Digital Devices & Batteries

Bit of a rant to start.

I am sick of batteries of digital tools going flat just when you need them. Everything from measuring devices to lights.

I have 2 Vernier, one which last and last with its button battery the other auto turn off only and it discharges in no time even if not used or battery is removed. These two are same battery size.

Digital angle gauge large hard to come by in 12 months 3 batteries and its hardly used.

Excellent LED torch/light original batteries no recharge x 3 lasted for ages recharge type batteries AAA

I am considering buying a 2nd recharge station for in the shed so I can it on hand for AA AAA etc. That doesn't help with button batteries to.


Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Seriously looking at buy or going back to all analogue...............we have a wind up torch

Pick a device that does not remember the last setting, on these you are only turning off the display, it is still working to remember the settings. Failing that take the battery out, thats what I do on my 12" digicallipers as I don't use them that often.

J

Hi,

I have found that the majority of unbranded calipers come with alkaline button cells (usually LR44 or similar) which will, if left in the unit, discharge quite quickly. My Mitutoyo calipers use SR44 button cells which are silver oxide.

They last so well, I genuinely cannot remember when I last had to change them. It was years ago.

it's true they cost a little more, but the extended life far outweighs the extra cost and they can be found on the internet quite cheaply, but as ever, make sure you buy branded.

So far as AA & AAA batteries go. Temperature changes are the enemy there, if you keep them in the shed / garage and it gets cold in there, it will kill the batteries VERY quickly. you COULD try Lithium AA & AAA cells but I haven't tried them and so cannot offer any performance comparisons.

Hope this helps.

All my verniers use poundland AG13 batteries so any battery change costs pennies

Like you Ady, I use the cheap ones $NZ2 for a dozen.

I agree Jason. We'v been through this a number of times, so it's an on going thing. Ian S C

Does anyone know if there is a simple way of connecting a wall wart to negate the use of CR2032 batteries as used in budget digital readouts? Mine use 2 CR2032's in each readout, and invariably go flat at inopportune moments.

Mark P.

Hi Mark,
You would need to give some more information to define exactly what you mean by "budget digital readouts"

Les.

Hi All

I use Maxcell Silver oxide Batteries in my digital callipers and mike they last a lot longer than Alkaline. Silver Oxide also has a different discharge profile to Alkaline maintaining a constant voltage until near the end of life.

Note: They offer two silver oxide types for different types of load. See Link Below.

**LINK**

Regards
John

Hi Les, the budget readouts I refer to are the ones sold by Arceuortrade http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Measurement/Digital-Readouts-with-Dedicated-Remote-Display

These use 2 CR2032 cells in ( I assume) series to give six volts, I would like to run mine from an external power source for greater stability and not running out of juice at a critical moment.

Mark P

The iGaging type with the remote readout that I use have two of the 2032 cells but they are in parallel and it will work with only one cell installed.

Most modern electronic devices are made to run on the lowest voltage possible and 6V for something like these devices would be unusual.

Ian

Edited By Ian Phillips on 01/08/2014 17:02:48

I bought a digital Vernier calliper in 2008 from Maplins for £10. The LR44 that was in there lasted about 4 or 5 years but I didn't use it very much until I got my milling machine in 2011. I was told by a friend (who's dad was an electronics engineer) that touching a button battery with bare hands should be avoided as any skin oils or sweat can create a bridge between + and - causing power to dissipate and reduce battery life.

These use 2 CR2032 cells in ( I assume) series to give six volts, I would like to run mine from an external power source for greater stability and not running out of juice at a critical moment

I had a 11-30Volt Counter unit which I ran on a 12V kiddies Train set controller

So if you can find something like that at 6V your problem is solved

Scalextic/Hornby 00 gauge etc, but I don't know what voltages they use

There are also those wall plug transformers which If memory serves go down to 5V, the ones with the funny 4-way jack on the end for plugging into calculators, mobile phones etc

Edited By Ady1 on 01/08/2014 17:41:03

Hi Mark,
Although I have never had any of these iGaging scales I know a bit about them as I have designed protocol converters to enable them to be used with DROs like the DRO350 which only support 2 x 24 bit protocol, I can confirm Ian's comment that the cells are in parallel as I have read that information elsewhere and it fits in with the fact that the read head part runs from about 3 volts. If you want to power them from the mains I would suggest using a LDO (Low drop out.) regulator such as the LE33 and feed this from a USB power supply. I suspect most of the battery power is drained when the are "switched off" as they are probably still on with the display blanked. I would think fitting a real on/off switch in one of the battery connections would go a long way to solving your problems. the easiest way to do this would probably be to mount the batteries in a separate box with a switch. ( I suspect that there is not enough room in the display unit to mount a switch.)

Les.

HI Mark,
I think making a dummy battery (You only need to make one for each scale.) is a good idea and a dummy back to avoid having to drill a hole for the wire in the original. One other point if you plan to use batteries I think I have seen cards of lithium button cells (CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016) in some of the pound shops. Even if you only use one of the tree types it is still cheaper than buying them in other places.

Les.

.

Raymond,

Permit me, please, to correct you on that point ...

AA and AAA sizes are generally reserved for single cells

Yes, you will find small cylindrical batteries made of stacked button-cells; but not in those sizes.

This forum being what it is; someone will presumably now find the "exception that proves that rule.

MichaelG.

I needed a new digital calliper, so this time I brought a solar powered one, that does not need a battery to be replaced. Some told me that they don't work well in low light. So far, the light level that won't make the calliper work, is not enough light for me to see what I am doing anyway.

I really like it.

Neil

How does one walk (in my case roll) around the workshop tethered to a power output with any tool supposed to be portable take anywhere to use??????

Hi Raymond.

I suppose you could make a small battery pack to attach to a belt or something similar, a lead could then go to the instrument?

Electronic stores keep battery holders and boxes, (perhaps using rechargeables), it could then be a case of deciding how to get the right voltage output, many excellent suggestions for that already on here.

OOPS, just realised some of this is covered by Les Jones post, my apologies for that unintentional error!

Edited By V8Eng on 02/08/2014 11:24:32

Michael I only knew of this through another forum some years back otherwise I would not have mentioned it.

I did eventually pull apart AA battery and yes there they were.