EEVblog #1274 - Long Term Alkaline Battery Leakage Testing

Testing 7 different brands of AA Alkaline batteries in two different configurations over 10 months to see if they leak. Duracell, Energizer, Varta, Panasonic, Fujitsu,

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[EEVblog]

Now I'm thinking that the best test might be some small $2 farting novelty gadget that takes two AA's that has a small standby current. I could get dozens of these on AliExpress and run various combinations.
Product recommendations?
And perhaps, rather than run different brands, take the most notorious brand (Duracell) and just test those to discover the best mechanism for leakage FIRST, before testing all the brands?

[johncrunk]

The problem is that the cells are not in something valuable. Put them in a $100 meter and they will leak in no time.

[stevetaylor]

Murphy's Law dictates batteries will only leak in expensive equipment

[mduvigneaud]

Anecdotally, I've had a significantly higher percentage of Duracells leak than other brands. Interestingly I've had the original Eastman Kodak alkaline AA cell in my alarm clock (Timex Indiglo) for the past ~25 years and it still works just fine. I just checked and it's down to 1.32 volts. The clock obviously has an extremely low current draw!

[SimonCoates]

Visit a recycling centre and look in the bins of used batteries. You'll be able to find the 'leakiest' brands since there'll be thousands to check.

[TrickyNekro]

To be fair... to be fair... they say may leak when charged so technically...
Edit: Why not use a joule thief circuit with a led? You´ll also know when it´s ready ;-)

[rjskoko]

I have noticed over the years (decades, actually) that single cells tend not to leak but when 2 or more are in series that the most-negative terminal will start to leak first. Vinegar works really well at cleaning up the crusty Potassium Carbonate crystals (followed by a weak Sodium Bicarbonate solution to neutralize the acid of the vinegar). A tiny smear of petroleum jelly on the negative end will help stop the corrosive welding (but don't get the jelly all over the place--it is slightly conductive). Silicone grease also works but is more expensive (and non-conductive, so that's good). Find it in the plumbing section. I've had the best luck (lack of leaks) with Panasonic batteries.

[karlharvymarx]

In addition to lower current draw, I'd try wrapping them in plastic wrap to seal in any corrosive vapors. I don't know that there are any vapors, but just in case, that would better replicate the conditions of a battery compartment. Maybe try raising the humidity in a test chamber. I'm not a battery expert, but I suspect showing them videos of sexy batteries might help.

[KillerSpud]

Every occasion where a battery has leaked on me has been a Duracell that I can remember. I don't know why I still use them. Anecdotal I know, but my sample size is a good ten or fifteen occasions, 100% Duracell.
Edit: Can you measure the current draw in your probe, or a remote control?

[rwbishop]

I'm far from a battery authority... but have noted through the years that elevated temperatures; for example batteries in flashlights stored in cars tend to leak at a much higher rate than others... even in devices with zero standby current draw.

[eugenes]

Duracell has been complete shit for the last 5+ years.... Everybody on the internet has noticed, all my kids toys had ALL of their duracells leak. Switched to Kirkland (Costco brand), and have had zero problems since.

[wildbilltexas]

I guess Rayovac doesn't sell their batteries in Australia? They used to be leakers too. Here in the USA my favorite cheap batteries are the Sunbeam Alkaline AA and AAA's from Dollar Tree. I've had them go dead in wall clocks and remote controls and none of them have leaked yet. BTW dont buy any Sunbeam "Super Heavy Duty" batteries or any battery labeled that. They are cheap crap zinc chloride batteries that dont last long, and they leak easily when they go dead.

[ColinTimmins]

I remember as a kid cleaning out the springs on a toy when the batteries had leaked. My face was far away, but of coarse a little piece flung off when the spring “twanged” and went straight into my eye. That hurt! I was smart enough to flush it out...

[notallthatbad]

I appreciate the 10 months you waited to follow-up on this. That's commitment!

[MrAwyork]

I used to manage 150 electronic door locks. Due to leakage the company switched from a generic battery to Duracell. These were in a high humidity (beach air) environment. There was an issue with the door locks that would suck hot air through the lock and cause condensation. (The AC is the cause of this.) The leaks were often. Less than 6 months. Maybe try to "damage" the seal with heat. Lots of motor stalls due to misaligned deadbolts.

[williamgottlieb]

In my own experience, I have noticed alkaline batteries leak the moment they COMPLETELY lose power. I take "dead" AA batteries out of gadgets and place them in one of those cheap, two-cell holder connected to a double alternately blinking red LED circuits that can be found in many cardboard store displays. The thing will flash at full brightness and speed for weeks until eventually slowing down and stopping. Then the batteries will leak all over the place. It happens every time.

[MattStum]

Perhaps drained too quickly? No charge = no leak? All of my leaks have occurred during standby, which should much less than 50mA.

[rafaelgruber]

From personal experience batteries usually leak, when they have no load attached to them, so for instance half drained and thrown into a box for remote control usage and in the device, which is switched off for a loner time ( half a year, ... ) or in a remote control which isn't used too much. (Disclaimer: this is all from personal experience, because I digitize video tapes in a small extent and thus remotes don't get used quite often)

[alexandrecouture]

I have seen many Duracells leak, more than any other brands. Most of the time, I buy Panasonic Alkaline Plus batteries, because they are way less expensive than the two expensive brands. You should add to your tests some basic carbon cells, like Panasonic ones at the dollar store. I'm sure that I have seen more non-Alkaline cells leak. I am pretty sure that the 2 main reasons for battery leakage are age and bad manufacturing. I do not think that any load is required at all to get this problem, as I have seen many batteries leak in devices where the main power switch is directly connected to the positive, so the is not current flowing at all. I don't know if you have kept these cells, but would be interesting to keep them and look at the in 2-3 years.

[dementedpaintballer]

Durasmell and Energizer are the only ones I've had leak. In the early 2000's I had some Energizer rechargeable AA and 9v's leak and explode both in the charging port and RC controllers. Cheap "house" brand ones I've never had leakage issues with. I did just have 3 out of 6 Duracell AA batteries, all from the same batch, leak, while connected to a guitar pedal with 5mA current draw. Must not have noticed the pedal was on when I packed to move, and it was unpacked about 2 months after it was quite literally tossed into a box. The three that leaked were all on one side of the power bank.