Duracell alkaline batteries seem to have a bad rap...

[IanB]

I discovered the Lithium something (iron?) batteries that are 1.5V so are direct replacement for alkaline. They are 3 times the price but worth it.

Yup, lithium iron disulphide. The usual brand is Energizer Advanced Lithium or Energizer Ultimate Lithium. Pro-tip: the Advanced has the same capacity as the Ultimate but is 2/3 the price.

[KeepItSimpleStupid]

A thread elsewhere http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/can-you-explain-this-17-year-old-batteries.127549/ confirming that new Duracell's are not the same as old ones.  The TS/OP is claiming 17 years and no leaks.

[edavid]

A thread elsewhere http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/can-you-explain-this-17-year-old-batteries.127549/ confirming that new Duracell's are not the same as old ones.  The TS/OP is claiming 17 years and no leaks.

It doesn't confirm anything... just more of the same anecdotes we are seeing here.

[Gary350z]

I discovered the Lithium something (iron?) batteries that are 1.5V so are direct replacement for alkaline. They are 3 times the price but worth it.

Yup, lithium iron disulphide. The usual brand is Energizer Advanced Lithium or Energizer Ultimate Lithium. Pro-tip: the Advanced has the same capacity as the Ultimate but is 2/3 the price.

I can't find Energizer Advanced Lithium anymore. The Energizer spec sheet says it's obsolete. Now I have to buy the much more expensive Ultimate version.

From my experience, and from what I've read, most all alkaline AA & AAA leak. C & D seem OK.
Duracell, Energizer, Rayovac are bad. I don't know about no name brands.

I've lost over $500 worth of gear to leaking Duracell and Energizer AA and AAA.

Example: I've had 2 regular wall clocks, powered by one AA. I go to adjust the clock for daylight savings time, battery is leaking, battery is well within expiration date, the clock is still running.

[EEVblog]

In my experience Duracell and The Industrial version, Procell, are VERY prone to leaking.

My totally unscientific warm fuzzy feeling tell me the same in recent times. Seems worse now than a decade+ ago?

[plazma]

IIRC Ikea batteries were cheap and good in some tests.

[Srbel]

So, which ones of the consumer grade brands are the best?

Sanyo
Panasonic
Renata
Sony
Toshiba
Fujitsu
Varta
Kodak
GP
...
?

[ruffy91]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

[StuUK]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

Meaningless Guarantee

[ruffy91]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

Meaningless Guarantee

They replaced my Logitech R700 Wireless Presenter.

[StuUK]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

Meaningless Guarantee

They replaced my Logitech R700 Wireless Presenter.

Bet it would be a different story for more expensive equipment.... they probably have a set threshold...

[g.lewarne]

So, which ones of the consumer grade brands are the best?

Sanyo
Panasonic
Renata
Sony
Toshiba
Fujitsu
Varta
Kodak
GP
...
?

Ever Ready Blue Seal

[Srbel]

So, which ones of the consumer grade brands are the best?

Sanyo
Panasonic
Renata
Sony
Toshiba
Fujitsu
Varta
Kodak
GP
...
?

Ever Ready Blue Seal

Not avelable in my country.

[StuUK]

Bet it would be a different story for more expensive equipment.... they probably have a set threshold...

Might also be a different story if we based conclusions on actual experience.

You'll have to excuse my scepticism here but my experience of such guarantees in the past leads me to the conclusion that if the cost of replacing is containable within a set threshold/good will gesture scenario then they may come good, but when it gets beyond that threshold the stops are pulled out to avoid the costs. But as you say i've not tried Duracell so fair comment as maybe they are the exception to the norm....

[Gary350z]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

Meaningless Guarantee

Surely it would be fairer to judge the guarantee after seeing how they respond to a claim.

Since these batteries leak on a regular basis, I would have to be constantly sending them all my damaged gear. Who wants all that hassle? Using lithiums or NiMH or eneloops is much less hassle.

[Sbampato12]

I don't use Duracell anymore, not even come close to see the price.

All equipment I've got recently, that had duracell in it, the batterie leaked.
I've already seen they leak in unopenned package as well.

One thing I noticed, many others brand, were getting manufactured on Germany (some Rayovac), USA, Mexico, or even local manufactured (Brazil), basically anything except China, were far better in looking quality and less prone to leak.
Some years ago, was easy to find easy on market here (brazil) these. Now I only find Rayovac made in China, that look pretty terrible quality material instead (the ones yellow, not the black/gray as in past).

