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Cydrome Leader

wrote:
On Friday, March 25, 2016 at 6:35:32 AM UTC-4, Mark Zacharias wrote:

Couple years back I bought a Micronta 22-206 FET multimeter, virtually "new
old stock".

Well, not quite. While everything looked pristine - Radio Shack branded
batteries had been installed (1975 date code) and just left in there when
the thing was boxed back up.

The batteries, a C-cell and a 9 volt, were totally flat but had never
leaked. Not even a little.

Dodged a bullet on that one.

Mark Z.

This thread lead me to check the battery-included instruments I keep at/near the bench:

B&K LCR meter
Fluke DVM
Transistor Analyzer
ESR Meter
Micronta Digital DVM (travel kit)
RF/AF Signal Injector
Micro Maglite
3D Maglite (AKA "Persuader")

Be extra careful with the maglights. Leaked battery swell up and the juice
that comes out will corrode the aluminum and constrict around the battery.
It can be impossible to get the batteries out. I had a Kel-Lite destroyed
that way. Somebody on usenet suggested wrapping the cells in saran wrap
so if they leak you can just slide the whole mess out.