Batteries???

July 11, 2004

For everyone using a Garmin Etrex, or any GPS with AA batteries... which bateries last longer? I use "Heavy Duty" bateries and they don't seem to last long at all...

22k · July 11, 2004

I find that the heavy duty ones just don't cut it. I use the energizers (Both rechargable and non). I use the cheapo's for my FRS.

Edit: Just noticed the forum. I never use unusual batteries

Edited July 11, 2004 by Elf Danach

July 11, 2004

I've been thinking of buying or "investing" in the name brand rechargeble bateries and buy a charger for them... But lets face it They aren't cheap

LoL But, i guess in the end, buying chepo's forever is going to get pricy after a while... hehe

July 11, 2004

Duracell Ultra. I use them for GPS, Camera and a few other devices. They have a nice long life. When not availabe I use a couple of different types of rechargables.

July 11, 2004

I use Duracell "Rechargable Accu" with 2050 mAh in my V and Talkabout and they have a long life, plus they recharge in 30 min

3.1k · July 11, 2004

In all honesty the ones that seem to last the longest for me are those Kirklands they sell at CostCo.

July 11, 2004

I got a MH-C401FS 100 Minute Cool Battery Charger with the powerex 2300mAH batteries & I love it! It has fast & trickle charge settings for AA's as well as AAA's & comes with a power adapter for the car. Even on the fast setting, the batteries do not get hot. & best of all, it charges each battery individually! I've found that the 2300's that now come with the charger last just as long as alkalines - 12 hours in my power hungry marigold. The charger with batteries is under $50 now. goto Thomas distributing for more info.

24.7k · July 11, 2004

I use a Maha charger and have finally started wearing out my first batch of NiMH batteries. I had 1600mah, 1800man and just upgraded to 2300mah Everedies. The 2300mah batteries last noticable longer than the old ones. I'm not sure I ever noticed a difference between teh 1600 and the 1800 ones.

July 11, 2004

I am just starting to look at some rechargeables...but for now Duracell all the way! For me, the energizer bunny dies to often and the eveready cat looses his 9 lives too quickly.

July 11, 2004

I was using 2300 mAh NiMHs for a while, but they just didn't cut it. Regular Energizer alkaline cells will last almost a whole day in my Vista. I bought the super-deluxe 36-piece mega pack from home depot for $12. It has proven to be more effective than constantly switching out the NiMHs which go dead in a couple hours.

July 11, 2004

Whatever AAs are cheapest. Usually Walgreens or Walmart.

1k · July 12, 2004

I'm afraid to use cheap batteries in my GPS. I have tried using cheap batteries for my sons toys and they leaked way too easy. I could never trust them in expensive electronics. The cheapest batteries I will buy are Ray-O-Vacs, but usually buy Duracells or Energizers. For me I usually spend between $6-8 for an 8 pack of either brand and I'll get a good 40 hours of use out of them. To me, thats money well spent and I don't have to worry about them leaking.

Kar

1.2k · July 12, 2004

I use almost empty batteries.

I always forgot to charge them...

1.9k · July 12, 2004

I generally use 1800NiMHs & carry duracells just in case.

The NiMHs last approx 16 hours in my 60CS which is fantastic.#

Edited to add

I also have a charger that will recharge the duracells or any other normal battery and give me another 6-8 hours out of em

Edited July 12, 2004 by Cave Troll & Joan

July 12, 2004

We used Radio Shack brand rechargebles for just about everything a long time ago. We stopped when my dad cut the D-cell in half, only to find a C-cell on the inside. :unsure:

July 12, 2004

We stopped when my dad cut the D-cell in half

You must have a really cool dad!

:unsure:

1.4k · July 13, 2004

I am using the MAHA 2200 mah Hi-MH batteries. In my Garmin 60CS, they seem to go 20 hours or more. That is more than enough for me - I can't hike 20 hours without a recharge myself!

July 13, 2004

We stopped when my dad cut the D-cell in half

You must have a really cool dad!

Yup. :unsure: He is a GEO-Dad

July 13, 2004

Thanks all you Dur@cell, Evere@dy, R@yovac customers!!!!

You all are helping keep my dad's job at an Ohio steel mill that makes the metal casings for those batts!!!!

(I felt ashamed buying rechargables, knowing that it doesn't help the mill any! And I sure as heck won't buy any of those generic Jap batteries - foriegn battery, foreign steel, foreign PROFIT !!!)

I use & like R@yovac Max, personally, although I think Dur@cell has(/had) a policy that if the battery ever leaked in a device, the company would replace the batts and the device.

