Leaky alkaline cells

Sometimes the lithium based AA cells can cause noise on audio equipment from the switching converter.

Big Clive

The quiet Patreon streams are usually every second Thursday, but I did a spell of one every Thursday recently.

Big Clive

Every child of the 70/80’s had those Uniross NiCds

Lyall Moffitt

I got my spouse 8 nimh batteries and 2 led candles years ago. Now we have more than 30 candles and hundreds of nimh batteries. Once she figured out she could use the led candles without throwing away batteries every week the candles and ferry lights started showing up everywhere.

Alex Taylor

Have you ever torn down one of those lithium ion 1.5v rechargeable batteries? (EBL, etc) I am guessing there is a tiny circuit board in there for step up / down. They seem to run for years.

I completely agree. For as long as i can remember, I’ve tried to get Ni-mh cells and as long as you look after them they will last a very long time, i still have AA & AAA from over 6 years ago (their capacity is now below 700mAh but still going) perfect for low power clocks and remotes and things, over time they will decrease in capacity but Ive never had one leak on me, only alkaline ones leak in a remote that was supplied with it and that was about 5 years old.

James

Of course the problem with alkaline batteries 40 years ago was they didn't leak but had a habit of exploding. It was front page news (well at least in "local" newspapers) all over the UK. The batteries had a centre electrode which resembled an iron nail, complete with point, which would be forcibly ejected from the battery together with a hot caustic solution. I worked on the safety investigation and visited one of the manufacturing plants with the senior officer on the case. I assume changes were made to the batteries design because complaints of explosions fizzled out.

You seek the "holy grail".

No stream today? No streamage?

Nani Isobel

I have found that if I put a piece of paper between the battery contact and the electrode on the device, I don't get leaky alkalines. Ive tested this only twice where I put a piece of paper in flashlight (torch), and left it alone in an identical flashlight, then left them alone for a year. After the year was up, the one with the paper not only didn't have leakage, but still worked, whereas the one I left alone (and off) did. I also tried it with a couple of cheap calculators and had similar results. So, any emergency equipment we have (flashlights, radios (receive only and two way) etc.) used the paper method. The only other thing I could think of would be to have batteries stored separately but next to the equipment. I will also add that after about 5 years, alkalines tend to leak even when not in circuit.

Mike Bird

When I replace the batteries in my remotes, I "suck" the rest of the power out of them in my homemade Joule Thief power LED candles. I can still get quite a few extra hours out of them.

Zeedijk Mike

My radio mic packs really need 2X 1.5V (AA) so I have just ordered some constant 1.5V output ones from Amazon to try. As I take them all out of the packs after every show corrosion is not a problem but lasting a whole show and beyond is important. The ones I have ordered are Kratax made by Hixon in China. If they don't work in the packs they can become TV remote control batteries. Edit: they lasted for 12 hours in the mic packs before cutting out. The only downside is you get no waning on the battery monitor indicator but we would fit fresh for every show anyway.

Tokkan FX

Can you recommend a fast charger that doesn't damage cells?

Mike Page

I've moved most low drain things to a single 3.2v LifePO4 cell with a dummy battery in the other slot. They typically have a capacity of 600mAh and a "cliff" discharge curve similar to NiMH. I found Zinc Carbons don't do as much damage when (if) they leak. Some of the super cheapy ZC ones are so dry to start with, it seems they never get as far. I have had major damage from NiMH leaking as well, it seems to wick along the wires too and munt the PCB beyond repair.

Anton

I've got several NiMH rechargeable 9V PP3s and a couple of chargers that can charge them. I got the some years ago for my late partner when she was using batteries like they were going out of style in a TENS machine. ISTR I bought the batteries from either Wilko or the local supermarket - they weren't hard to get (in the UK at least a couple of years back).

Jon Knight

I'm not sure of the quantities in each. But to be fair, lithium ion cells have a huge number of advantages.

Big Clive

I remember that. Not sure if it's still running or if he gave up.

Big Clive

The lower capacity cells probably have a lower self discharge. They use a thicker separator that takes up chemistry space, but the upside is that longer charge retention.

Big Clive

I haven't tried any of the newer NiMH batteries, but my main complaint with them wasn't the lower voltage, it was how they needed to be recharged every 10 minutes (or that's what it felt like, anyway). I don't know if their capacity has gotten any higher since then (20+ years ago) - I should look. I know disposable lithium AA batteries are intended for use in "high drain devices" but I find they work outstandingly well in low-drain devices, too. I have 3 of them in an outdoor wireless weather sensor that haven't been replaced in over a year, so I pulled them and checked their voltage - 1.7 volts each, just like new. That's after a full year of New England weather extremes, too.

