subigo Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 I am just wondering if this is normal. I have an etrex venture and yesterday I was out in about 10 degrees. I am not sure if it has to do with batteries getting cold or what, but it slowed way down. It would take like 2 seconds to switch between screens. It works fine now, I am just wondering if that is bad for it. I couldnt find anything about it in the manual. Quote Link to comment
+The Weasel Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 I am just wondering if this is normal. I have an etrex venture and yesterday I was out in about 10 degrees. I am not sure if it has to do with batteries getting cold or what, but it slowed way down. It would take like 2 seconds to switch between screens. It works fine now, I am just wondering if that is bad for it. I couldnt find anything about it in the manual. It is VERY much normal!! I try to keep mine in my coat as much as possible Quote Link to comment
+Halden Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 They are not big fans of the cold. From the batteries to the LCD screens not many of the parts are designed for the cold. Quote Link to comment
+Ox Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 My iFinder has no troubles in the cold. I did not detect a change in performace from 70 degrees (home in FL) and 25 degrees (X-Mas in KY). Quote Link to comment
quimbly Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 My Geko's the same, gets a bit sluggish when it's around zero C. Still works though, and I don't see much impact on battery life. My digital camera seems far more affected by cold, the battery life just plummets in the cold, then revives if you warm it up again. A bit annoying since the camera uses a rechargable battery which you can't easily replace in the field, but the GPSr could be revived by cheap replacement batteries. Quote Link to comment
+buck09 Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 Quite normal - the screen on your GPS unit it a LCD - liquid crystal display. Like most liquids, they tend to move a bit slower in lower temperatures. I just got my first GPS on Sunday, so Monday night I took it out in -9F (-20F windchill). I was out walking for about 45 minutes and after about 35 minutes my batteries were near dead. When the unit warmed back up, I had plenty of juice in my batteries again... The moral of the story if to keep the unit in an inside pocket when navigating in cold weather. (And keep spare batteries warm ;-) ) Quote Link to comment
+pnew Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 (edited) Hey believe it or not the same thing happpened to me down here in Texas (of all places) Me and another cacher set out early for a day of caching and at our first stop I think it was about 31 degrees with a nice cold wind. (Thats phreakin cold for here! ). I made a 90 degree angle turn and to my surprise my direction arrow didn't follow me until 5 seconds later. I thought it was the LCD display beginning to freeze in place or something (I have a Magellan MG) Edited January 7, 2004 by pnew Quote Link to comment
+radioscout Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 The good old NiCd accumulators are still the best choice if you have to use batteries at very low temperatures. NiMH and Li-Ion don't like low temperatures. Some years ago I had to test an repair electronic devices with had to be used at very low temperatures. The battery compartment could be removed and connected by a cable so the user could keep the batteries warm unter his coat. Why not building such a cable and adaptor for your GPSr? This won't make it faster (as stated by buck09 the LCD gets slow in the cold) but your batteries will last longer. Quote Link to comment
+EraSeek Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Use lithium batteries. They are the best choice for cold weather. Quote Link to comment
+radioscout Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Off course, Li batteries are great, but they are very expensive. Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 liquid crystal displays can freeze. So, it is best to protect it against cold as much as possible. Keep it in your pocket alot, don't leave it in a cold car etc. Quote Link to comment
+Poindexter Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 The material in the display will not freeze until temp's approach -60°F Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 They get really slow around 0 though. I figure it can't be particularly good for them. Quote Link to comment
+Poindexter Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Actually, the liquid crystal material doesn't really freeze but once below 32°F the alignment of the crystal rods becomes very slow and gets slower as the temp drops even further. This in itself does not cause any damage to the display. The damage occurs when the rate of temperature change is too fast and mechanical damage happens due to expansion/contraction of the glass panes and the bonding material that holds it all together. Equipment with LCD's that are meant to be outside in the cold all the time actually have heating elements attached to the displays to keep them from getting sluggish. Quote Link to comment
+carleenp Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Interesting info. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
Bifter Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Heres a phenomenom All you fine folk are talking bout low tempretures and this kinda thing I have a basic etrex and i'm pretty sure the garmin website boasts a temperature range of -20 to +50 or something close to this!!!! Quote Link to comment
+Poindexter Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 That's probably in celcius and thats just the range that's warranted, not what it could actually survive. Quote Link to comment
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