DURACELL BATTERIES GOING DOWN HILL.....

[chief38]

Exactly Paul. Unfortunately counterfeit batteries are as common as lots of other fake products anymore. Batteries are just the tip of the iceberg.

I buy them at Costco and they state "Made in USA" on the batteries. That said, I'll try Energizer's next time. I recently started using Energizer Lithium AA for somethings and they work very well. Will check them out in the D size!

 

[mckenney99]

I've always kept a healthy supply of batteries on hand. (Yes I'm a bit of a hoarder but an organized hoarder.) I have always used Duracells but like others here, I have had a great deal of issues with Duracells leaking in radio, flashlights, tools etc. As I use up my stash all my Duracells are being replaced with Energizers. As I add new batteries to my stash, I also meter the ones already in storage. I have found numerous Duracells that have gone dead, but are still within the 'use by' dates.

 

[VaTom]

Perhaps it has something to do with the aluminum construction of Maglites and similar flashlights. Back in the day as uniform LEO (1970s) I had a 3 c cell Kel-Light. Liked it because it would fit in my back pocket. Similar to Maglite. That thing ate batteries

Wonder if the metal construction pulls energy out of the batteries over time.

 

[MetalMan]

I also gave up on them when two Mag lights went South due to leaking batteries.
The Bunny marches on!

I've had the same experience with leaking Duracell batteries. Have moved on to Energizers with good success.

YMMV

 

[PatriotX]

The nickname "Duraleak" wasn't earned lightly.


Eneloop rechargeables fill the needs for most things these days. Look for low self-discharge cells, in general.


It has been my experience that Duracell will, after jumping through a few hoops, compensate you for the light.

 

[Warren Sear]

Perhaps it has something to do with the aluminum construction of Maglites and similar flashlights. Back in the day as uniform LEO (1970s) I had a 3 c cell Kel-Light. Liked it because it would fit in my back pocket. Similar to Maglite. That thing ate batteries

Wonder if the metal construction pulls energy out of the batteries over time.

No, the metal construction does not "pull energy out of" batteries.

 

[jdh]

I still have two 6 and a 5 cell mag light left over from the last millennium which have been converted to LED. The batts last a long time. And yes they still do make effective clubs now as they are less likely to snap a hot filament.

 

[ACORN]

I read that Warren Buffet bought out Duracell. Perhaps he dictated cost cutting if true. No confirmation on it. Just what I read somewhere.

 

[ACORN]

I read that Warren Buffet bought out Duracell. Perhaps he dictated cost cutting if true. No confirmation on it. Just what I read somewhere.

Yep! Google-fu says Berkshire Hathaway (Buffet) bought out Duracell from Procter & Gamble in 2014.
Just about the the time quality dropped.

 

[wetdog1911]

So what is the best flashlight and what are the best batteries? Inquiring minds want to know!

IDK about the best flashlight, but, I just get the $10 cheapies at HD that use 3 AAA into a 'C' cell holder, or, 3 AA into a 'D' cell holder.

For batteries, I gave up on any cheapies long ago and went to Eneloop (not cheap), rechargebles. I have some well over 10 years old still in constant use. Money VERY well spent.

Rob

 

[chief38]

I like my antiquated Maglites - what can I say? I do not care for LED'S at all as the bright "fake" sort of light is a bit harsh on the eyes.

 

[jrm53]

The last package of Duracells I bought states on them they are made in CHINA! Jeff

 

[PatriotX]

I like my antiquated Maglites - what can I say? I do not care for LED'S at all as the bright "fake" sort of light is a bit harsh on the eyes.

I like my Mags as well. The harsh light you're describing is largely a function of color temperature, but can also be brought on by PWM [pulse width modulation] as a brightness control strategy in some lights. Think very fast flicker.

I would bet that a nice warm-white LED in the 2900-3200 Kelvin range would make you forget it wasn't an old-school filament bulb. Except when you're only changing batteries 1/3 as often while outputting 6x the lumens.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Are you sure your 40 year old Maglites don't have a little short in them that drains the batteries? #AskingForAFriend

This morning I woke up to about a foot of snow and it's still coming down hard! My wife has been after me to level our relatively new Whirlpool Refrigerator and since I can't go anywhere today, I sort of got shamed into doing it. Not that I mind doing work - just don't like laying on the floor to do it.

Anyway, I needed a flashlight to see what I was doing under the Fridge and I asked my wife to grab a 3-D Cell Maglite. I push the button - DEAD! I said OK, get the one in the garage (same model), barely lit up! Now I'm getting po'd so I asked her to grab the one in the Utility Room (2 cell Maglite)- that one lit up but was dull as Hell!

Anyway I finished leveling the Fridge and opened up all the Flashlights - tested all the batteries on my Simpson 260 Meter - all weak to dead. Then I looked at the date on the batteries and they all read "good till 2028" (shelf life) however I barely use these flashlights. Seriously, 3 different lights in 3 different locations - so I'm laying the blame on Duracell! I have had these Maglites for 35 or 40 years and I know they should last idle longer than 2 years.

I simply can't believe that all 8 D-cells all went bad in 2 years of basically sitting idle. I think I'll have to write Duracell a nasty letter. Has anyone else here noticed that Duracell D Cells are not lasting as long as they state on the battery?

 

[crankyoldlady]

I buy them at Costco and they state "Made in USA" on the batteries. That said, I'll try Energizer's next time. I recently started using Energizer Lithium AA for somethings and they work very well. Will check them out in the D size!

I just checked the Duracells we purchased at Costco about two months ago. Made in China.

 

[Fishslayer]

All my batteries these days are rechargable NiMh.

 

[Squarebutt]

Duracells cost me a couple of D-cell Maglites, and I stopped buying them years ago. I have a bunch of flashlights, including Surefires, but nothing will shoot a narrow beam a half mile like my LED 2D Maglite. It goes out with me and the dog at bedtime, and has lit up the eyes of deer, foxes, coyotes and a bear or two thankfully at a distance across a field.

 

[CordWood]

One trick that I have used is reverse the last battery in a Maglite. It means opening and putting the battery in correctly but it will extend the life of the batteries.
Butch

 

[Krogen]

Like many of you I've had a bunch of Duracells leak. This started 4 or 5 years ago. After going to energizers no more troubles.

 

[Jason Demond]

Duracell batteries are leaking garbage.

That said... To be fair to leaking garbage, your Maglites are consuming garbage. I have several of them from your conventional bulbed lights, to your more modern LED versions. They all sucks and will drain any battery just sitting there doing nothing. The only one that doesn't do that is a 30 year old 2 D cell light, with a factory conversion LED bulb.

The burn time sucks as well for when you are actually using the light.