[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Duracell Coppertop batteries

[Ben Hall]

On 1/7/2023 4:47 PM, Hubert Miller wrote:
> Well, my experience is that carbon - zinc sometimes WILL leak, but sometimes it takes decades! 

Agreed!

I recently bought some VTVM's at auction.  They use C-cell batteries for the resistance voltage source.  I've got two very old zinc-carbon batteries in front of me pulled from two units.  One is a "Radio Shack" brand red metallic color cased battery with the very 1980's font of the type I remember buying at Radio Shack when I was 10 years old.  I'll turn 50 this year, so that battery is at least 30 years old, probably 40.  The other, an Eveready "Super Heavy Duty" is probably of similar vintage.  BOTH HAVE NO LEAKAGE AT ALL.  NONE.

In the garage is a Burgess battery that pre-dates me.  I'd assume it's carbon-zinc.  No leakage.

I just can't get over how I've got alkaline cells made less than 10 years ago that have leaked and destroyed equipment.  The last set was a pair of Energizer pulled from the Maglight in the wife's car...  I was able to salvage the flashlight...just barely...grrrrr...

I've had Duracells, Costco Brand, Sam's Brand, etc..., all leak in less than a handful of years.  Makes me cranky!

thanks much,
ben, kd5byb