The batteries killed my Happijac remote

[stevenal]

Expensive electronic device ruined by leaking AAs, sigh. I guess I will now be pulling the batteries between uses. Only 6 screws need removal. Are you listening Lippert? Please make the batteries more easily accessible, or use a button cell.

[Oregun]

Mine did that too so I bought a new battery holder and put it in the remote and added a switch to turn off

the power to the controller.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/192178854320

[stevenal]

I kept the old controller, thinking I might harvest the holder and connect it remotely. Only a bit of removable corrosion on the holder.

[Latner · Accepted solution]

I've had Duracells leak

I've always used Duracells, but they also leak.  Supposedly Energizer has a “No Leaks Guarantee”.  Lithiums also won't leak, but they are more money.

[stevenal]

Not more than a new control, or time spent on the mods I was considering. Lithiums are on order. Thanks for the idea.

[opnspaces]

I've recovered many devices after the batteries leaked. Since the batteries are alkaline and not an acid (like in the car) you need to neutralize by using a weak acid. I just sparingly use some q-tips and white vinegar. Hold the device so gravity keeps the mess from flowing deeper into the electronics and dab on some vinegar.  After a few seconds use another q-tip and wipe out the mess. Repeat a few times and hopefully you can save the device.

My thoughts:

Less is more. Just dab the vinegar from the q-tip, you do not have to get things too wet for it to work.

Almost every battery that leaked was a Costco Kirkland AA or AAA so I will never use those anymore. I just buy the Duracells from Costco for a dollar more.
You might have to carefully disassemble the part to do a better cleaning. Just be careful and don't break any solder joints.

[stevenal]

These were Duracells. I used a Dremel wheel to clean the contacts, water and q-tips to clean up the liquid, and finished with a hair dryer. With new batteries, I was able to extend the jack I was working on. When done, the jack would not retract even after resetting things several times. Synced up a new control, and things work again.