Special offer torch disaster story

[Brian Gaff]

A friend availed himself a couple of years back of one of those LED torch special offers in certain large foreign shops. It was well built apparently of metal and came with two alkaline batteries that seemed to be lasting for ever. Till about a week ago, when the torch had switch issues where it would go to dim mode or sos mode for no reason when switched on. Opening up the torch revealed a completely corroded heap of left over batteries that were completely stuck in the torch. Really it was a write off. so beware, check batteries every month or so, and do not assume that as its still lighting it has to be fine. He now needs a new torch. Brian

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

The upside to that, is that the same torch is now much cheaper or far more light output for the same price (or less).

[PeterC]

Yup - a good bright LED jobby with a v. positive press-switch on the end for £1, then 25p for the AAA cells... It's good even when the sun's shining in to the room - illuminates the corners by the window to a good level.

[Jules Richardson]

It seems to be a well-known feature this side of the Pond with Maglites - particularly ones fitted with Duracells, for some reason. Mag will replace the whole lot FoC if the batteries are from one of the manufacturers where there's known to be a potential problem. Advice seems to be to take the batteries out and store them seperately if the torch won't be used for long periods, but I've never seen an explanation for

*why* it happens.

I've only ever seen the start of it with any of mine - one of the three cells had started to swell and there was a little bit of damage to the interior of the torch casing, but luckily it was at the bottom where it was easy to deal with.

cheers

Jules