Batteries leaking?

[appadv]

Has anybody here experienced a problem with remote control batteries leaking and destroying the contacts inside the remote?

This has happened a few times and I'm wondering if it's just bad batteries or something else?

[Keiko]

Cheap generic batteries will do that. A good practice is to change batteries every 6 mos. If the remote isn't being used then leave the batteries out of the remote. Another thing I do is keep my remotes wrapped/covered inside plastic bags. Keeps the oil and dirt from the fingers from dirty'n up the contacts in the pad.

[ShinAce]

Your remote is not being dropped in the toilet, is it?

How many kids do you have, because that is not normal.

[madmax]

Duracell batteries (the good ones) seem to leak more than expected for me. I changed brands finally.
madmax

[billbillw]

I've only notice this when batteries left in a seldom used remote (or other device). If the remote is used on a regular basis, you usually notice them go dead and replace them before they leak. Advice above to remove batteries is good, especially for those remotes that only get used a few times a year (or less). Since I started using universal remotes, I had to go remove the batteries from most of the original remotes to prevent this.

[Bill Ayotte]

I have only had this happen once in a remote, and it was generic crap batteries....Every once in a while I would come across an old flashlight that had this happen, but now I just take the batteries out if I am not going to use them for a while....

[Kris Siegel]

How many kids do you have, because that is not normal.

It's normal if the remote (this applies to any other device as well) is not in use for a long period of time and the batteries are left in it. Also, extreme temperatures and dead batteries can do this as well.

[dkg999]

I've found a q-tip soaked in denatured alchohol usually cleans up the battery goo mess pretty well.

[heiney9]

Cheap generic batteries will do that. A good practice is to change batteries every 6 mos. If the remote isn't being used then leave the batteries out of the remote. Another thing I do is keep my remotes wrapped/covered inside plastic bags. Keeps the oil and dirt from the fingers from dirty'n up the contacts in the pad.

This a good rule of thumb regarding unused remotes, but changing every six months isn't nec for remotes in use. My TV remote has only gone thru 2 sets of batteries in 10 years. Imagine all the money I would have spent if I replaced them every 6 months. If a remote is going to be unused for long periods of time or is in storage take the batteries out. Most of my leakages have been for items in storage.

H9

[dkg999]

H9 - if you had a HT you would get more use out of that tv remote ;)

[Keiko]

This a good rule of thumb regarding unused remotes, but changing every six months isn't nec for remotes in use. My TV remote has only gone thru 2 sets of batteries in 10 years. Imagine all the money I would have spent if I replaced them every 6 months. If a remote is going to be unused for long periods of time or is in storage take the batteries out. Most of my leakages have been for items in storage.

H9
It's peace of mind heiney. I change the oil in my truck and the wifes subey every 3 months to. I quess I'm kinda anal when it comes down to some things and preventive maintenence. Imagine all the $ I have saved theoretically. :)

[ShinAce]

It's usually caused by old batteries or a chemical reaction with the cell casing.

[heiney9]

It's peace of mind heiney. I change the oil in my truck and the wifes subey every 3 months to. I quess I'm kinda anal when it comes down to some things and preventive maintenence. Imagine all the $ I have saved theoretically. :)

To each their own, but changing the oil in a combustion is hardly analogous to changing batteries in a remote control. Changing the oil consistently is a must for an engine to run for a long time and sound preventative maint. I change my oil every 5000 miles and use synthetic oil but I leave my remote control batteries alone :):D

H9

[appadv]

Aha, I think I have found out why. I'm in college for most of the year and away from my system, so the remotes don't get used. When I finally get home after 6 months, the old batteries leak and ruin the contacts on the remotes.

[mhardy6647]

any zinc-carbon (ol' time "flashlight") and alkaline batteries can leak, even the pricey name-brand ones. It's messy when they do.

[heiney9]

Dammit, you guys have me running around checking all my remotes. :D. They all look good so far. I'd say a good rule of thumb is to replace your batteries every 2-3 years in the remotes that are used frequently.

Those not used very frequently or in storage remove the batteries. Mhardy is correct, brand makes no difference.

[appadv]

Those not used very frequently or in storage remove the batteries. Mhardy is correct, brand makes no difference.

If I could only get to the remotes to remove them!!

[Keiko]

Dammit, you guys have me running around checking all my remotes. :D. They all look good so far. I'd say a good rule of thumb is to replace your batteries every 2-3 years in the remotes that are used frequently.

Those not used very frequently or in storage remove the batteries. Mhardy is correct, brand makes no difference.
See! If you changed em' every 6 mos. you wouldn't be running around having to check. You could be relaxin' with some tastey jams and new batteries. :D
jk heiney. Carry on. ;)