Circuitmike

The price of Ni-MH batteries has also dropped significantly since I last bought them. I bought a load of 1900mAh "LADDA" ready to use Ni-MH's in Ikea last month at £4 for a 4 pack pop) to replace my ageing Duracell rechargeables. They also have 2450mAh at £6.50 - They seem to be working well at the moment - but only time will tell.

Logic -.- Ban Ni-Cd cells, allow Li-ion cells with LiCoO2 cathode.

Aleksander

Project Farm did that test (close to a couple of years ago?). The results were quite inconclusive as I recall.

Mustafa's Fleas

I only use Duracell batteries in my Christmas tree light because they last a few days and then go in the bin. For all other things I use Panasonic Ni-MH battery's and they are fine. I only have one Multi Metre that takes a PP3 battery and I have never found a Ni-MH battery and charger for that type of battery.

Jeremy Travis

I seem to remember Dave at EEBlog has started a battery leakage test sme time ago. No esults yet?

Ahhh.. good old 'Clampy' makes another welcome appearance. I have the 210D, which has temperature and frequency, in addition. Hoicked it out of its case to check and replace the batteries before the dreaded 'crust' appears.

Phil in the kitchen

What is needed is a project farm type video of long term battery tests. The most leak proof batterys seem to be the strange brand ones that come with a new TV ect.

I have had Duracell AAs leak a long time ago, haven't used them in 20 years. Back then NiCad was best for flashguns because those supplied much more current. It probably depends on the type of flashgun. I use alkalines mainly for stuff like remotes or battery backup for mains powered equipment, e.g. central heating thermostat for the clock and settings

Paul Slootman

Old Duracell batteries don’t leak. I found some 10-15-year old ones that showed no evidence whatsoever of leaking. Modern ones however will look given the slightest opportunity - they’re notorious for it. A few devices don’t cope well with the lower voltage from Ni-MH batteries but for all other use cases modern low discharge cells are great. Yes, flashguns do recycle slightly faster on alkaline batteries but unless you’re a paparazzi firing them off like a machine gun the difference really doesn’t matter (I use Ni-MH in mine).

Mark Gray

In my experience it’s only fake Duracell batteries that leak, not genuine Duracell batteries. I only buy batteries from trusted retailers/sellers.

Gadgetman

New rule change, you can stop isolating after 7 days if you have 2 negitive lateral flow tests 24 hours apart ! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59749447

You could perhaps have addressed or discussed some of the (alleged) arguments pro or con alkalines. I hadn't read much of the comments under the poll. Might do now. Just curious what ppl say. ;)

devttyUSB0

About the only thing I have with replaceable batteries these days are old analogue clocks and a TV remote control at my mums house. They all get a new battery when the clocks change forward in the spring. All the smoke/CO detectors are the 10 year lithium type, everything else is USB powered.

I use alkaline almost exclusively at Christmas for the myriad of novelty lights that look just too dim on Nimh’s; bonus being that post Christmas I then have a ready supply for my joule thieves. I’m all for keeping them for that reason alone.

The one thing I like about alkaline batteries is I know the cleanup procedure very well. I have permanently damaged a lot of nice electronics by leaving batteries in them for too long but over the years I’ve become very good at being able to neutralize and repair that damage. With the other battery chemistries there is a lot of miss information and downright false information about the proper ways to neutralize leakage/spread.

Lostngone

Quick little upgrade you can do to your Uni-T. Get a Bic wite-out pen and fill in the dot on the dial. Makes the meter much friendlier to use when you can easily see where it's set.

Paul Malloy

From what I heard, years ago, flashes for cameras do benefit from regular batteries, because of quicker/higher current discharge, so the flash can recharge quickly. More of an aficionado thing I think. I am not sure if this is still true. To be honest, the only application where I still use regular batteries is an external thermometer, just because it is exposed to the weather, and I don't want to ruin a perfectly good rechargeable battery.

Carlos Capriotti

It seems like a useful video to me. It continues to amaze me how such a huge majority of people continue to use crappy alkaline batteries when NiMH have become so good and cheap.

tim1724

Are you going home for Christmas? Hopefully you don't get the new strain on the way home.

Simon Deards VK3FSPD