BTW, all you hunters, keep using R3mington ammo (they do casings for them too).

Oops... showing my age, I mean 3nergizer, not evere@dy - are they even around anymore?

Edited July 13, 2004 by TruFinds

July 13, 2004

I'm afraid to use cheap batteries in my GPS. I have tried using cheap batteries for my sons toys and they leaked way too easy. I could never trust them in expensive electronics. The cheapest batteries I will buy are Ray-O-Vacs, but usually buy Duracells or Energizers. For me I usually spend between $6-8 for an 8 pack of either brand and I'll get a good 40 hours of use out of them. To me, thats money well spent and I don't have to worry about them leaking.

Kar

Yer gettin ripped off. I got the 36 pack of energizer AAs at home depot for $12. Maybe $13. The 24 pack is also available there, for $9 or so.

If you buy batteries at walmart or somewhere in the 8 pack you are going to pay a much higher unit price.

1k · July 13, 2004

Yer gettin ripped off. I got the 36 pack of energizer AAs at home depot for $12. Maybe $13. The 24 pack is also available there, for $9 or so.

Trust me...If I seen them priced like that here, I'd be all over them like flies on sh*t! Every once in awhile I'll find the 24pk of Energizers in the supermarket for $9, otherwise its normal price is around $16.

<rant> I try to avoid Home Depot as much as possible, they have closed down so many knowledgeable and cheap mom & pop hardware stores and its still not enough for them. Every time I turn around they are building another one and their prices are not that good considering the amount of volume they move.</rant>

Kar

1.1k · July 13, 2004

Energizer lithiums - the blue and silver ones - last noticeably longer than alkalines. They run about $10 for a four pack.

1.1k · July 13, 2004

I use energizer rechargeables.

As far as alkys go, Ray o vacs. They won't last as long as duracells, but as far as I can tell, they are cheaper. Not just less expensive, but cost less for a given time period.

5.9k · July 13, 2004

Energizer lithiums - the blue and silver ones - last noticeably longer than alkalines. They run about $10 for a four pack.

I use those as well, but I get the four pack for $6.54 at the base commisary.

1.4k · July 13, 2004

Energizer lithiums - the blue and silver ones - last noticeably longer than alkalines. They run about $10 for a four pack.

I use those as well, but I get the four pack for $6.54 at the base commisary.

Isn't being military or retired military great???

Yep, I keep some of those in my critical rescue gear.

July 14, 2004

Energizer lithiums - the blue and silver ones - last noticeably longer than alkalines. They run about $10 for a four pack.

I use those as well, but I get the four pack for $6.54 at the base commisary.

Isn't being military or retired military great???

Yep, I keep some of those in my critical rescue gear.

If they sold those here. The cadet mini-BX sucks. But they might have them in the real BX/commissary on main side, I just haven't checked as I haven't yet depleted my stockpile of regular AA's

I also like buying cheap gas on base

5.9k · July 14, 2004

If they sold those here. The cadet mini-BX sucks. But they might have them in the real BX/commissary on main side, I just haven't checked as I haven't yet depleted my stockpile of regular AA's

I also like buying cheap gas on base

They run about $9 a four pack in the BX, and $6.54 in the commissary.

1.4k · July 15, 2004

And don't ask why... just BUY!

It does not make sense, but in this case the commissary is cheaper, even here at Ft. Bliss.

August 3, 2004

i got a panasonic rechargable thing to pull into the wall and batteries for 20$ at a wholesale club... it charges both aaa and aa batteries, came with 4 aaa and 2 aa, and i bought more aaa, since thats what my gps uses (my digital camera uses aaa so it all worked out) whenever i put charged batteries into my gps it says they only have 3/4 power, but i bring back ups and it is still so much cheaper than buying new batteries

August 3, 2004

I tried some of the energizer long life batteries (the e2 titaniums) and found to my dismay they actually didn't even last as long as a regular set, what a jip that was.

For now I just buy the super pack at the local home depot. 36 energizers for 13 bucks, not too bad a deal, and that'll keep my GPSr going, and going and going.

August 4, 2004

I was using 2300 mAh NiMHs for a while, but they just didn't cut it. Regular Energizer alkaline cells will last almost a whole day in my Vista. I bought the super-deluxe 36-piece mega pack from home depot for $12. It has proven to be more effective than constantly switching out the NiMHs which go dead in a couple hours.

NiMHs are good for about 1000 charges and then start to loose their rated capacity. If that's not your problem with the NiMH batteries then you managed to get hold of bad batteries or have a charger problem. I've used 1300, 1500, 2000, and the newer 2300mah batteries without any problems. Sure saves money in the long run!

