AG13 Batteries

Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 12:03 PM

I have a small collection of dolls, mint-in-box. One of them is a singing doll, press her belly and she sings (fifteen-second recording). I've had her since late 2013/early 2014. I checked her box, it says she uses three AG13 batteries.

What is the shelf life of AG13 batteries? Do AG13 batteries corrode? If they don't corrode, I'm fine with leaving them in her. If they do corrode, I have to take the doll out of her box so that she won't be ruined. In doing so, she is no longer mint-in-box.

I rarely press her belly so her batties should be good in that regard. I tested her last night and she still sings. Does anyone have knowledge about these batteries?

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 12:14 PM

The AG13 Batteries shown are alkaline so when they go bad corrosion is likely.
Posted by: Janysboy

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 12:51 PM

I have a small multi tool with a light which uses at 13 batteries. I have had it for several years and never saw signs of corrosion
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 01:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Janysboy
I have a small multi tool with a light which uses at 13 batteries. I have had it for several years and never saw signs of corrosion

The batteries will not corrode before their expiration date since I rarely activate her singing mode. I'm concerned about when they do expire.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 01:22 PM

The bottom of the box has the technical information. I hope you can see it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/68105287@N03/10063420586/in/photostream/

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Janysboy

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 05:21 PM

Sorry, the link isn't working for me, use your best judgement.
Posted by: chaosmagnet

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 05:23 PM

All primary (non-rechargeable) batteries can corrode. I don't have data on rechargeable batteries corroding -- I've never seen it. But they have their own issues.

Lithium primary batteries are very unlikely to corrode, even past their expiration dates. NB: lithium primary batteries should be matched in brand/model/state-of-charge before installing in any device that takes more than one at a time, particularly high-drain devices. The easy way to do this is to only use new batteries from the same package. Badly mismatched lithium primary batteries can "vent with flame" which is to be avoided.

Alkaline batteries will corrode, it's just a matter of when. If the battery powered device is valuable or special, I would recommend storing it with batteries removed.
Posted by: wileycoyote

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 05:55 PM

Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
All primary (non-rechargeable) batteries can corrode. I don't have data on rechargeable batteries corroding -- I've never seen it. But they have their own issues.

Lithium primary batteries are very unlikely to corrode, even past their expiration dates. NB: lithium primary batteries should be matched in brand/model/state-of-charge before installing in any device that takes more than one at a time, particularly high-drain devices. The easy way to do this is to only use new batteries from the same package. Badly mismatched lithium primary batteries can "vent with flame" which is to be avoided.

Alkaline batteries will corrode, it's just a matter of when. If the battery powered device is valuable or special, I would recommend storing it with batteries removed.


yes, this

i've had ag13 (and many other button batteries) corrode on me, in or out of date.

and yes, even had a AAA Eveready Ultimate (primary) Lithium leak on me. i called the maker and they admitted that lithium are less likely to leak, but sometimes do.

so follow CM's advice: remove all batteries, or check for leaks often (if i leave batts in something, i check monthly)
Posted by: Russ

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 06:23 PM

Battery corrosion is the primary reason I switched to NiMH rechargeable batteries wherever I could. I’ve lost flashlights, clocks and a weather station to alkaline battery corrosion. A few devices require 1.5 volts so there are still a few alkalines here, but as things are replaced, I look for gear that accepts NiMH AA & AAA.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 06:52 PM

Like Russ, I've lost gear to alkaline battery corrosion. All my AAA, AA, and C batteries are NiMH. I abhor alkalines.

I also employ lithium-ion batts, although they do have their problems. Lithium-ion ignition is a leading suspect as the cause of the Conception dive boat disaster.

As far as i know, NiMH batteries, charged and used in anything like a safe manner, are quite reliable..

Short circuit any battery and you may well have problems....
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 07:13 PM

Originally Posted By: Janysboy
Sorry, the link isn't working for me, use your best judgement.

Try it again.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 07:30 PM

Originally Posted By: wileycoyote
i've had ag13 (and many other button batteries) corrode on me, in or out of date.

