Kestrel 5700 AB trashed

[westexhunt]

I left an alkaline AA battery in my Kestrel (needed it to work and that's the only battery I had with me). I did not leave it in the unit for long but it leaked and damaged the unit. Would still come on and a couple buttons worked but no functions. Shipped to Kestrel and they verified it's unrepairable and not under warranty, they offered $100 credit towards a new 5700 Elite. Just a warning for others, cost me a 2 yr old Kestrel.

 

[Tom264]

I always pull my batteries out of my hunting stuff when not in use..
Expensive lesson

 

[Hatrick]

Tough lesson. I can't believe they can't make a battery that doesn't leak. It's a problem with every battery powered device.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Ouch! That sucks. I seem to have more and more issues with alkaline batteries these days. I basically refuse to use them in anything of value, and as Tom stated, always remove them when not being used.

We've destroyed some expensive test equipment at work because they refuse to purchase some $10 lithium batteries.

 

[westexhunt]

Kestrel instructions warned against anything but lithium, and I had even been removing the lithium for storage. Just got left in my range box and forgotten.

 

[Korhil78]

Yup…I had that happen to me as well. But with a cheaper model. After that I went to lithium for everything.