Does your avalanche transceiver, GPS, headlamp, personal locator beacon or other electronic device use AA batteries to obtain power? Well, here is a little tip that can save you a few bucks, as 6-volt lantern batteries can sell for the same price as AA’s, yet provide much more juice hidden inside. Granted, rechargeable batteries are the “green-est” solution, but many electronics aren’t designed to work with the inconsistent power transmission they often provide. And yeah, it’s pretty hard to find lightweight lithium lantern batteries, but hey, nothing is perfect.
Disclaimer…I haven’t really tried this one yet, so please check back if you dig in to
a lantern battery to see what’s inside. Maybe be a little careful while doing so. 😉
a lantern battery to see what’s inside. Maybe be a little careful while doing so. 😉
this guy says this video is bogus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D13cvypYDI
No, HERE’s the real deal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWI9rw9y2Pw&feature=related
party poopers!!!
and i was looking forward to that TetonAT lawsuit because of battery acid burns. 🙂
I want those minutes of my life back. In return I’ll give you the next level battery hack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_8n2Qgguto) and the short news clip about when the energizer bunny was arrested for battery (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJYytETcHxk).
Get it?
video is from “gagfilms”. not real.
helifree…that was pretty funny and appropriate. thanks.
I’ve heard from a few people much more proficient than myself that you should never use rechargeable batteries in a transceiver. You should also never use the fancy energizer or duracells, just the plain old regular ones. Remember, 5 bucks for new batteries for your transceiver a few times a year is a lot cheaper than being dead. Everyone be safe out there!
Dude watch out.
don’t be giving people such shitty ideas. You are still in the USA …people can most probably successfully sue you when their transciever fails due to something like that.
lithium batts are no go in tranceivers,they have slightly higher voltage than alkalines,and will fry the electronics. tracker replaced mine,and warned me against using liths.
BozeTof wrote: I’ve heard from a few people much more proficient than myself that you should never use rechargeable batteries in a transceiver. You should also never use the fancy energizer or duracells, just the plain old regular ones. Remember, 5 bucks for new batteries for your transceiver a few times a year is a lot cheaper than being dead. Everyone be safe out there!”
You’re probably right about rechargeable batteries. It’s likely that they have less storage density than aklkalines. On the other hand if you recharged them frequently they would always be fresh. There is more than one type of rechargeable and some may be better than others.
In the USA there aren’t really any “plain old regular ones” because all of the AA batteries you can buy are alkaline cells. In some place like Mexico you can buy old-fashioned carbon batteries. Premium batteries like Energizers or Duracells are probably not much better than cheap ones but even if they are, you SHOULD use them because you want your beacon not to fail.
Lithium cells last many times longer in some electronic devices such as blue tooth keyboards and cameras than alkaline cells but they are quite expensive. I’m surprised that a brand like Tracker would not be compatible with them but if KB says that they warned him against them, it’s probably true. It would be interesting to look at the sites of the transceiver manufacturers to see what they have to say about this.
Trying to save a tiny amount of money seems foolish in a device as important as your transceiver.
Tracker manual, pg. 4, Disclaimer:
“Do not use rechargeable, lithium…or any other non-alkaline battery.”
Mammut Pulse: latest software update allows it to be used with lithium batteries, don’t know about the element.