Batteries

Downwindtracker2

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I have a handy Chinese electronic caliper , large display , three way. It eats batteries, they never really turn off. See AvE vids. I know I should have bought a Mitutoyo , but around here they are $250. So I try to have a pack of batteries beside it. The last time I bought batteries, they were a dollar store purchase, Sunbeam brand. Even if it was only a few days, it seemed the battery was dead. This is ridiculous. This time I bought a pack of Energizers. At least the # is easy to remember, 357

If I'm half **** serious I use a dial caliper, if real serious, I mike it.
 
One of the problems with the calipers that remember their zero is they need to stay on to keep track of their position. I measured the current draw at 200 microamps, on or off. For calipers that I use infrequently, I pull the battery.

There is a difference between the dollar store variety and the name brands. I use the Energizer 357's as well and typically have an in-service life of around two months. The data sheet for the Energizer 357 states a typical service life of 150 mAh. The EPX76 has slightly better discharge characteristics with a flatter discharge curve and higher capacity. An LR44 will also work but has only 60% of the capacity of a n EPX76.
 
I have to put in a good word for the iGaging Absolute Origin Calipers. It was ordered on EBAY about two years ago and I use it a lot and
the battery has yet to be replaced. Sometimes I find it left on for undetermined periods of time. It uses a 3 volt CR2032 lithium battery.
Mine is a six inch version and at present they are available for just under $40. It's nicely crafted as well.
 
I have a 8" solar digital. got it after fighting dead batteries for a year.
The solar is great as long as the lights are on. Not so much in dim light.
 
This is a documented problem. Having said that, an offshore caliper I bought more recently does not eat batteries & operates much smoother than my older gen offerings. So its the old crap shoot syndrome of 'I wonder what I will get in the box?'. They need a new certification spec like 'EB' (eat battery' and 'NEB' (no eat battery). Along with those nice suitable for framing inspection sheets stamped & initialed by some very apparently important people on the factory floor. lol
 
Several years ago my wife purchased one of those inexpensive digital calipers and gave it to me for my birthday. It works great and is quite accurate, but it does eat up batteries whether it is getting used or not. So, most of the time I use my dial calipers instead, I've got some Mitutoyo and some from Scherr-Tumico. Every now an then I put a battery in the digital one and use it, making sure she sees me using it, just to keep her happy. When I am done with it, the battery gets removed so that it lasts a while.
 
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I've got a cheap Nikon camera that eats double As like pup-a-roni sticks. I take 'em out.
What gets me is when the device has an internal minimum voltage limit below which it won't run even if the batts still have some life left.
Argg.
 
I have 3 different calipers. I'll second the igaging as not eating up batteries as badly. I buy bulk import by the dozen really cheap off of ebay and have seen no significant difference in longevity overall using name brand or imports. The imports are really cheap so it's not the cost. It's more of a hassle to change it out when you're in the middle of something and don't want to have the display flashing (like mine does when the battery gets low)..
 
I have a number of digital calipers no namers, Mitutoyo, electronic watches, Igauge dro's, and I only ever use dollar store cells. I get excellent service from them. I have some lithium primary coin cells that I purchased a few years ago. Before using them I check the V and it is 3.3v min. The alkalines are over 1.5v... no load of course.

Perhaps our Canadian Dollar stores are better? Don't think so :).

David
 
This tells me I'm going to be careful buying. I've got a HF special; Pittsburg 6 inch; that I've had for at least a couple of years.
Still has the original LR44 battery. And always matches my Starrett mike. BUT I've got an older one that flashes random numbers
when you turn it on - totally useless - until I can figure out what to do with it. I hate throwing away tools!

Jim Korman
 
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