Lugwalker Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I've recently purchased a GPSmap64s and am wondering how essential is it to choose the correct setting? Here are the choices: Alkaline Lithium Traditional NiMH Precharged NiMH Thank you. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Essential is you want the battery meter to work. Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Essential is you want the battery meter to work. Yes, I'm aware of the battery meter/guage at all times while using a gps. I suppose what I really should have asked is why are there different settings for different batteries? Why does the gps care what type of battery it's getting the power from? Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 The different batteries have different voltage profiles and the GPS needs to know in order to provide a correct battery meter reading. Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 The different batteries have different voltage profiles and the GPS needs to know in order to provide a correct battery meter reading. I see. Thank you. Since I use rechargeable NiMH batteries I suppose that I should choose Traditional NiMH rather than Precharged NiMH? Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 It depends which exact model of batteries you are using. The "pre-charged" ones are marketed as such or as "low self discharge". Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 I'm using Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries 1.2 volt 2400mAh Quote Link to comment
+Viajero Perdido Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Eneloop = low-self-discharge = precharged Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Eneloop = low-self-discharge = precharged Thank you, everyone. That answers my question. Quote Link to comment
+FrankenHipster Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Also if you set the GPS for NiMH and put alkaline batteries in, they might Go into recharge if you plug it in with the batteries installed. Not good. Quote Link to comment
+Mineral2 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Well, I've found that the "precharged" profile isn't so accurate, and using the regular NiMH for eneloops gives a better indication of battery level. 1 Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Also if you set the GPS for NiMH and put alkaline batteries in, they might Go into recharge if you plug it in with the batteries installed. Not good. The charging is activated by a switch in the battery compartment, not the battery setting. When the switch is depressed the option to select battery type is not available. Edited April 28, 2016 by Red90 1 Quote Link to comment
+FrankenHipster Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Also if you set the GPS for NiMH and put alkaline batteries in, they might Go into recharge if you plug it in with the batteries installed. Not good. The charging is activated by a switch in the battery compartment, not the battery setting. When the switch is depressed the option to select battery type is not available. Nice safety feature. Didn't realize it as I have a standalone charger. Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 Also if you set the GPS for NiMH and put alkaline batteries in, they might Go into recharge if you plug it in with the batteries installed. Not good. The charging is activated by a switch in the battery compartment, not the battery setting. When the switch is depressed the option to select battery type is not available. The switch in the battery setting is only activated if you use the expensive Garmin battery pack which is constructed to press down on the switch. Ordinary batteries, rechargeable or otherwise, won't activate the switch unless you place a thin piece of plastic in the compartment beforehand. http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Rechargeable-Battery-GPSMAP-Oregon/dp/B00B1QUF8O Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Yes, I'm aware of the battery meter/guage at all times while using a gps. I suppose what I really should have asked is why are there different settings for different batteries? Why does the gps care what type of battery it's getting the power from? Different battery types have different discharge rates. Some types have a fairly linear discharge rate over time, while others hold a more consistent voltage level and then drop more suddenly when they get close to depletion. In order for the battery meter to accurately reflect the remaining battery life, it needs to know what to expect. It won't effect the actual performance of the unit, but if the incorrect type is selected, the battery meter could show you with 2 bars left and then suddenly go dead or it could notify you that the batteries need to be changed when in reality they are still 50% full. Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 Yes, I'm aware of the battery meter/guage at all times while using a gps. I suppose what I really should have asked is why are there different settings for different batteries? Why does the gps care what type of battery it's getting the power from? Different battery types have different discharge rates. Some types have a fairly linear discharge rate over time, while others hold a more consistent voltage level and then drop more suddenly when they get close to depletion. In order for the battery meter to accurately reflect the remaining battery life, it needs to know what to expect. It won't effect the actual performance of the unit, but if the incorrect type is selected, the battery meter could show you with 2 bars left and then suddenly go dead or it could notify you that the batteries need to be changed when in reality they are still 50% full. Quote Link to comment
+BlackRose67 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Well, I've found that the "precharged" profile isn't so accurate, and using the regular NiMH for eneloops gives a better indication of battery level. I see the same thing with my Oregon 600. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 NiMH battery meters are nearly impossible to be accurate as the batteries have a very flat discharge profile. Quote Link to comment
Lugwalker Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 NiMH battery meters are nearly impossible to be accurate as the batteries have a very flat discharge profile. So what have you set your 64s to, Rob. Traditional NiMH or Precharged? Quote Link to comment
39_Steps Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 I recently bought a new bundle of Eneloop AA and AAA NiMH cells w/charger. Cells were made in Japan, and looked exactly like the Sanyo white ones of ten years ago, except with the newer Panasonic branding instead of Sanyo. I may now phase the oldest ones out of my rotation, since the new ones do seem to last longer. Manufacturing dates are stamped along the wrapper seams, just like the originals. Pre-charged seems to mean partially charged to about 70% if I remember correctly, so I would just use the normal NiMH setting if I had a Garmin 64s. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 NiMH battery meters are nearly impossible to be accurate as the batteries have a very flat discharge profile. So what have you set your 64s to, Rob. Traditional NiMH or Precharged? I haven't done any extensive testing with my 64s, but I wasn't able to see any difference between the Traditional or Precharged settings so I just leave mine on Traditional even though I'm actually using the precharged Panasonic Pro. Quote Link to comment
+Cappercaille Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Also if you set the GPS for NiMH and put alkaline batteries in, they might Go into recharge if you plug it in with the batteries installed. Not good. The charging is activated by a switch in the battery compartment, not the battery setting. When the switch is depressed the option to select battery type is not available. Not quite correct there. The switch is only used when using Garmins own double battery. If using 2 separate batteries the switch is inactive because it is not depressed. Unless you do a modification. i.e use a bit of plastic under the batteries that holds the switch down and then the batteries can be charged through the gps unit. Although the said method is a bit iffy. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Not quite correct there. What did I write that was not correct? Quote Link to comment
+FrankenHipster Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 It was I who was incorrect. Quote Link to comment
+mikeD Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I have made up two pairs of eneloop batteries using shrink tubing and small triangular wooden inserts to press on the switch. I bought some garmin precharged Barts but their capacity is not as good as the bats I have now I have contacted garmin to say their metering of the precharged is not accurate This has worked ok for over a year I have accepted the naff metering, I get well over 8 hrs The bonus is the usb charging and not having to take it all apart every time, especially as I use a soft outer case Quote Link to comment
klaszlo89 Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 I have contacted garmin to say their metering of the precharged is not accurate Have you got any response? Quote Link to comment
+ndsussex Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Well, I've found that the "precharged" profile isn't so accurate, and using the regular NiMH for eneloops gives a better indication of battery level. Quote Link to comment
+ndsussex Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I would agree with Mineral2. I use the regular NiMH setting on my 64 for pre charged batteries as the pre charged setting gives very little warning for low battery before shutting down. Quote Link to comment
+-X Posted March 27, 2018 Share Posted March 27, 2018 When charging eneloops in Garmin with button pressed down, does it ever stop charging? I’ve had mine plugged in for 12 hours and it still shows charging, although batteries show full if I take them out and put in smart charger. Quote Link to comment
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