Damage was contained apparently, to only the battery contacts. The keyboard is OK, but the mouse still resets, even after cleaning. Unfortunately once that the terminal’s plating has corroded, it will make intermittent contact.

[SeanB]

Today saw a pair of Energisers, expired 2015, and only now starting to leak. Compared to the Durahells, expiring 2026, that were leaking in the packaging. I now am just buying cheap generic cells, around the price of a 4 pack of Durahell or Enermisers, but you get a 24 pack instead.  Lower capacity, which means less pressure in them, and perfect for things like remotes and clocks.

Only thing I wish is to find out who makes the white sleeve no name batteries for Proctor and Gamble, never had any of those ever leak, even if they were a decade past the expiry date, they would still have charge in them if unused, and would never fail in equipment and leak. They were the batteries in Glade air fresheners, as I would buy the promo packs, which were 2 cans, the dispenser and the batteries, for less than the retail cost of a single can. Ladies wanted fresh loo smell, so went through 8 cans per month. Thus I had lots of those cells, and even more so the dispensers, which went straight into the scrap plastic pile, after taking the motor and board out.

[HighVoltage]

Another horrible example of a DuraHELL in a calculator.

Maybe one day an executive from Duracell will read this thread.

[PlainName]

Maybe one day an executive from Duracell will read this thread

Or perhaps they already have and just don't give a shit so long as people keep buying them. Which they do.

[rsjsouza]

That or they will come up in a few years out of retirement with a book deal about The spectacular collapse of battery reliability and durability - A dark history of the battery industry from an insider.

[schmitt trigger]

And it becomes a New York Times list bestseller.

[floobydust]

It's a Wall Street dream. Warren Buffet could care less about anything other than return on investment. Duracell have 30% of the world alkaline battery market. Only 60 employees and all the loot apparently is going to executive compensation.

Every time I read this thread, I remember to check something for leaking Duracells and find a mess...

[SilverSolder]

I just bought a lantern at a tag sale.  Had 4x Duracell D sized alkaline batteries, dated March 2010.   None of them leaked -  All of them still work!

Maybe the malaise is limited to AA (and perhaps AAA), or are they just so much more common?

[PlainName]

I have >10yo Duracell which are fine - no leaks, still good charge. The issue seems to have occurred mid-201x when Duracell got sold off to, presumably, who-gives-a-shit asset strippers.

[5U4GB]

While it's true that it's virtually impossible to guarantee any alkaline from ever leaking, I go through lots of batteries and have never seen the level of leaking with other brands that I've seen from Duracell. Energizer, Ray-o-vac, and AC Delco batteries I've used by the dozens, and don't think I've ever had a leak. But Duracells? All over the place, all the time. And I had one big-box house brand leak in the package (9v's even) within a couple of years of purchase.

Just tossed a whole batch of Ray-o-vac AAAs that had all leaked while in storage, they'd have been around five years old.  Replaced them with Varta AAAs, lets see how those go...

[coppercone2]

I have >10yo Duracell which are fine - no leaks, still good charge. The issue seems to have occurred mid-201x when Duracell got sold off to, presumably, who-gives-a-shit asset strippers.

these guys

https://independenceday.fandom.com/wiki/Harvesters

[Gyro]

I just bought a lantern at a tag sale.  Had 4x Duracell D sized alkaline batteries, dated March 2010.   None of them leaked -  All of them still work!

Maybe the malaise is limited to AA (and perhaps AAA), or are they just so much more common?

I had a bit of a surprise when I opened up my milliohm meter adapter to take a photo a few months back. I don't know if it's being an older battery, or being a D cell, but no signs of leakage on a 2004 expiry date. Maybe the bigger seals vs AA and AAA are a factor.

Both batteries were original from when I built it around 20 years ago and still reading fine, so I left them...




I also run my Synchronome master clock from a pack of three D size Durahell cells. That runs for 2-3 years on a set and I've yet to see a problem with those either. I do smear the holder contacts (same type as the milliohm meter) with Vaseline just in case.

[HighVoltage]

So far I only had bad experience with DuraHell AA and AAA
I never had a D-Cell or 9V Block battery leak.

Maybe the problem is limited to AA and AAA cells.