Russell McMahon wrote:

>>   Standard batteries especially alkaline tends to
>>leak after leaving it for a while in the unit. I had
>>to repair quite a few units at home thanks to their
>>low quality. This happens to energizer and duracell as
>>well. You may want to use better grade batteries.
> 
> 
> Are you sure that it was *alkaline* batteries that you had leak.
> 
> Whereas I have seen innumerable "carbon-zinc"/Le Clanche cells leak 
> when left in equipment, I do not recall having seen a single Alkaline 
> do so. (Which isn't to say that it doesn't happen). Alkaline batteries 
> have very much greater shelf lives than basic carbon-zinc and I 
> imagine would not 'leak' at least until they were essentially 
> exhausted. That should be 5+ years if unused.

I have had MANY brand name alkaline cells leak. Most still
had a reasonable (20%) charge left in them. Quite the mess in
remote controls, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc.
Even the 'Industrial' Duracell and Energizers have leaked.
I could find no obvious reason why some in a batch would leak,
and others would not. None were in hostile environments. e.g.
left in the sun.

Le Clanche cells leak because the zinc wall is consumed by the
chemistry of producing electrons.

I have never seen a lithium battery leak, but I suspect it
probably can.

Robert

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