| Author |
Anyone Use Lithium Batteries?
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| emanon 2006-03-18, 5:48 pm |
| In flipping through the setup menus for my Vista Cx, I see that I can
specify Alkaline or NiMH batteries. I know that NiMH are rechargeable and
Alkaline are not. This need for differentiation makes me wonder what else is
difference and if I can use Lithium batteries with my GPS. Currently, I use
them in a lot of my toys: digital cameras, portable CD Players, MP3 Players
and the like. I use them where possible because of the long service life I
get from them. The Vista Cx seems very long lived with regular Alkaline
batteries, so if Lithium batteries can be used, it would seem to be all the
better.
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| Steve Calvin 2006-03-18, 5:48 pm |
| emanon wrote:
> In flipping through the setup menus for my Vista Cx, I see that I can
> specify Alkaline or NiMH batteries. I know that NiMH are rechargeable and
> Alkaline are not. This need for differentiation makes me wonder what else is
> difference and if I can use Lithium batteries with my GPS. Currently, I use
> them in a lot of my toys: digital cameras, portable CD Players, MP3 Players
> and the like. I use them where possible because of the long service life I
> get from them. The Vista Cx seems very long lived with regular Alkaline
> batteries, so if Lithium batteries can be used, it would seem to be all the
> better.
>
>
Don't know about the Vista Cx but Lithium Ion's are all that
I use in my Garmin 76CS. They last a lot longer that
anything else I've tried.
--
Steve
Dumb sign # 27: On a restroom dryer at O'Hare Field in
Chicago: Do not activate with wet hands.
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| emanon 2006-03-18, 5:48 pm |
|
"Steve Calvin" <calvins@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:XAYSf.8$fj7.7@fe10.lga...
> emanon wrote:
and[color=darkred]
else is[color=darkred]
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>
> Don't know about the Vista Cx but Lithium Ion's are all that
> I use in my Garmin 76CS. They last a lot longer that
> anything else I've tried.
>
> --
> Steve
> Dumb sign # 27: On a restroom dryer at O'Hare Field in
> Chicago: Do not activate with wet hands.
Exactly my point, Steve. I use them in everything else without a problem.
Since Lithium batteries are not rechargeable, it seems logical to call them
Alkaline and power my Vista Cx with them.
Just curious, does your 76CS require any differentiation between Alkaline
and NiMH batteries?
_______
PS My favorite dumb sign was on the packs of Black Cat firecrackers we
used to get when I was a kid:
"Do not hold in mouth after lighting"
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| Jack Erbes 2006-03-18, 5:48 pm |
| emanon wrote:
> In flipping through the setup menus for my Vista Cx, I see that I can
> specify Alkaline or NiMH batteries. I know that NiMH are rechargeable and
> Alkaline are not. This need for differentiation makes me wonder what else is
> difference and if I can use Lithium batteries with my GPS.
Alkaline batteries have a starting voltage or 1.5V, NiMH have a starting
voltage of 1.2V. So a fully charged NiMH would look like a nearly
depleted Alkaline to the battery monitoring software.
I not used a Vista or Lithium batteries but I suppose the effects could
be that the GPS might shut itself off thinking it had low batteries if
NiMH batteries were used on the Alkaline. Also the power remaining
display would not be right unless the setting matched the batteries in use.
3 Volts is 3 Volts. Lithiums are listed as having a 1.5V starting
voltage and therefore should work fine for powering up the GPS. If
there is a big difference in the rate at which the voltage drops with
use, in comparison to Alkalines, then the battery condition indicator
and low power shut down may be affected.
Jack
--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)
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| peter 2006-03-18, 11:48 pm |
| Jack Erbes wrote:
....
> the power remaining
> display would not be right unless the setting matched the batteries in use.
>
> 3 Volts is 3 Volts. Lithiums are listed as having a 1.5V starting
> voltage and therefore should work fine for powering up the GPS.
There were some minor problems using the Energizer lithium cells in the
new Garmin 60 & 76 'x' models. These lithium cells put out a slightly
higher voltage than alkaline cells. When fresh they're at about 1.75 V
and they stay around 1.6 V for most of their life. The new Garmins
reacted to the higher voltage by generating an over-voltage condition
and shutting down. Using the lithium cells in anything else
(flashlight/walkman/camera/etc.) for even a few minutes first would
drop the voltage enough so they could then be used in the 60 & 76 'x'
models. I don't know if this issue was addressed in the recent firmware
update.
> If there is a big difference in the rate at which the voltage drops with
> use, in comparison to Alkalines, then the battery condition indicator
> and low power shut down may be affected.
There is - the lithium cells stay at almost a constant 1.6 V until
their charge is almost completely depleted whereas alkalines drop in
voltage more steadily. So the battery meter will show full charge
until just before shutdown. They last a long time, but it's best to be
carrying a spare set of cells rather than depending on the battery
meter.
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| peter 2006-03-18, 11:48 pm |
| Steve Calvin wrote:
> Don't know about the Vista Cx but Lithium Ion's are all that
> I use in my Garmin 76CS. They last a lot longer that
> anything else I've tried.
