Rechargeable batteries

[Team Vaughan]

I just recently switched to the Energizer 2500mAh batteries form regular ones. They dont seem to last very long. Im using an Etrex Legend and I have the correct battery type selected. I charge them for the correct time but they still last only a few hours. Any suggestions? Thanks

Chris

[Cache_boppin_BunnyFuFu]

I am not 100% sure which kind I use, but I know thye are NOT the ones for cameras. Mine usually last thru a FULL day +. When you put a full charge battery in, it won’t show that way either….usually more like a little more than 3/4’s full…..and when they die?????? They DIE!!! At least you re nt tossing battereis out all the time. I have 4 sets I rotate thru and carry them with me all the time, plus a set of regualrs fer etremem back up….`cause ya never know 😉

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

I have noticed that the regular batteries have lasted longer for my E-trex. I have easily gotton a full day of caching out of a pair of batteries.

[Green Bay Paddlers]

I use the Energizer rechargables in my Meridian Gold. I’ve been very pleased with how long they’ve lasted. I could usually get a full day out of them while we were on the road out west last summer. The GPS only took 2 AA batteries. I would always charge one pair while using the other. It worked well…

[hogrod]

I use the energizer 2500mAh batteries and LOVE them. I get the same if not a little better battery life in my 60cx & legendC with those compared to regular AA’s. here’s one thing to remember, rechargeables can loose up to 1% of their charge every day they sit so you need to give them a fresh charge the night before you head out.
I also use these in my digital camera and can get 500+ pictures off one set.

another thing to look at, what kind of charger are you using? some chargers get the batteries really hot and cook them shortening their life. If your charger has a battery compartment cover remove it so the batteries stay cooler when charging.

here is one of the chargers I have that works great, batteries stay cool the entire time they are charging(comes with 4 batteries).
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4291460

[hogrod]

I did a test right after I bought the 2500mAh energizers to see how long the batteries last in my legendC and 60cx. I just turned them on and left them sit until they were dead then added up the time on the trip computer pages.

60cx with full backlighting – 10hrs
legendC with full backlighting – 14hrs

60cx without backlight – 20.5hrs
legendC without backlight – 32hrs

[Team Vaughan]

Hogrod thanks for the tips. My batteries do sometimes sit for a week after being charged before I use them. And yes my charger has a cover. As for my charger it is an Energizer charger (not the cheap one). I went out today and lost 3/4 battery life in about 2 hours. I will try charging the night before and see if it helps.

Thanks All
Chris

[EnergySaver]

First off, I use the rechargables too. But they don’t work the same as typical throw away batteries.

(1) They don’t hold their charge just sitting around, you need to put them back on the charge even if they’re not used.

(2) While the batteries you bought have a nice high amperage (current) rating, all of these types of rechargables have a lower voltage than their throw away equivilents. The problem is that many GPS receivers are designed to basically shut down when the voltage drops below a certain level, since rechargables have lower voltages to start with, then reach that point quicker … some GPS receivers have a setup setting that allows you to indicate what type of batteries you have, this helps a little as at least the power meter can give you accurate information for each type of battery.

(3) Also these batteries don’t run as long when they’re cold … but they don’t hold their charge as long when they’re warm.

[EnergySaver]

Interesting side note … the exact batteries you are dealing with (Energizer 2500mAh) seem to be getting bad reviews from users … they appear to work for a few charges, then go down hill fast.

One user indicates that his old Energizer 1600mAh batteries are actually working better after he’s recharged the 2500mAh version a few times. Another user for some reason owns 32 of the Energizer 2500mAh and has found that most of them (but not all) have this problem.

[knoffer]

I have been using rechargeable batteries for quite awhile. History goes way back to NiCad’s for Radio controlled cars. I now use NiMh’s for my GPSr’s. I currently have two sets of 4 2200 MAH’s. They are both off brands. Digital and NEXcell. As previously noted charge rates differ by charger. Some recommendations for 2200mah batteries: Standard charge rate 14-16 hours @ 170ma, Rapid charge rate 5-7 hours @ 340ma.
General charging guidelines are: Standard rates approximately 3/4 the capacity of the battery, Rapid charge 1 1/2 the capacity of the battery. You can charge them at a faster rate however battery life suffers substantially.
Chargers on the mass market can vary greatly. Make sure you have a charger that either completely shuts off when the battery is charged or better yet a charger that switches to a trickle mode. Trickle mode is a greatly reduced charging rate that you could leave a battery on it indefinitely without damaging the battery. I wouldn’t suggest leaving on this mode forever however you can.
Second advantage of the automatic trickle mode is that it tops off the battery. The battery charge curve is different by battery. Not every charger is smart enough to ideally fully charge them so they get close to max and shut off or go to trickle mode.

I’ve recently started playing with the idea of using Li Ion or Li Poly batteries and making an adapter to accept them. A single Li Ion or Li Poly is 3.6 volts. These batteries are extremely sensitive to discharge levels and by the time they should stop being used they are at around 3.0 volts. So I need to install an inline voltage monitor circuit that will disconnect them at this voltage as I believe the GPSr circuitry would still try to use them. So far it is an idea and not realized. I do think it holds merit though. I can get a Li-poly that would be of a similar package size as two AA’s and have a capacity upwards of 3500MAH. I would guess that in years to come just like cellphones, GPSr’s will switch to this technology.

[EnergySaver]

I think I read somewhere that the LiIon work better in cold weather … but I learned the hardway (with my Palm) that if you leave them in a hot car in summer they’re pretty well shot.

[Miata]

I use Energizer 2500mAh with the Energizer 10 minute charger and couldn’t be happier. My GPS III will run all day long and into the night. On the way home at night, I will turn on the backlight and run it down even farther before recharging. 😀

[ExecLink]

I love the Energizer recharables. I have many versions of them 2300, 2500 and I think a few older ones. I also have Radio Shack 1700. About 40-50 in all. My whole house runs on AA’s. I have found the Radio Shack ones die very quickly so I only use them in non-critical items. The cameras and GPS get only the Energizers. I have not noticed the limited charge effect of the 2500’s but I will keep an eye out for it. But I have noticed that they do not hold their full charge for more than a few days

It is very important to get a good quality charger. I do not use the ones that come with the batteries. It needs to measure when the battery is full to shut down to trickle mode and have over temp protection. I have a ‘1’ hour charger that has given me very long life to my batteries. Some are over 5 years old and still going. With a fast charger you can wait until the last minute to charge all of your spares until the last day so they are fresh when you hit the trail.

They are now making AAA rechargables. I tried some a few years ago and got about 30 minutes out of them. The new ones are a lot better. I have been testing a set in a caller ID box that used to suck the old ones dry in about 2 days, and these are lasting 2 months+. I hope to try them in high drain uses like flashlights soon.

– Michael

[NSLP1]

I would like to know how well the AAA work for you. I just picked up one of the $69 Foretrex wriststrap GPSr units and have though about rechargables, it even has the option to chose NiMH or Alkaline batteries being installed.

[Jeremy]

@NSLP#1 wrote:

I would like to know how well the AAA work for you. I just picked up one of the $69 Foretrex wriststrap GPSr units and have though about rechargables, it even has the option to chose NiMH or Alkaline batteries being installed.

Welcome to the Foretrex club. I use Rayovac and Energizer NiMH AAA rechargables in mine and can usually go a whole caching day, or about 10 to 12 hours, on one set of batteries. Supposedly it will go 15 hours on alkaline batteries but I have only run it on alkalines once or twice so I don’t know if this is true.

[Author]

Posts