Did you ever have a rechargeable battery leak?

[BadBulb4U]

This is a broad question since I did not specify what type of rechargeable battery. I have just started using rechargeable 18650's (EagleTac 2400mAh) and the new AW R123 Li-Ion Rechargeable batteries. I am using a Pila charger for these. I am wondering about leakage, because one of my 4D cell Maglite's wasn't working and I decided to check the batteries. When I took the tailcap off I could see lots of leakage and what is worse, I cannot get the first battery in the end to come out. Now that I am about to switch over to rechargeable batteries for everything I own, I am wondering if I will encounter this problem with rechargeables.

 

[qwertyydude]

I've never had an 18650 leak. But Alkaline batteries are known to leak especially after using them. Dead or near dead alkalines in a flashlight are almost guaranteed to leak. Nimh can leak but that's a really rare event it's usually only due to abuse like reverse charging a cell or charging them at too high a rate so that they get really hot.

 

[HotWire]

I use all kinds of lithium ion and nickel metal hydride cells and have not had a failure. Alkaline cells are risky. They damage flashlights when they leak.

 

[mina]

I've had some NiCD and NiMH batteries leak before.

 

[Papuga]

Never had any lithium cells leak, but I have had two OLD GP 'C' cells vent after an old charger malfunctioned. Alkaline, now, that's a different story. That question should be phrased: Who hasn't had an alkaline cell leak? It is more a matter of when and not if an alkaline cell will up-chuck all over our expensive lights. This is why they [alkaline] cells are banned in my home and office, only Eneloop,AW's or redilast used here.

 

[Bullman]

I was wondering this very thing myself. I purchased an LD20 and a TK40 today while I was at Smokey Mountain Knife works and I mentioned that I would probably get me some rechargable AA batteries. The salesman said, "You don't want to do that, those batteries will leak when you use them in a light like that, they get too hot" I have only ever read great things about Eneloops and so forth so I thought I would look into it.

 

[Bullman]

Did a double tap so I will change this one. Looks like SMKW has some old stock, my TK40 says it is using MC-E technology, aren't they up a couple of improvements from that now? Was looking for one of the new TK41s with the dual switches but they didn't have one, so I settled for the 40, it is more flashlight that anything I have right now at the moment anyway. Can't wait to get enough Energizer Li Ions to fire that puppy up.

 

[TEEJ]

I've never had a lithium ion battery leak, or vent, etc. The ONLY batteries I've ever had leak were Alkaline. I've had Alkalines ruin GPS, lights, radios, etc...not uncommon at all, especially the rough lives my equipment has to survive. So, I ONLY use lithium ion batteries now, to preserve my equipment.

 

[n3eg]

My experiences: I've never seen a lithium battery leak. NiMH batteries have leaked only when they have so little capacity that they are almost unusable. Don't worry about it.