In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Duracell, Energizer, or Rayovac. Your thoughts.
dreher
Member Posts: 8,891 ✭✭✭✭
After Helene and having no power for 5 days I used up a lot of batteries. It is time to restock after the stores have restocked.
I'm deciding which brand I'll be buying. I have always preferred Duracell but I have no reason for that preference. Have any of you ever seen any testing data between brands?? Your thoughts??
Comments
I honestly feel that, like so many other products of same type, outside the package they are identical. But I prefer dura cell. They seem to last the longest.
I used to also favor Duracell's but noticed a few years ago that the ones I had in a game camera along with several in a portable fish finder leaked within 6 months time.
Checked that they were not all from the same batch of manufacture between the two appliances and they were from separate packages bought at different times.
I now buy Energizers and haven't had any issues. So far……
I buy Energizer, by far. Here is why: I worked at Goodwill, years ago, when in college. I took bad batteries out all sorts of things every single day. 99% of the ones that were "bad" and had leaked were Duracell.
My comparisons recently back this up, also. Nothing has changed in 30 years. :) The wife got a bunch of old game cams, and they had a mix of Energizers and Duracells in the same cameras. The Duracells had leaked, the Energizers had not.
Which one lasts longer? I don't know. :)
Merc
The best batteries I used,and can't find anymore were Fuji Gold batteries.
Like buddy, I used Fuji alkaline batteries. They were in my mag lites I used when hunting and on calls for the fire department . Lasted longer than anything else .. Unable to find them now .
Energizer. Duracell leaks. 'Nuf said.
I’ve had good luck with Amazon Basics batteries, and AC Draco. Both are much more affordable, last well, and don’t corrode.
Energizers my nightvision stuff eats batteries I can usually get a extra hour out of the Energizers I usually have to change the Energizers once during the hunt and the durecells twice.
I’m just so use to just grabbing Duracell it’s more like subconscious guides me. They probably brain washed me years ago with their advertisements. I’m sure the others are just as good, just can’t seem to get myself up enough courage to touch the others.
I have lost to many things to Duracells. I won't have another. Energizers are what I use now. It's amazing how many things are around the house with batteries in them. I have made it a quest to find and vanquish any Duracells hiding here.
I have noticed the same thing over the years. Maybe it’s time I changed over to the bunny. Besides that, he’s kind of cute!
You know he doesn't work for Playboy, right?
Comments regarding Duracel surprise me. I went through our flashlights/lanterns this past weekend and had one with 4 Energizers and 4 Duracell. 2 or the Energizers had leaked and none of the Duracell.
Brad Steele
I have lost equipment to Duracell. No more
Another vote for Duracell here. Quick search shows Duracell is the manufacturer of Kirkland brand batteries. Didn't know that.
Duracell these days is nowhere's near as good as they used to be. In today's LED flashlights, they are very short lived. If they sit in a light or other device for very long you can be assured that at least one will leak out the negative end making the device inoperable. Unfortunately, around here Duracell is about the only brand to be found. However, last time I was in Costco, they had a good stock of their own brand batteries. I'm going to try those, but chances they are just Duracell with a Costco label.
You didn't see my reply directly above yours. Costco / Kirkland is made by Duracell. @truthful
We have had numerous Costco batteries leak.
I have had them all leak. I by Pro Cells made by Duracell sold at local hardware.
I have had more Duracells leak, by far, than any other brand. I use Eneloop rechargeables for AA's and mostly Energizer for the rest.
The better harbor freight ones kept in the cool part of basement have all the sizes seem to work as well
Remembering OLD commercials about Duracell batteries that hyped the made by MALLORY logo has been very hard to forget. After all, Mallory ignition was an automotive institution back in the day.
I have tried to fix the damage those leaky batteries have caused within a couple of fairly expensive cameras, flashlights, and the portable fishfinder, but to no avail. A strong solution of H2O and baking soda only seemed to make things worse.
Has anyone had any luck salvaging an appliance that has been damaged by leaky batteries?
I had a leaky battery in my EoTech 512 and was able to get it rehabbed using vinegar and baking soda. That solution and a good stiff nylon brush cleaned things up nicely and got it back up and running. Can't remember the brand of battery that leaked, but have been using Duracells in everything for years.
