Luthiery Laboratories

I only use clip-less battery boxes for two reasons. First, those 9-volt battery clips may be tolerable for a smoke detector, but if you plan to use it a lot, it is a pain in the ass, and then it breaks. And second, 9-volt batteries ( all batteries, really, but especially 9-volts ) are guaranteed to leak, and should never be left inside a device unless absolutely necessary. I only put a battery in a guitar ( or anything else ) when I want to use it, and then take it out afterward and keep it in a little dish. That's much easier if it just slips in and out and you don't have to mess with one of those stupid clips. And if when it leaks, I just throw it away and wash out the dish.

I've learned my lesson, I've seen more than enough expensive devices ruined by alkaline batteries. In fact, the problem has actually gotten worse over the years, not better. This applies to all brands, but Duracells are the worst. One day I went through everything I have and pulled all the Duracells, regardless of age or use, and threw them all away. Things that need batteries, like emergency lights, I installed lithiums, everything else I left empty. This leakage issue applies mainly to alkaline batteries, I have never seen a lithium cell damage anything. They may be expensive, but it is a good investment.

9-volts are especially prone to leaking because what looks like one square battery is actually six round batteries in a square case. That's six batteries that can leak, six times the likelihood, basically guaranteed to happen within a year. Coincidentally, that is how long most guitar electronics claim a battery will last. Don't leave the battery installed, and you'll never have to regret it.

Gotoh battery boxes are the best I've used, but are rather expensive. Equally functional boxes may be got from China on eBay for just a couple of dollars each.

Here is another Duracell. This sort of thing is inevitable, and the battery doesn't even have to be old. I found this one in the pocket of a nylon backpack, where fortunately it didn't do any harm, but would you like this to happen inside your guitar or effect pedal, or anything else for that matter? That white stuff is actually worse than acid, which is ironic since alkaline batteries were invented because acid cells were so bad. The white mange readily follows wires and is certain death to any printed circuit board it reaches. It also eats up most metals, including copper, steel, and aluminum.

A nine-volt battery actually contains six 1.5v cylindrical cells, and so is six times as likely to do this. To put it another way, the odds are 600%. I strongly suggest you go through your entire house and dispose of all Duracell batteries, regardless of age or use. Energizer and Rayovac are much safer. Even generic Chinese batteries are less likely to leak than 'premium' Duracells.

Disposable lithium cells are expensive, but the different chemistry means they are not prone to leakage at all. For many devices where you might load the battery and forget about it, lithium cells are a good investment. In fact, they are just plain better batteries, in every way, especially in the cold. I will not buy any alkaline battery anymore, I use lithiums in everything. Buy them in bulk online, they also have a much better shelf life than alkalines.

Note that disposable lithium cells are not the same as the ****** rechargeable 'lithium' cells that last just six months in your laptop, and burn up kitchens and airliners, and cause cell phones to explode. That is a terrible technology that needs to be abandoned immediately - NiCad was much more reliable. Disposable lithium batteries are probably the safest power source you can find. I've used lithium button cells for years, and never ever seen one leak.

A piece of advice: 9-volt batteries are terrible leakers. It is not a matter of if, but a matter of WHEN, and nowadays, quality is so bad, WHEN will be SOON. So isolate the battery away from the rest of the electronics, and mount it so that you can easily remove it between sessions. Don't put it in the control cavity where you will forget it until it ruins everything. And don't buy Duracells - they're the worst. You can find them leaking right in the package at the store! Don't put batteries in your pedals either. Get a good power supply and an octopus cable. You'll save money in the long run.

Remember when the 'new' alkaline batteries were going to save your devices from the old leaky acid batteries? Turns out, alkalines are worse. I have switched to lithium cells for most things, especially things that are long-term, like emergency flashlights and sensors. I've never seen a lithium leak. 9-volt lithiums are rather expensive, though. It is cheaper to just put the battery in to play, and take it out when you are done. I just found some Duracells that I'd forgotten in a drawer. At least one of them was filling the plastic container with white crust. I threw the lot away.

I just pulled a dead lithium rechargeable from an old iPod. It had swelled to twice its normal size but did not leak or damage the device. I replaced the battery, and I am listening to it right now. I've had this happen with several phone batteries as well. Rechargeable lithium batteries are awful, but at least they don't destroy the device they are in !!!