Duracell Procell problems?

LPdan

Well-Known Member
I have been using Procells in wireless bodypack transmitters for a couple years, and have never had a problem. For a recent show, I ordered more as usual, but had a problem with several packs. Power to the pack would cut in and out, and they were very sensitive to touching "jiggling" the batteries. I tried wiping the battery ends (AA) with acetone, and this seemed to help, but not completely. The problem was seen on both in-house Shure QLXD packs as well as rented Sennheiser EW100 packs.
Looking through our used battery bin, I see differences over the last year with regard to the negative end of the battery. Some have a silver ring, some have a black ring, and these were green. Also, some ends have a dimple and some don't.
Has anyone else had an issue like this? Any ideas?
 
I have been using Procells in wireless bodypack transmitters for a couple years, and have never had a problem. For a recent show, I ordered more as usual, but had a problem with several packs. Power to the pack would cut in and out, and they were very sensitive to touching "jiggling" the batteries. I tried wiping the battery ends (AA) with acetone, and this seemed to help, but not completely. The problem was seen on both in-house Shure QLXD packs as well as rented Sennheiser EW100 packs.
Looking through our used battery bin, I see differences over the last year with regard to the negative end of the battery. Some have a silver ring, some have a black ring, and these were green. Also, some ends have a dimple and some don't.
Has anyone else had an issue like this? Any ideas?
It sounds like you got counterfeit procells
 
I have been using Procells in wireless bodypack transmitters for a couple years, and have never had a problem. For a recent show, I ordered more as usual, but had a problem with several packs. Power to the pack would cut in and out, and they were very sensitive to touching "jiggling" the batteries. I tried wiping the battery ends (AA) with acetone, and this seemed to help, but not completely. The problem was seen on both in-house Shure QLXD packs as well as rented Sennheiser EW100 packs.
Looking through our used battery bin, I see differences over the last year with regard to the negative end of the battery. Some have a silver ring, some have a black ring, and these were green. Also, some ends have a dimple and some don't.
Has anyone else had an issue like this? Any ideas?
@LPdan While we're waiting for other posters, decades ago the repertory theatre I was with used to purchase Procells in case lots. Now that I'm retired and living in a "senior's home with assisted living", I met a lady who worked on the assembly line at the Toronto area Duracell plant just west of Toronto. In chatting with the lady I learned they only made one battery and the only differences were which labels were affixed to them as they came down the line. We were specifically discussing 9 volt Procells and Duracells at the time. Now back to your regularly scheduled post.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 
Interesting notes so far. One other thing I forgot to mention is over the past year, I have gotten 24pk cases in two different box sizes (not unique to this problem order). One is longer, the other is shorter and taller. I didn't know if different plants used different boxes for some reason?
 
Interesting notes so far. One other thing I forgot to mention is over the past year, I have gotten 24pk cases in two different box sizes (not unique to this problem order). One is longer, the other is shorter and taller. I didn't know if different plants used different boxes for some reason?
I always assumed those were like the "old style" vs "new style" but I too was always annoyed at the different size bricks.
One company that I did the purchasing at, we switched from Procell to Kodak and then to Energizer Industrial.
Another company that I worked for still is using procell, and against popular knowledge, they could walk across the street to Ace Hardware and buy procells from there in a pinch too.
 
So far, still having good luck using the duracell quantum batteries in the EW100's
If cleaning helped, it could be a metal problem. Some incompatibility between the holder contacts and the battery contacts. I would try scrubbing them with a pen eraser and see if you have better results. Could also be a bad batch or two.
 
The eraser's a good idea, I didn't think of that. What a huge waste of time this all is though. I will probably look at come other type like the Energizer Industrial suggested, or maybe finally look at rechargeables.
 
There have been reports that the paint on the "new" Duracells (the AA size in particular) can flake off during insertion into the battery slot and get between the battery terminal and the transmitter contacts. Intermittent connections have been noted, as well as situations where the battery appeared to be faulty but measured full voltage upon removal from the transmitter pack.
 
There have been reports that the paint on the "new" Duracells (the AA size in particular) can flake off during insertion into the battery slot and get between the battery terminal and the transmitter contacts. Intermittent connections have been noted, as well as situations where the battery appeared to be faulty but measured full voltage upon removal from the transmitter pack.
The Quantums have a plastic shrink wrap sleeve on them, so paint should not be a problem. I have had life-span issues with the bunny batteries. A lot of batteries now have that built-in meter, which is conductive tape. I always make sure I have that strip located in a direction that does not get pressure applied to it by the holder. I suspect that would run it down real fast, but I think it really would need a good deal of pressure on it to be a factor.
 
I've heard of the "same battery different label" story before. I've used Duracell and Energizers before, pro and normals, for countless shows, and have never been able to discern a difference between them. I ended up buying for that show whatever I could find cheapest or on sale from whatever vendor in that area I was using at the time. I went online a few times, never had a problem either. YMMV. Sounds like either a bad batch or a counterfeit.

Have you ruled out an issue with the packs themselves (coincidentally with your owned and rental gear)?
 
Ive always just bought the cheapest batteries on sale, as long as they say made in USA, I haven't had a problem. Costco has great deals on batteries too.
 
Duracell Quantums are always solid, but my old HS ended up getting a fleet of rechargeable NiMH cells after having used Quantum for some time.. If your equipment can tolerate the slightly lower operating voltage, it ends up being way cheaper than repeatedly buying high end alkaline or single use lithium cells.

a lower capacity battery that can be used for 300 cycles rather than boxes and boxes of primary cells seems like a pretty good deal to me. Just get a bulk charger with charging cutoff and away you go!
 
Oddly enough, the last two tours I had come through used rechargeables for all of their mics but the last one used pro cells for all of their wireless com packs.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back