oh man don't you just love if when those alkalines leak into the electronics !

my now almost 30 year old Peltor's !

Yeah. My condolences.

Do NOT, repeat NOT, leave batteries in gadgets when not in use for a long time.

Use Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, far best out there. Leakproof construction. There is also another brand/type close or similar in performance but I can't remember.

We use only this in expensive equipment.

Jiri

For my Chorno and target camera I built I made adapters so I can use a 12v batteries so I don't need those 9 volt and aa batteries. Granted this won't work with some things but work well with the things they do work with.
Leo