Duracell aa and aaa batteries have been terrible for more than short term storage in devices , they have leaked and messed up more then any other battery brand I have used, their 9 volt swell up, and they are made in several foreign counties which I think complicates and imho their component & QC problems , I have been using Home Depot batteries over the last few years, their HDX house brand, I order them line, and Have had Excellent experience with them, long life, No leaking in any size, and reasonable cost.
I read somewhere, duracells are made in China now????
JIM……..
Most everything's made in China now
Yep, they are all made in China and so is most of the stuff you are putting the batteries in.
It’s hard to do a lot to clean up the device, other than a brushing the terminals. However, the leftover corrosion always seems to cause the next set of batteries to react and leak the same way. One thing we have had success with, though, (as long as the device will still function) is to cut small squares of foil and place them between the ends of the batteries and the terminals. This keeps separation and protects the new batteries from being affected by the old corrosion on the terminals.
I'll second what austin said. Costco batteries are darn good. They seem to last longer and I have yet to have one leak.
Corrosion removal is a simple matter of a cotton swab and vinegar. When clean, neutralize with another swab with baking soda water, then a wisp of oil when dry.
So another vote for Duracell,, ^^^^^
To a greater or lesser extent........I've had leakage failures on all brands of alkaline batteries. Grocery store brands, Harbor Freight, Duracell, Eveready..…etc......seems to make no difference.
In the last couple of years I've switched to single-use lithium AA and AAA batteries for "important"(read:expensive) devices........especially those devices that are not used very often. More expensive?.......yes......BUT they do NOT leak.
As for cleaning corrosion covered terminals.......for small areas, isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab and a hot water/baking soda mix on larger areas. I try to finish up by using a brass Dremel brush on low speed, for small terminals and springs.
Hope this helps.
If you fly much, l-ion batteries are a problem, usually rejected. I use l-ion for cameras, and keep the batteries in my carry on.
I have always been a Duracell man but I have had multiple good quality flashlights ruined when the Duracells leaked.
From the other comments it seems like I am not alone in having Duracells leaking.
Rocky, I wish I had known how to fix a couple of the good flashlights I threw out due to corrosion. I wrote down your treatment on a colored index card to make it easy to see and put it in with my emergency battery supplies. Thanks!!
Project Farm, who does the best tests on YouTube, has tested batteries. I don't recall which ones were best, but there was a big difference in batteries. The store-name ones all rated near the bottom.
I started some years ago trying to keep a stock of batteries on hand
For Flashlights kids toys .the TV remote heaven forbid they go dead
Any way I was looking for a odd ball battery To go in 12 volt test light it had a 3volt Luke a old camera battery style any way while searching thur the batteries
I found more than a few of the Duracell battery had leaked and corroded , I did not find any others even the cheep bargen basemet batteries my sons and wife had bought over time were stil ok
I try and take the batteries out of anything I know we're not going to be using, but sometimes forget, and yes, the Duracell have ruined electronics for me
I use them in the safes locks and smoke dectors , but their 9 volt and i have never had a issue with them . The aa aaa different story
but next change out will go with energizer brand
have had to return the last two trail cameras for warranty, I was told both times they only honor the warranty if you use Energizer batteries, had a friend tell me this, only reason I use them……..
I refuse to use Duracell or Energizer alkaline batteries. They BOTH leak and ruin devices. Heck the last energizer max batteries leaked inside the factory sealed container, way before the expiry date.
I use lithium when needed, they keep for YEARS, and do not leak.
For high use items, I use eneloop rechargeable batteries. They have been awesome so far, over a year.
Oh no, you guys have me going now.
I have a Duracell in my Leupold Mark4 for years and it is currently out of reach.
If that thing leaked . . . .
Not an IF, but WHEN! At least for alkaline aa or aaa. Pancake batteries seem to fair better.
The difference between single-use(non-rechargeable) lithium batteries.......and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries should be recognized. Sorry about that.
Back in the early days.......I can recall computers (Samsung Galaxy??) catching fire on aircraft. Heck.......even the aircraft's own lithium-ion battery packs were smoking while charging. Then there's the cheap Segway machines going up in smoke while charging.
These days everyone's watch has a lithium cell(s)........and most of the space inside a cellphone is a lithium-ion battery.
Times sure do change.......