M&W digital verniers

Do the batteries in the M&W digital verniers deplete as quickly as the cheapo Far Eastern types?

I have a Mitutoyo version and the battery lasts for ages, but my Aldi one needs new batteries every few months.

So, I'm considering splashing out on a M&W one, but only if there are perceived advantages over the cheapies, like battery life. Machine DRO and RDG have sold hundreds, so they can't be too bad, or are folks afraid to say they have wasted their money?

Dave
The Emerald Isle

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I have had an Aldi one for several years. And for several years I have not used it. Like you I have found it eats batteries like my Italian mate eats 'da-pasta'.

I also have a budget M&W one. That ones battery life is good so far. But you can tell it's a £20 odd pound item. But they make no secret of that range being made to a price. In short I have no complaints.

Nick

Batteries do drain a minute amount over time so the only way to prolong battery life would be to remove battery after use.. for the cost of SR44 batteries is it worth removing & replacing for each use? Just switch off & keep the mic in its case.. with some rustproofing paper, works ok for me.

George.

I have used the M&W 200mm digital calipers and also a pair of the ArcEuroTrade Large Orange LCD Display calipers for over a year now at work with no sign of the battery in either flagging. The feel of both is also much closer to that of my Mitutoyo Absolute calipers than the Aldi/Lidl/eBay cheaper calipers.

Andrew.

Hello all, I bought one of the cheapo digital calipers, about £10, and the battery is still OK after nearly a year. Its also a good bit of kit too.

I was last using my Mitutoyo Absolute digital caliper about two weeks ago.

I went to use it again today and it was still switched on from the last time, display still visible as well.

I thought it had automatic shut off but apparently not.

Any way the battery in it is an LR44 (alkaline) not the silver oxide SR44.

Read into that what you will.

Len. P.

Dave did you not see the video linked to over on MEM, seems the far eastern and maybe M&W draw masses more current than Mitutoyo.

Here it is for you all to contemplate

Jason glad to see it's not just me that watches AVE !!!!!

My M&W digital caliper uses a 3v CR2032 battery, as for battery life I can not say as it sat in it's box for 9 months while the new garage/workshop was built and was flat when I went to use it. If I was to make a guess I would say at least a year if not 2 as I have owned for at least 2.5 years and superior to the others that use LR/SR44 batteries.

Bob

I will be dead before it's cheaper to buy Mitutoyu than keep feeding my existing calipers with new cells every 200 days.

Neil

Didn't realise you were that old, Neil.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Dave

I understand that he wasn't that old before he took his latest job!

Norman

During a visit to a factory in China in May 2011, I took this picture:

As you can see, they were producing digital verniers for various well known brands. This factory is regarded as one of the best in China, with a comparable price tag. ARCs Premium Height Gauges come from the same place. ARCs callipers come from two other factories, rather than this factory, for various reasons. Most of ARCs calipers are now fitted with CR type batteries.

The factory which is making for the above branded companies, is making to the said brand owners requirements. The said factory has its own grinding facility in-house to make the mechanical parts. Many other such assembly factories buy in the metal components from various places. The plastic bits are always outsourced by ALL Chinese factories, and the circuit board is sourced based on price and requirements of the brand owner. ALL Chinese factories in this game have to buy in the circuit board from certain recognised makers. The quality of circuit boards and components/specifications required, can be good, bad or ugly, again depending on the customers requirement and price paid.

The You Tube video which may be accurate, presents a limited simplistic view. There are many factors at play, to include cost of components being used, quality of mechanical and electrical components being used, and which batteries are being used. Yes, Mitutoyo is by far one of the best, but if you regard them to be 10 out of 10 for quality, in my opinion, some Chinese origin factories are around 7 to 8 out of 10 vs the Mitutoyo, going downwards to the Aldi levels of around 4 out of 10 in comparison to Mitutoyo. This is all reflected in price, and generally if you accept this, then there is a place in the market for digital verniers at various quality price levels. The Aldi ones may meet certain peoples requirement for the price paid, but please avoid comparing this or the video with the M&W budget, because the M&W budget has been made to far better specifications than what has been presented in Aldi or the video, one way or another!

Ketan at ARC

Edited By Ketan Swali on 27/01/2015 22:25:03

Very interesting observation and thanks for the explanation, Ketan.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I have 1Mitutoyu and 2 Lidle purchased ones batteries in the Lidle ones have lasted about 18 months Mitutoyu about 5 years. They last much longer with quality batteries. M&W mic has lasted 2 years so far. The bateries don,t like the cold though.

G'day. Would it be too much to ask for a simple 'Press On - Press Off' button to be incorporated in digital measurement devices?

I realise that any pre-set zero would be lost, but does that matter? I check the zero on mine every time that I pull it out of the box after cleaning the measuring faces.

* Danny M *

Many years ago, when Proops was appearing at the ME Exhibitions, I purchased one of their digital callipers. I use it almost every day and, despite never switching it off, the battery lasts for well over a year - in fact, I can't remember when I last replaced it. I think I paid about £12 or £15 for it.

Ditto to what Gary says, although Aldi beat Proops hands down in my temperature stability test...

Neil

A little late but may save some one a poor purchase.

Living off its past name gaffer bought one of these cheapies not the 12" linked here. **LINK**

Every time switch on have to rezero, does your head in. Same as the Lidl bought to get me out of the proverbial when IP67 Mitutoyo nicked, luckily regained it back after a week, hated the thing.
Battery life M&W about 14 months CR2032 switched off when not in actual use. Lidl didn't last 8 months left off. Normally out of all the Mitutoyos get in excess of 2 1/2 to 3 years on LR44, 18 months on SR44.

What I did find with these theyre no Mitutoyo having had 8 or 9 over the years, just don't feel right.

Did a temp test the other day on two Mitutoyo, on zero they will read something different with temp circa 0.02mm over 80 degrees. 0.01mm over 40 degrees.