Rechargeable AA batteries

Xtreme · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 20, 2005 Posts: 10

Greetings:

I´m a newbie on this GPS thing. I bought a Magellan SporTrack Map, the european version, just to orient myself when ride bike, and hike by rough country :o . First i want to buy the Garmin eTrex, but everybody said to buy a Cartographic GPS rather than a non cartographic 8O . I follow their advices and bought this, i think for the use i will give to im, its enought. By the way; i´m also going to "explore" the GeoCaching hobbie, because it looks very cool 8).
My question is: can i use rechargeable NiMh bateries on im??? This receiver runs out of bateries very quickly :x.

P.S=Sorry the bad english, but i live in Portugal, and i dont write english very often Embarassed

"Not all those who wander are lost..."

J.R.R. Tolkien

Pocketgps · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

Hello Xtreme

Pocketgps · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:29 pm Post subject:

Hello Xtreme

This is the type i was reffering too

http://www.greatdigitaldeals.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=8

Regards

PocketGps

Xtreme · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 20, 2005 Posts: 10

Thanks

I´ve got 1800 mAh, 1600 mAh and 1100 mAh, all of them are NiMH type :D. I wil try the 1800, but if the duration doesn´t pass the 10 hours, i will buy 2400 mAh.

"Not all those who wander are lost..."

J.R.R. Tolkien

AlfGulford · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 27, 2004 Posts: 22

Just another vote for the NiMHs. I use the Energizer 2300mAh batteries exclusively and they work great in both my Meridian and digital camera.

Considering how many 'throw-away' batteries they replace they're actually dirt cheap.

Alf

yearnslow · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:50 pm Post subject:

how long do the 2400 last alf?

Xtreme · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 20, 2005 Posts: 10

Greetings

Today i´ve put for the first time NiMH batteries on my SporTrak Map :D . They were fresh charged, and the voltimeter acused 1.45 v, i know that a regular non rechargeable AA Alkaline batterie have more than 1.50 v :o , and a NiMH have 1.20 V minimum and a 1.48 V maximum (i never reached more than that). The "problem" is that the power graphic show that they are full only at 90% aprox. I believe this apens because of the "internal voltimeter" sees that this batterie have less current that a normal fresh new alkalines. I´m using GP 1800 mAh, but i´m planing to buy 2300 or 2400 mAh Wink

.
If i put a high capacity (2300 mAh or more) bateries, does the power situation reach is full capacity:?: Question

(100%)

Sory the bad English

Daniel

Pocketgps · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

Hello Daniel

The power reading may not get above 90% even with higher capacity batteries, its reading the voltage, which when switched on is lower than the alkaline batteries as you know.

I would try your system out to see how long it lasts on the 1800mAh batteries, then add about 20-25% for the 2300mAh batteries.

The problem with recharable batteries is there lower voltage as this means that the current drawn is higher than with alkaline.

Regards

PocketGps

AlfGulford · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 27, 2004 Posts: 22

yearnslow-

Fully charged, 2300mAh batts will keep my Meridian Color going full time for at least 12 hours with limited backlight use. I've never tried to go longer. The best advice I got from a GPS class was to only turn the unit on occasionally - as needed to get your bearings. Of course, then you don't have the fun of watching the terrain scroll down the screen or have a full track to download, but the batteries will last much longer. I also always carry a set of spare batteries.

There are two disadvantages to the rechargeables that I'm aware of. One is using them in two-way radios. At 1.2 volts the radios don't have quite as much range as 1.5 volt throw-away batteries. But that's OK - I'm still saving a bunch of money.

The other is something I read about in the technical specs webpage of the battery manufacturer (3 or 4 years ago, if it's still accurate). At that time they were saying that the charge diminishes by something like 1/2 to 1% per day. So over the course of a month you might lose 25% of the charge. No problem if you plan ahead. Just be aware of the possibility.

Alf

bobhaack · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 28, 2005 Posts: 3

I use the rechargeable NiMH batteries very successfully in my Magellan Meridian Platinum gps receiver. I use the 2300ma capacity batteries and am not afraid to use the backlighting...they have plenty of capacity. Good luck with your gps. Best Regards...Bob//

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