+CacheHownds Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 What do you consider to be the best rechargeable batteries for a GPS? What milliamperage? Quote Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I've been super happy with the PowerEx Imedion 2400 mAh batteries and their 4-cell compact charger. One of the nice things about that particular charger is it charges each battery individually instead of in pairs. Quote Link to comment
+Timpat Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 My choice and recommendation is this MaHa charger with 2700 mAh PowerEx AAs. Quote Link to comment
+CacheHownds Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Do you find GPS performance affected by the type or quality of rechargeable you use? Quote Link to comment
+Viajero Perdido Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) Do you find GPS performance affected by the type or quality of rechargeable you use? No. Either it works or it doesn't. GPS is digital, batteries are analog. If you scroll back through this forum, you should find at least one long thread, maybe several, on this very topic. It comes up from time to time. EDIT: For example: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=315097 Edited April 25, 2014 by Viajero Perdido Quote Link to comment
+andyakashrek Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Do you find GPS performance affected by the type or quality of rechargeable you use? I use eneloops and maha c 9000. Regardless of what brand is chosen make sure the unit is set to operate with the correct type of battery. Performance may be affected by incorrect settings. Quote Link to comment
+larryc43230 Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Do you find GPS performance affected by the type or quality of rechargeable you use? I use eneloops and maha c 9000. Regardless of what brand is chosen make sure the unit is set to operate with the correct type of battery. Performance may be affected by incorrect settings. The setting you're referring to (on my Garmin Oregon 650 it's at Setup/System/AA Battery Type) does not affect performance, it changes the way the unit estimates and displays battery drain. --Larry Quote Link to comment
+kwcahart Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 The Maha is the best charger out there. Eneloops are really good batteries. Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I think MAHA makes the best chargers and own ALL of them. I like this one best. http://www.thomasdistributing.com/MAHA-MH-C801D-AA--AAA-Battery-ChargerbrDELUXE-8-Cell-Professional-Battery-Charger-w-Full-LCD-Display_p_2559.html I've used all the PowerX MAHA batteries and they are great but these are better : http://www.thomasdistributing.com/New-Version-Sanyo-XX-Eneloop-2500-mAh-Low-Discharge-AA-Batteries_p_2927.html Quote Link to comment
+ecanderson Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Lots of MAHA owners here, but I'd advise that a good option is the La Crosse. Just as flexible (different functions can be performed on each of the 4 slots) and treats the cells well. The 700 has dropped in price a good bit over the years, too: http://www.amazon.com/La-Crosse-Technology-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50 Quote Link to comment
+andyakashrek Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Do you find GPS performance affected by the type or quality of rechargeable you use? I use eneloops and maha c 9000. Regardless of what brand is chosen make sure the unit is set to operate with the correct type of battery. Performance may be affected by incorrect settings. The setting you're referring to (on my Garmin Oregon 650 it's at Setup/System/AA Battery Type) does not affect performance, it changes the way the unit estimates and displays battery drain. --Larry Certainly in my case I found that my runtime was better with the correct settings, all other settings unchanged, and there are other posts on the forum saying the same, but as with all things personal usage is a major factor in how long batteries last. YMMV. Quote Link to comment
+DonB Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 I think MAHA makes the best chargers and own ALL of them. I like this one best. http://www.thomasdistributing.com/MAHA-MH-C801D-AA--AAA-Battery-ChargerbrDELUXE-8-Cell-Professional-Battery-Charger-w-Full-LCD-Display_p_2559.html I've used all the PowerX MAHA batteries and they are great but these are better : http://www.thomasdistributing.com/New-Version-Sanyo-XX-Eneloop-2500-mAh-Low-Discharge-AA-Batteries_p_2927.html I have had that same charger for several years now, works great. I can't remember the model number right now but I have been thinking about buying the same charger that does all of the other size rechargeable batteries. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I just got the 64s and noticed an extra battery choice in setup. There is 'traditional NiMH' and 'precharged NiMH'. I've used Eneloops for years and never saw an option to differentiate between standard and hybrid NiMH before. What do you suppose is the difference that Garmin has you make a choice? I always thought that the runtime and drop-off etc was the same between standard and hybrid NiMH batteries. No? Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 This is interesting. I'm guessing " precharged " refers to " low discharge " like the Eneloops. Between the Eneloop and the standard NIMH ( MAHA PowerX ) there is enough difference in initial voltage that I almost never have to calibrate the electronic compass when using Eneloops and thats not always true of the standard NIMH ( using same charger, etc. ). I think its good to have the new selection available because the GPS is seeing ( voltage wise ) two slightly different batteries. Quote Link to comment
+JohnCNA Posted April 29, 2014 Share Posted April 29, 2014 This is interesting. I'm guessing " precharged " refers to " low discharge " like the Eneloops. Between the Eneloop and the standard NIMH ( MAHA PowerX ) there is enough difference in initial voltage that I almost never have to calibrate the electronic compass when using Eneloops and thats not always true of the standard NIMH ( using same charger, etc. ). I think its good to have the new selection available because the GPS is seeing ( voltage wise ) two slightly different batteries. I think I'll switch the profile to standard NiMH and see if there's a difference in behavior. I will say this; the 64s uses the very same batteries significantly faster than the eTrex 30. I'm not surprised or displeased, the 64s has a MUCH MUCH faster processor. That was my main 'gotta have' buying point. I used the same set of Eneloops in the eTrex 30 and almost never had any need to recalibrate the compass, either. I've done at least 5 or 6 battery swaps on the 64s already, and I have not seen the need to calibrate the compass each time, either. What I use as my "it's time to calibrate" metric is when I get about 25' away from GZ and stop and look. If the compass changes direction, it's time to calibrate. My logic is, as I'm walking, it's using the GPS to drive the arrow. And when I stop, it switches to the mag compass. If the mag compass doesn't agree with the GPS, the heading will jump when I stop. Is that a good way to judge? Quote Link to comment
+BAMBOOZLE Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 This is interesting. I'm guessing " precharged " refers to " low discharge " like the Eneloops. Between the Eneloop and the standard NIMH ( MAHA PowerX ) there is enough difference in initial voltage that I almost never have to calibrate the electronic compass when using Eneloops and thats not always true of the standard NIMH ( using same charger, etc. ). I think its good to have the new selection available because the GPS is seeing ( voltage wise ) two slightly different batteries. I think I'll switch the profile to standard NiMH and see if there's a difference in behavior. I will say this; the 64s uses the very same batteries significantly faster than the eTrex 30. I'm not surprised or displeased, the 64s has a MUCH MUCH faster processor. That was my main 'gotta have' buying point. I used the same set of Eneloops in the eTrex 30 and almost never had any need to recalibrate the compass, either. I've done at least 5 or 6 battery swaps on the 64s already, and I have not seen the need to calibrate the compass each time, either. What I use as my "it's time to calibrate" metric is when I get about 25' away from GZ and stop and look. If the compass changes direction, it's time to calibrate. My logic is, as I'm walking, it's using the GPS to drive the arrow. And when I stop, it switches to the mag compass. If the mag compass doesn't agree with the GPS, the heading will jump when I stop. Is that a good way to judge? I believe you are correct but again let me say in over 10 years and multiple 3-axis units I have never had to field calibrate......I understand the Etrex 30 had problems for awhile and a few times I had to field calibrate the 60 CSx but it is a 2-axis unit. Quote Link to comment
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