Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

Last month, I was up in Ottawa for a competition and I left my camera bag (sans camera) in my crossover every day. In the bag there were a few lenses and my SB-700 Speedlight. The temperature was never very hot outside, but the sun was shining and it got pretty hot in the car.

At the end of the second week, it was time for the awards and I pulled out my SB-700 for indoor shots. Lo and behold, I discovered the batteries had leaked. Four AAs, Energizer brand. The batteries were a few months old or less and the expiration date was 2024 or some such. I pulled out the batteries and put away the Speedlight. So, no decent flash for the awards and it shows on the pictures.

When I got back home, I cleaned out the battery housing using a stainless steel brushes and some CLR and now the Speedlight works fine.

I have never experienced a battery leakage with modern batteries and certainly not one in such a short time. I used the flash a few months ago at another event and it worked fine and like I said the batteries were just a few months old.

Has anyone else encountered such a problem with batteries and heat? And before someone asks, the Speedlight unit was turned off completely, not in standby mode.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

I just visited the Energizer site. They guarantee no leaks and they say they would replace the device if it was damaged by the batteries. Too bad I didn't keep the batteries, but then again, I repaired the unit so no big deal.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have had many batteries leak even when not exposed to heat (mostly Duracells), but I would postulate that by causing expansion and increasing any chemical reaction, the heat was a contributing factor. I do have an answer however - Eneloop rechargeables. Although not sure I'd expose them to extreme heat, I've never had one leak.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

TriX, thanks for the info. I was thinking of using only Li-Ion batteries from now on but you made me pause. I used rechargeables in the past, but they were horrid, losing their charge in just a few months. Are current rechargeable batteries more dependable now? Maybe I should consider those rather than Li-Ion Energizers.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Massively better.
At work, my department is in charge of 12 loaner camera kits that include flashes. Also have the equipment we shoot with. I'd wager we probably have over 200 Eneloop AA batteries. They hold a charge for a really long time. Never had any blow up.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Agreed. Modern NiMH batteries like the Eneloops have revolutionized battery technology in terms of holding a charge for very long periods with minimal degradation compared to the old NiCads. A side benefit is that they have a lower internal resistance which equals higher current flow when recycling your flash resulting in shorter recycling time. There are excellent deals on Eneloops in combination with their charger. After trying them, you may, as I have, replace the AA and AAA batteries in everything you own with them.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I only use Eneloops....

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Glad things worked out well in the end. Moral of the story, never leave your equipment any place you wouldn't leave yourself.
--Bob

nikonlad Loc: Venice, FL

Same thing happened to my SB700. I tried to clean it up but it still would not work. Nikon wanted $150 to fix it......NOT
What is CLR?

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

CLR
Never used it on a leaked battery before.
I need some!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

CLR is a cleaner optimized to remove Calcium, Lime, and Rust, which are common in tap water. It is a good cleaner, but chemically pretty active, so it is necessary to keep it away from the internal electronic components. WD40 can also be used carefully to clean battery leakage from alkaline and NiCad batteries.

Spontaneous leakage of alkaline batteries (which were originally known for not leaking, unlike the old carbon zinc batteries) became a real problem when mercury was removed from the cells. I am not sure what the mechanism is that caused this change, but it became immediately apparent. It is also true that AAA alkaline batteries are prone to leak when they are far from discharge.

I've had better luck with Duracells. In my experience, the Energizers and RayOvac batteries are worse about this. And lithium is one of the most chemically active of all elements. It's important to never leave lithium batteries in an unattended device.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

Good point. I will plead temporary insanity and the blame the pressure of the competition.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

Yeah a touch of CLR allowed me to clean up the contacts properly. I certainly did not flush the SB-700 with the stuff. WD-40 is a water-displacement compound so I did not use it for that. The stainless steel brush did most of the work but I did not use it vigorously lest I damage something.

I ordered a set of Eneloop batteries from Amazon.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Long ago, I got a flashlight replaced, but I can't imagine a company replacing an expensive flash. You'd have to read the fine print.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

When you buy Energizer or Duracell, check out where they are made. I noticed that some were made in the States, India and China. All on the same rack! I at one time bought Costco's brand batteries until they leaked like a sieve, in my Metz flash. Buyer beware.