Found 47 (forty seven) leaky D cell Rayovac batteries I'd not noticed before. Last batch was 16, if memory serves.
What brand works better, and less likely to leak? I know, this is likely to start a flame war.
. Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus
Not a flame; just a personal observation.
In twenty plus years I have only had one pack of leaky batteries. While that was a brand name, it was 5 or 6 years beyond the expiration date on the package. It would be hard for me to blame the manufacturer for the fact that they got stuck on a shelf and forgotten - literally for years.
The ones I used when I bought the package, gave a good service life and were run to exhaustion and replaced with no problem.
What do you do that gives so many failures ?
Are you still trying to charge one-use alkaline batteries ?
From what I can figure, the companies recommend the proverbial cool, dry, dark place. That being refrig- erator, but not freezer. I had stored some on a high shelf in the bedroom. These were on low shelf in the hall. Yes, they do get some heat in the summer, but not like car trunk for example.
I've put as many as I can, into the refrigerator. When and if the replacements come, I'll cram them into the refrig, some how. This is really getting disappointing.
Hope the replacements arrive before the hurricane, power cut, EmP, or other need.
. Christ> Hi,
Hi, Maybe he stores his batteries in an improper spots? Like a warm location? Batteries don't like heat.
Which brings to mind the next question - why do you need so many batteries?
I have perhaps two dozen mixed AA and AAA enloops. That serves all my needs emergency and everyday. More expensive at start up but surely, less cost in the long run and certainly less grief.
I certainly don't need everything at any given moment so even in a power outage I'm OK for quite a long time. I can recharge from 120 VAC in normal times and if the world ends, from the cigarette lighter, or a small solar panel.
Add to that a half dozen AA alkalines for older equipment that doesn't tolerate the lower NiMH voltage, six Ds for my ancient but beloved AM/FM/SW boom box (which has high current draw), and a spare 9 V for the smoke alarm.
Not much and no problems. This should not be a career.
You're supposed to let the batteries warm up to room temperature before using. If you go through a fair number of batteries like I do, you shouldn't have to refrigerate them before going through them. I've been buying dollar store alkaline batteries and none of them have leaked. Of course, I never leave any batteries in a hot vehicle long enough for the heat to affect them and here in Alabamastan, I'm sure I encounter much higher temperatures in my environment than y'all Yankees do. ^_^
TDD
Ideally, I'd like to have "just enough" batteries to meet my needs for the week, or month. Some part of my view of the world is that things are about to shut down. So, I like to have extra this or that on hand.
We have Dollar Tree, up nawth. They have four AA or AAA alkalines in package, which is a good price. As to C and D size, packs of three, carbon zincs.
. Christ>>
Just stay the hell away from Sunbeam batteries unless you buy them and use them immediately. They DO leak like sieves.
"The socialist movement takes great pains to circulate frequently new labels for its ideally constructed state. Each worn-out label is replaced by another which raises hopes of an ultimate solution of the insoluble basic problem of Socialism, until it becomes obvious that nothing has been changed but the name. The most recent slogan is "State Capitalism."[Fascism] It is not commonly realized that this covers nothing more than what used to be called Planned Economy and State Socialism, and that State Capitalism, Planned Economy, and State Socialism diverge only in non-essentials from the "classic" ideal of egalitarian Socialism. - Ludwig von Mises (1922)
As a matter of slightly more than idle curiosity, why do you need 47 (forty seven) batteries?
Looks like time to evaluate how many batteries to have on hand. I went a bit to excess, I think. I really don't use that many D cells, and bought too many. What is annoying, is that the ones which leaked were "in date" and should have been just fine for many more years of storage. I'm wondering if Rayovac has quality problems?
. Christ>
For most of my life, I've been obsessed with flash lights. In their various forms. At the moment, I've got more than I'll ever need. And, they need batteries. Seems a shame to have the power go out, or some other need, and not have enough batteries.
I use a bunch of AA cells in my digicam, and my pocket flash light (mini mag with LED conversion). 9 volt in smoke detectors, and some devices at work. A few AAA cells for pocket lights, #13 for hearing aids. I actually use very few C or D cells, and 47 D cells is a bit too much. I get carried away, now and again.
. Christ>
So what's your username on CPF? Don't tell me that you haven't been over there yet, sounds like you'd fit right in.
nate
Sigh. I think I signed up, years ago. I'd be Stormin Mormon, of course.
. Christ> >> For most of my life, I've been obsessed with flash
A while back we did testing on batteries and found Ray-o-vac far superior in storage, something like 20% more than the next best, ...but NOT shelf life, or stored in the product life. they tended to leak and destroy.
Second was Energizer had a loft of stored capability and never seemed to leak in the product. Third, at about 60% of Energizer was Duracell. didn't leak, but not much power and same cost.
Jeff Liebermann [I think it was him] posted a URL showing recent testing comparing batteries uner different load conditions. Turned out some were better than others in different applications, like torch vs radio vs LED etc.
I was told to NEVER test your stored battery, under load. Doing so starts a deteriorating chemical process that runs your batteries down in like a year. So don't test them if you want long shelf life.
From some article [article in EDN or Electronics Design, or such] storing batteries in the fridge is fraught with peril. People open and close fridge doors, don't just leave things in there. As a result a slight layer of moisutre forms on the surface of the stored battery. The slight amount of moisture that comes and goes provides a discharge path and you end up with a lot of cold, dead batteries [sorry for the reference] According to the 'article' the shelf lifetime was actually less inside a kitchen fridge than at room temp, and very much longer inside a laboraotry fridge, which is not opened very much. [All from memory, but makes sense]
*IF* you're going to store batteries in fridge, store in sealed containers containing a dessicant. Then you get the advantage of the cool storage WITHOUT the moisture layer causing leakage.
I thought most folks considering storing batteries in the fridge would know to put them in something airtight to keep them from getting wet. I would use zip-lock plastic bags with a teaspoon of rice in with the batteries to soak up any moisture. Of course the air should be squeezed out of the bag and when the batteries are removed from the fridge, allow them to warm up in the bag so no moisture can condense on them from the warm air. ^_^
TDD
That actually makes a lot of sense. Most people don't have little packets of silica gel laying around though; I wonder if a Ziploc bag with a spoonful of uncooked rice in it would suffice?
this is more academic to me than relevant; it's an interesting question but I don't really store any alkalines; I am probably 60% or more converted from alkaline to NiMH and will be mostly alkaline-free once the Brown Santa brings me some more.
nate
Either great minds think alike, or we're both nuts - I just posted speculating if that would work before I read this.
nate
Hmm. I'd not heard this, but it does make sense.
Perhaps some tupperware containers would help keep me from having to pry the batteries from my cold, dead refrigerator racks.
. Christ> From some article [article in EDN or Electronics Design, or such]
We're both nuts. It will make you feel better if you just accept it and admit it. ^_^
TDD
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