The brans I buy are Panasonic (that I prefer), and Energizer or when I find the better looking Rayovac. I've found only one time some Fujitsu ones, that did great (but the body says 'For Europe'  )

One thing to keep in mind, keep away from the batteries that came with agilent DMMs also.

[Zbig]

You'll have to excuse my scepticism here but my experience of such guarantees in the past leads me to the conclusion that if the cost of replacing is containable within a set threshold/good will gesture scenario then they may come good, but when it gets beyond that threshold the stops are pulled out to avoid the costs.

I'm sorry for nitpicking but being both a bit of a grammar nazi and a pipe organ afficionado, I couldn't help myself. Pulling out all the stops is an exact opposite of refraining from doing something. It's giving all you've got, playing all the pipe ranks your organ has. You push the stop in to silence the relevant rank Now I'll leave

[StuUK]

You'll have to excuse my scepticism here but my experience of such guarantees in the past leads me to the conclusion that if the cost of replacing is containable within a set threshold/good will gesture scenario then they may come good, but when it gets beyond that threshold the stops are pulled out to avoid the costs.

I'm sorry for nitpicking but being both a bit of a grammar nazi and a pipe organ afficionado, I couldn't help myself. Pulling out all the stops is an exact opposite of refraining from doing something. It's giving all you've got, playing all the pipe ranks your organ has. You push the stop in to silence the relevant rank Now I'll leave

I can see you've missed the point entirely.....

[TheBay]

Might be worth posting the country of origin on the leaky batteries.

Just looked at my latest batch of "Industrial" Duracell 9v batteries, these say made in Malaysia - Will report back one day if these leak.

[rsjsouza]

Gillette told me that the failures in my Maglite torches were due to excessive axial compression loading on the cells seals caused by the strong spring used in such torches. That does not explain the many other  cell seal failures I have seen though.

Fraser, in several occasions for the past ten years I have alternated between Duracell, Energizer and Ray-o-vac D-type batteries on the flashlight below and its spring mechanism almost obliterates the positive tip. I have never had a leak...

Could it have been that they were simply improperly stored or shipped at some point? Sitting in a hot courier van for extended periods maybe?

Not in the case of the ones shown in the OP. They were bought 4 years ago and sat in a kitchen drawer. They were at my Mom's house, and she always keeps the house at 72 degrees all year around. They were purchased at either Home Depot or Lowes (can't remember which). Unless the abuse happened before all that...

From my experience batteries stored in my house (20~22°C and 40~60% RH all year round) last a lot in storage. In my dad's house (no HVAC, thus temperature can vary between 20~35°C and 80~90% RH all year round) the batteries leak like crazy if left alone anywhere (inside equipment, in storage, etc.). One detail that may contribute to that is the salt content in the air, as he lives at about 50m away from the sea.

I have only had batteries leak in things I left them in for quite some time. Never happens in things I use regularly.

That is why all my "spare" DMMs have no batteries installed on them. Same for my calculators...

[bitseeker]

Look at the bottom of the page:
"Duracell Battery Guarantee
If not completely satisfied with your Duracell battery product, call 1-800-551-2355 (9:00AM – 5:00PM EST). Duracell guarantees its batteries against defects in materials and workmanship. Should any device be damaged due to a battery defect, we will repair or replace it at our option. Leaking battery and damaged device must be provided as proof of claim. Duracell may deny claims of damage caused by misuse or modification of the batteries or device"

Meaningless Guarantee

Surely it would be fairer to judge the guarantee after seeing how they respond to a claim.

Since these batteries leak on a regular basis, I would have to be constantly sending them all my damaged gear. Who wants all that hassle? Using lithiums or NiMH or eneloops is much less hassle.

The guarantee is legitimate. I've used it and had devices replaced as promised. They even gave me...wait for it...coupons for...you guessed it...more Duracell batteries.

As Gary said, having to repeatedly go through the replacement/repair process is not worth the hassle, and they know it. I refuse to reward these companies by purchasing their poor products.

[edavid]

Plus, I am completely unaware Duracell batteries have a bad rap.

The topic title is incorrect, since the OP meant to ask if they had a "bad rep".

On the other hand, you are claiming it's a "bad rap" 

http://grammarist.com/usage/bad-rap/