alkaline battery question

[roymail]

When we buy Energizer, Duracell, etc alkaline batteries for general flashlight use, the package will have a date indicating how long the batteries should be usable.

My question is does the expected battery life change much when sitting in a flashlight which is only used occasionally? I would appreciate hearing from you on this. Thanks.

 

[roymail]

First post is correct, but the second post was by mistake. Sorry!

 

[VidPro]

the date shown is the shelf life, and also indicates that the CONTAINER is good for that long. after that date, the capacity is reduceed and the containment is suspect.

how you use it in a light before that date would be relative to how much your using it in that light???

if you STARTED it into the light apon expiration of the date, it would be a misteak, as the containment could fail (leak)

 

[roymail]

VidPro, Thanks for responding to my question. I guess the question should have been... will the batteries discharge any faster sitting in the flashlight than sitting in the package if only used occasionally?

 

[Curious_character]

VidPro, Thanks for responding to my question. I guess the question should have been... will the batteries discharge any faster sitting in the flashlight than sitting in the package if only used occasionally?

The switch in some flashlights physically disconnects the batteries, so they last the same length of time in and out of the light. Others, though -- particularly the smarter multifunction lights -- have some circuitry that draws a tiny amount of current even when off. This is usually so little that you can ignore it. But if it does manage to run a cell down, the cell is likely to leak. It's always best to remove the batteries from any electrical device if you're going to store it for a long period, to avoid potential cell leakage damage.

c_c

 

[Illum]

When we buy Energizer, Duracell, etc alkaline batteries for general flashlight use, the package will have a date indicating how long the batteries should be usable.

thats not entirely accurate...depending how you stored them when they were in the package


I have some 9V duracells that expired in Jan 1996...I didnt realize the date until my smoke detector started chirping and I replaced the batteries....according to my voltmeter the 9Vs fine

then theres the Energizers that expired in 2001...those were dead out of the package

theres really no way to tell for sure IMO