Lithium ion cells put out 3.7 VDC and aren't generally compatible with
devices made for AAs such as the 76CS. An exception is the RCR-V3
cells that each have the shape approximately like a pair of AAcells
side-by-side. That way the voltage can be dropped a bit and be close
enough to the nominal 3 VDC of a pair of AAs to work.
You're probably using lithium-iron cells such as the Energizer ones.
These are compatible with regular AA cells although the voltage is just
a bit higher (1.7 instead of 1.5) and they do last a long time and
work well in cold temperatures.
But I'd recommend NiMH cells instead for general use. They last about
65% as long as the lithium-iron cells per charge but can be recharged
about 500 times so the cost is far less in the long run (as well as the
waste dumped in the landfills).
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| Steve Calvin 2006-03-18, 11:48 pm |
| peter wrote:
> Lithium ion cells put out 3.7 VDC and aren't generally compatible with
> devices made for AAs such as the 76CS. An exception is the RCR-V3
> cells that each have the shape approximately like a pair of AAcells
> side-by-side. That way the voltage can be dropped a bit and be close
> enough to the nominal 3 VDC of a pair of AAs to work.
>
> You're probably using lithium-iron cells such as the Energizer ones.
> These are compatible with regular AA cells although the voltage is just
> a bit higher (1.7 instead of 1.5) and they do last a long time and
> work well in cold temperatures.
>
> But I'd recommend NiMH cells instead for general use. They last about
> 65% as long as the lithium-iron cells per charge but can be recharged
> about 500 times so the cost is far less in the long run (as well as the
> waste dumped in the landfills).
I'd use NiMH but a lot of the places I go have no
electricity for recharging. I use the AA size ones.
--
Steve
Dumb sign # 27: On a restroom dryer at O'Hare Field in
Chicago: Do not activate with wet hands.
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| peter 2006-03-18, 11:48 pm |
| Steve Calvin wrote:
> I'd use NiMH but a lot of the places I go have no
> electricity for recharging.
I'm usually willing to carry a few more cells to last me until I do get
back to a place with electric power. There are also pretty reasonable
solar and mechanical rechargers available.
But yes, the lithium-iron disulfide cells can make sense for expedition
use when minimum weight and cold temperature performance are critical.
That's why I recommended NiMH for 'general' use.
> I use the AA size ones.
Those would be the lithium-iron disulfide (Li/FeS2). The chemistry
(and therefore the voltage) of these is quite different from lithium
ion cells.
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| budgie 2006-03-18, 11:48 pm |
| On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 13:47:14 -0500, Steve Calvin <calvins@optonline.net> wrote:
>Don't know about the Vista Cx but Lithium Ion's are all that
>I use in my Garmin 76CS.
?????? Lithium-Ion are rechargeable cells with per-cell voltages in the 3v0-4v2
range, and usually not available in sizes inetrchangeable with alkalines or NiXX
chemistries. I suspect you are using lithium primary cells.
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| Steve Calvin 2006-03-19, 2:48 am |
| peter wrote:
> Steve Calvin wrote:
>
>
>
>
> I'm usually willing to carry a few more cells to last me until I do get
> back to a place with electric power. There are also pretty reasonable
> solar and mechanical rechargers available.
> But yes, the lithium-iron disulfide cells can make sense for expedition
> use when minimum weight and cold temperature performance are critical.
> That's why I recommended NiMH for 'general' use.
>
>
>
>
> Those would be the lithium-iron disulfide (Li/FeS2). The chemistry
> (and therefore the voltage) of these is quite different from lithium
> ion cells.
>
Thanks Peter. Ya learn something every day. Should I not use
them in the 76cs for some reason?
--
Steve
Dumb sign # 27: On a restroom dryer at O'Hare Field in
Chicago: Do not activate with wet hands.
| |
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| Steve Calvin wrote:
> peter wrote:
> Thanks Peter. Ya learn something every day. Should I not use
> them in the 76cs for some reason?
No, they work well and are compatible with the 76CS, but they are very
expensive if you use the GPS receiver extensively.
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|
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> You're probably using lithium-iron cells such as the Energizer ones.
> These are compatible with regular AA cells although the voltage is just
> a bit higher (1.7 instead of 1.5) and they do last a long time and
> work well in cold temperatures.
I kept a set of the Energizer 1.6 volt lithium AAs for my GPS3+ solely for
use on my snowmobile. Other batteries quickly crap out in very cold
weather. Never had any trouble with them but they're too expensive for
general use. The GPS3+ has Alkaline, Lithium, and NiMH battery type
settings so the voltage was not an issue.
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| Phil Wheeler 2006-03-19, 5:48 pm |
| Bob L wrote:
>
>
> I kept a set of the Energizer 1.6 volt lithium AAs for my GPS3+ solely for
> use on my snowmobile. Other batteries quickly crap out in very cold
> weather. Never had any trouble with them but they're too expensive for
> general use. The GPS3+ has Alkaline, Lithium, and NiMH battery type
> settings so the voltage was not an issue.
>
>
They work well in most GPSRs. I've read there are issues in the newer
Garmins (e.g., 60Cx) with using Lithiums.
Phil
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