If the doll still sings, is that a sure sign that her batteries have not corroded? Or do I open her box, negating being MIB, to be sure the doll is protected from corrosion?

Originally Posted By: wileycoyote
so follow CM's advice: remove all batteries, or check for leaks often (if i leave batts in something, i check monthly)

I can test her once a month, which I did last night; that is the most I can do without opening her box.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Russ

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 08:00 PM

If you test the doll and she fails, the damage may have been done.

Here’s a thought: Can a battery that’s just starting to leak still function enough to appear okay? Then a month you check her again and she fails but it’s too late, the contacts are already corroded. You can do the safe thing and remove the batteries now, or keep her new in box a bit longer at the risk of damage which you can’t fix.

My recommendation: open the box gently, remove the batteries, check to ensure there is no corrosion and then place her back in the box. Your call.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 08:15 PM

I believe you are right.

In case anyone is wondering, the lowest price on eBay for the same doll, MIB, is $239.00. The original retail price was $29.95, six years ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Disney-Its-a-Sm...UEAAOSwai1Z589J

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 08:51 PM

Wow! A valuable doll! Probably I'd take the batteries out but that's just me.
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 08:56 PM

Thank you, everyone, for your help. I opened her box and removed her batteries, just in time. The batteries began to corrode; not enough to damage the doll. I put her back in with little evidence that the box was ever opened.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Phaedrus

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/12/19 09:18 PM

Whew, just in time! Even opened it's better than being damaged.
Posted by: haertig

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 12:36 AM

Alkaline batteries don't typically corrode when they're sitting there in the package, unused. That's why all the packages you buy have long expiration dates on them, like ten years in the future. But once you start using them, even a little bit, then watch out. The worst thing you can do is partially use an alkaline battery then leave it sit in your device. Almost guaranteed to corrode in that case.
Posted by: hikermor

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 12:42 AM

Not only will alkalines corrode and ruin your gear, they are also considerably more expensive than NiMH batteries which can be recharged something like 500 times. Just do the math....
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 12:46 AM

What I should have done was check her once a month by activating her singing mode? I don't believe that would have made a difference either way since there was no way for me to check her batteries without unsealing her box.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 12:48 AM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
Not only will alkalines corrode and ruin your gear, they are also considerably more expensive than NiMH batteries which can be recharged something like 500 times. Just do the math....

That would do me no good since there was no way for me to change her batteries without opening her box.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: Eugene

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 12:32 PM

Originally Posted By: haertig
Alkaline batteries don't typically corrode when they're sitting there in the package, unused. That's why all the packages you buy have long expiration dates on them, like ten years in the future. But once you start using them, even a little bit, then watch out. The worst thing you can do is partially use an alkaline battery then leave it sit in your device. Almost guaranteed to corrode in that case.


I've picked up a box of batteries from the shelf at home depot and saw some already corroded and were no where near the expiration date.

I've also had some crappy NiMH corrode (Radio Shack and Titanium brand).

So I'd say its possible;e for any battery to have issues.
Posted by: wileycoyote

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 03:04 PM

Originally Posted By: Jeanette_Isabelle
What I should have done was check her once a month by activating her singing mode?


simply turning on a device isn't enough.

you must visually check the batteries themselves for signs of leakage.

rule: alkaline batteries leak eventually
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 03:18 PM

Originally Posted By: wileycoyote
you must visually check the batteries themselves for signs of leakage.

Again, there was no way I could do that without opening her box.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: hikermor

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 03:24 PM

You might consider speculating in a commodity that is less fragile than collector dolls allegedly still in their original boxes. knives, for instance - they at least don't use batteries....
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 03:43 PM

Originally Posted By: hikermor
knives, for instance - they at least don't use batteries....

True. Knives, however, are not as pretty to look at.

Jeanette Isabelle
Posted by: gonewiththewind

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 04:28 PM

You haven't seen my knives!
Posted by: Jeanette_Isabelle

Re: AG13 Batteries - 09/13/19 06:23 PM

I don't know. It would be hard to beat a cute redhead in a Tower of London guard uniform.

Perhaps I should have gotten the cute can-can dancer as well.

Jeanette Isabelle