SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Rayovac Corporation
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
                         (Title and Class of Securities)

                                   755081 10 6
                                 (CUSIP Number)



CUSIP No.    755081 10 6                           Page 2 of 6


(1)  Names of  Reporting  Person  

          Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund III, L.P.

          

(2)  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

     (a)  ___.

     (b)  _X_.

(3)  SEC Use Only

(4)  Citizenship or Place of Organization

         Delaware

Number of           (5)  Sole Voting Power -0-
Shares
Beneficially        (6)  Shared Voting Power  14,437,064
Owned by Each
Reporting           (7)  Sole Dispositive Power -0-
Person With
                    (8)  Shared Dispositive Power 14,437,064

(9)  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person - 14,437,064

(10) Check if Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares ____X______.

(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 - 53%

(12) Type of Reporting Person

         PN



CUSIP No.  755081 10 6                                 Page 3 of 6



Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:

         Rayovac Corporation

Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

         601 Rayovac Drive
         Madison, WI  53711-2492

Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:

         See Item (1) of the cover pages

Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office:

         c/o Thomas H. Lee Company
         75 State Street
         Boston, MA 02109

Item 2(c). Citizenship:

         See item (4) of cover pages

Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:

         Common Stock

Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:

         755081 10 6

Item 3.    Nature of Person Filing:

         Not applicable



CUSIP No.  437608 10 2                                 Page 3 of 6


Item 4.    Ownership:

           (a) Amount Beneficially Owned:

               See item (9) of cover pages

           (b) Percent of Class:

               See Item (11) of cover pages

           (c) Number of shares as to which such person has:

               (i)   sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                     See item (5) of cover pages
               (ii)  shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
                     See item (6) of cover pages
               (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                     See item (7) of cover pages
               (iv)  shared power to dispose or to direct the dispositon of:
                     See item (8) of cover pages

 Note:     Due to an existing arrangement among the reporting person, Thomas H. 
          Lee Equity Advisors III L.P. ("Advisors III"), and 
          THL Equity Trust III ("Trust III"), Advisors III and Trust III 
          could each be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the
          reporting person reported herein.  Advisors III and Trust III
          each disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
     
     
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of Class:

          Not Applicable

        


CUSIP No.  755081 10 6                                Page 4 of 6


Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:

         Not applicable

Item 7.  Identification  and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
         the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company:

         Not applicable

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:

         Not applicable

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group:

         Not applicable


CUSIP No.  755081 10 6                              Page 5 of 6


Item 10. Certification:

         Not applicable.



CUSIP No.  755081 10 6                                Page 6 of 6


                                    Signature

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

                          THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND III, L.P.

                          By:  THL Equity Advisors III, Limited Partnership,
                               its General Partner

                          By:  THL Equity Trust III, its General Partner


                          By:  /s/ Thomas H. Lee
                               Name:   Thomas H. Lee
                               Title:  Trustee