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  • Author Author: shabaz
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Leaking Alkaline Cells

shabaz

I just opened up a (semi) expensive bit of equipment and discovered the Duracells inside had leaked with the typical

white powder (potassium hydroxide) : (  and corroded contacts in the battery compartment as the result.

These ones were dated 'best before' March 2024, and had been inserted for less than a couple of months (and had just average use

during this time).

 

I was wondering what experiences others have had, and if they have successfully brought product liability charges against the manufacturer.

In the UK, a manufacturer can be held responsible for their faulty product, and any damage to property or to people (pure economic loss is not covered -

i.e. down time, loss of earnings, etc). However I expect in most cases the manufacturer just settles before a claim is raised in court.

 

I believe it is well known that Duracell batteries leak (something they don't mention in their bunny commercials) - so I always try to purchase Energizer or

other brands, but sometimes stores only have the Duracell option for alkaline cells : (

 

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  • Alkaline cells will begin to leak if you discharge them more than about 0.6V to 0.7V.  When I have the budget in a design to do so, I add a nano-power comparator+reference and a MOSFET to shut off the battery at 0.65V [per cell].  Hopefully, this will prevent leaking cells in my designs that are now out in the field.  The MOSFET also doubles as a backwards-battery protection circuit [looks like a blocking diode if the battery is reversed, but if the battery is installed correctly and has enough voltage then the MOSFET is turned on so there is no diode drop in the forward direction].  Sorry I can't share the circuit-- as that is under NDA, but it is a very simple circuit and is easy to figure out on your own...

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  • Alkaline cells will begin to leak if you discharge them more than about 0.6V to 0.7V.  When I have the budget in a design to do so, I add a nano-power comparator+reference and a MOSFET to shut off the battery at 0.65V [per cell].  Hopefully, this will prevent leaking cells in my designs that are now out in the field.  The MOSFET also doubles as a backwards-battery protection circuit [looks like a blocking diode if the battery is reversed, but if the battery is installed correctly and has enough voltage then the MOSFET is turned on so there is no diode drop in the forward direction].  Sorry I can't share the circuit-- as that is under NDA, but it is a very simple circuit and is easy to figure out on your own...

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