Inferior Batteries

[DaisyCutter]

Hello, I've lurked your forums for a while, mostly using them as reference material.

I work a county job. My employer supplies me with batteries. I used to work mostly nights, and about a year ago started working days.

I ignored my basic Maglite 3D cell LED for the past year (I usually get by with a bitty AA Inova I mounted a pocket clip to for day use).


A couple weeks ago, my Maglite rolled out of the truck while I was unloading my gear. I did a function check, and it didn't work. I swapped out the LED for the backup incandescent. Nada, still dead.

I go to my bag for replacement D cells, they've swelled and the ends have burst, contaminating the inside of my bag.:scowl:

These are the county batteries: http://www.interstatebatteries.com/...Y0070(Other+Products).aspx?ActiveTab=AlsoFits


Back to the Maglite. I pulled off the end cap and only one battery slid out. After moderate caveman "thumping", the top two batteries still refused to budge. :scowl:




It was then that I remembered the two thin strips of cardboard I *slid* up the inside of the Maglite tube to keep the batteries from rattling.

I look closely inside the Maglite tube, and see the same battery seepage I saw in my bag. Those D cells have also swelled & burst.

I just want to note, I live in Arizona, so batteries get exposed to heat, sometimes prolonged heat. Not much moisture.

After realizing how much I wanted to spend on the Maglite's replacement [upgrade], I decided to beat on it some more.

For a couple days I aggressively thumped it, I drilled the batteries lodged in the housing tube, and I stabbed them with screwdrivers. (This was the first time I ever heard a 1.5v D cell hiss and gurgle at me. So I donned safety glasses and beat 'em more).

I used penetrating oil, baked the whole mess in the oven (hopin the housing would expand more than the batteries), ruined a couple screwdrivers, my vice soft jaws, made a toxic mess.... and finally extricated the old batteries.

The old Maglite still works. Luckily, she never was pretty, 'cause she's durned ugly now. I'm not sure on her long term reliability at this point.

I plan to get a new Maglite and kick it across the parking lot to season it a bit before patrol.

QUESTION WAVE #1: Was my problem here a result of substandard batteries? I don't want this problem again. Will Energizer or Duracells be okay inside a Maglite for a year? Does anyone "grease" the inside of the tube or do something to prevent the batteries from swelling or sticking?


QUESTION WAVE #2: Will I get better general performance from a 4D Maglite with a Niteize LRB-07-PR1W 1 Watt LED Upgrade Kit, OR just a another basic $30 "out of the box" Maglite 3D LED? I acknowledge that Maglights cast a *rudimentary* beam. Is there any other flashlight that offers a better beam, with the durabiliy and *smack factor* for under $50?

For instance, I've got an Inova 3 cell CR123 that casts a far superior beam to the Mag, but it's not as confidence inspiring in-hand.

Don't get me wrong, I don't go around bonking people with my Maglite, but it gives me the same confidence I get from snug boot laces, it feels right.... and I do't mind using it to motivate a sticky fence gate or rusty latch.

While I'm fully aware of the fulfilling masculine nature of a huge beam. I'm willing to trade some of that beam for battery life. When I've forgotten to check the batteries for a month, I need it to minimally work to some degree.

Lastly, I'd like to note the irony that the verification code for my first post was "XTJFNG".

 

[Kestrel]

DaisyCutter, :welcome:
Most of your post is about batteries, so I'm going to move this thread to the /Batteries-Electronics/ subforum. However, your Question #2 belongs in the subforum you originally posted in (/LED/), so I would recommend you edit out that part of your post and create a new thread in /LED/ for that topic - I think this would be be best route for you to take.

 

[alpg88]

no, even Duracell's, and energizers are not immune to leaks, especially in hot Arizona climate.
don't bother with led drop ins you mentioned, stock rebel led mag beats them, i'm talking about those 100lm or 1-3w drop ins, however tle300 or sst50 drop ins will be a lot brighter.
get yourself 2d rebel maglite, and 2AA to 1D adapters, e bay, dx, kd sells them load it with 4x lithium AA and you wont have leaks again, those lithium AAs will also make the light a lot lighter, my 3d rebel mag with 6AA feels like the light is empty, a lot lighter that it was with alkaline D

 

[wildbill1]

It's not nice to find bad batteries in any appliance

 

[VidPro]

your number 1 problem was you bothered with it
KNOWING what battery fudged your light up, i would not have removed it at all.
the manufactures often like to SEE what happened, and they recommend that the state of the thing be the same as it was when you realised you were screwed.
But
that is also because they like to find a way to blame the user.

next time call the American battery manufacture and tell them what you got, in fact still do! (use the phone) These things are often guarenteed, and they will often repair or replace a item damanged by thier battery. after all its not like trying to call China

If i was you and was actually using the mag all night long (like i do many nights just for fun walking) i would check out Accupower rechargable D LSD cell items, and a D cell charger. because i do
its free power, after the huge intital expendature, and it it very less likly to leak.

for the rusty gates and latches, and locks, mabey a small can of WD-40 would be cheaper and have longer lasting effects than a flashlight as a hammer