1.5k · August 4, 2004

I was using 2300 mAh NiMHs for a while, but they just didn't cut it. Regular Energizer alkaline cells will last almost a whole day in my Vista. I bought the super-deluxe 36-piece mega pack from home depot for $12. It has proven to be more effective than constantly switching out the NiMHs which go dead in a couple hours.

NiMHs are good for about 1000 charges and then start to loose their rated capacity. If that's not your problem with the NiMH batteries then you managed to get hold of bad batteries or have a charger problem. I've used 1300, 1500, 2000, and the newer 2300mah batteries without any problems. Sure saves money in the long run!

And the long run is actually a fairly short hike!

Less than $10 for a set of 4 at Walmart, even cheaper online. (I've seen 24 batteries for $30).

Compare that to a set of Duracells at 7-11!

August 7, 2004

Ihave been using Energizer Lithiums in my Garmin V with good results.

August 7, 2004

non re-charge duracell

re-charge panasonic nimh 2100mah

both work well for me, in frs and gps

August 7, 2004

Im about to try an experiment. Im thinking that I may be able to use the lithium batts from my flashlight (surefire). When they get depleted Ill see if they may still have enough power to give a little time to GPSr. I need to rig up a cable for external power to a battery holder.

1.9k · August 7, 2004

In all honesty the ones that seem to last the longest for me are those Kirklands they sell at CostCo.

those batterie suck a**

i buy duracell at costco

AA 28pack $10

AAA 24pack $10

Edited August 7, 2004 by ralann

August 8, 2004

I had a large stash of AA Alkaline batteries that serve me well. I have some rechargables as well but haven't used them "yet" in the GPS.

I have bunny power. They keep going and going and then poof, they die.

2.6k · August 9, 2004

I have a Maha recharger and a variety of rechargable batteries. I top them up the night before a caching session, which isn't really good for them...but I reckon they'll fall to pieces long before I use up all the recharges in them.

My Significant Other is a battery fanatic (yes, there are many forms of geekery). I phoned him up from the store to ask if a particular brand was any good, because I was about to buy them. "dadgum!" he said, "you've just ruined your birthday surprise!" He's such a romantic.

August 11, 2004

For what it matters, a friend of mine did a battery test as part of a college study. They found that the Kirkland batteries lasted longer than any others they tested.

August 16, 2004

Where can I get a 8 pack of duracell for $6-$8?!?!?!?!?! Here in Barrie, Ontario a 4 pack of duracells cost $5.99! :anibad:

August 26, 2004

I say, buy a cigarette adapter for your gps and then buy what ever battery you want. this will extend the life of your battery's greatly.

August 26, 2004

I have a garmin e trex and use a car adapter and powerex nimh 2.2 amphour rechargables w/ maha recharger. ( the charger has a car adpter also) for geocaching and search and rescue.

Edited August 26, 2004 by Verde SAR dog

August 28, 2004

I personally now prefer:

I've been on the same set for close to 25hrs+ (just an estimate), and they still show full charge on my GPSMAP 60CS.

1.6k · August 28, 2004

I use what ever is lying around the house, usually duracell ultra or energizer.

August 28, 2004

I found this article helpful. Was an interesting read.

Batteries

:blink:

1.2k · August 31, 2004

In all honesty the ones that seem to last the longest for me are those Kirklands they sell at CostCo.

Us too. Not much difference between them and higher priced batteries.

August 31, 2004

I have the duracell nihm rechargeable 2100 in my sportrak color. works great. also use sanyo nihm 2200 in it too , I got those with my digital camera but the small 2 aa recharge for the sanyo's seems to condition them too for the longest life. plus I can just slip it in my pack for on the go.

September 5, 2004

I am also a recent fan of the Energizer Lithiums. They do last considerably longer. Other points in favor of lithium batteries are a long shelf life (not that useful if you geocache a lot, but they will keep their full charge up to 10 years when stored), and they are fairly immune to the cold (definitely useful in my neck of the woods for geocaching during the winter).

Downside of course is price, they cost roughly 3 times as much as regular Energizers or Duracells.

September 18, 2004

I use the Energizer recargeable unit. It takes only 15 minutes to charge 4AA's. This way I always have fresh batteries in the unit, and a spare set in my pocket.

September 18, 2004

non rechargeable - kirkland

rechargeable - panasonic for my toys

powerizer rechargeables for the kids toys

olympus rechargables for my camera (came with the camera)

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