 Poster: A snowHead
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Does anyone have a link to when batteries should be replaced?
Currently replace batteries when they show 50% usage. Any info would be appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@stewart woodward, Since high quality AA or AAA batteries can be bought for around 50p each, you should always carry spares. Also, never use rechargeable batteries.
The usual recommendations are 40-50% for replacement, but you need to check every time you turn the transceiver on.
Try this link for percentage information: http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/batteries.asp
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I buy a large pack of aaa's (not lithium) at the start of the season. Switch it on when I put it on even if I've got an hours drive to the slopes. Only switch it off when I'm back at the car. Swap them out at 50%. Better safe than sorry.
PS many/most transceivers can not accurately read the % remaining in a lithium battery.
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50% for me too. I did an indoor trial, once it got to 50%. Left it on for a day 35%, next day virtually exhausted. Yet with new batteries it goes down a % a day through the 90s and 80s.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I change them at 60%. Batteries take ages to go flat if on transmit, so you can be lulled into a false sense of security on battery life. They lose charge very quickly on search, which is why I change them before 50%.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@PowderAdict, thanks for the link.
We check transceivers daily/weekly and as stated change at 50%. Also carry spare batteries.
We have over 60 transceivers so just wanted to confirm that we are changing the batteries frequently enough.
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@PowderAdict, why never use rechargeable?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@SnoodlesMcFlude, Transceivers estimate the the charge renaming based on the standard decay profile of Alkaline batteries. Rechargeable and Lithium batteries tend to report full charge for almost the entire life, then fall to zero very quickly. As far as I am aware only the Mammut Barryvox Pulse can use lithium batteries, but you must use brand new ones every time, so that it can estimate life correctly. My Barryvox reports a 5% drop per day on Lithium batteries for a 10 - 12 hour day.
Excellent explanation here : http://www.simonabrahams.com/blog/2015/3/25/batteries-for-avalanche-beacons
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 6-03-17 13:58; edited 1 time in total
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@stewart woodward, some useful stuff coming out here thanks. I'll copy the links to the sticky in the off piste section. It's good to know the source of important information, especially when passing it on to others.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@PowderAdict, thanks, didn't know that.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Interesting and helpful discussion. I have a Pieps DSP which I find tends to last for a full 6 day week, but not much more. So, probably only around 50 hours of transmit before getting down to % levels that I am not comfortable with (less than 50%). I had not been aware of the reserve buffer referenced in one of the links, but will stick with 50%.
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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
| @PowderAdict, why never use rechargeable? |
Another thing is, NiCd and NiMH batteries, which are still more or less standard rechargeable batteries in AA or AAA type batteries don't stand cold all that well. Even though transceiver are worn under shell and sort of close to body, they still operate in temperature ranges, that are not best for NiCd/NiMH batteries to achieve long life.
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You know it makes sense.
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| jbob wrote: |
| @stewart woodward, some useful stuff coming out here thanks. I'll copy the links to the sticky in the off piste section. It's good to know the source of important information, especially when passing it on to others. |
Good to see a sensible discussion 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
| @PowderAdict, thanks, didn't know that. |
Ditto.
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Poster: A snowHead
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At UCPA in Val D'Isere, they said if your battery drops below 60% it's time to change it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Slightly off topic but don't use Costco batteries. We bought a large pack due to so many kids toys, but they don't seem to last well if unused. This has resulted in the batteries leaking and dumping all sorts of crystals all over the contacts. This looks like it has screwed up one of our transceivers and a couple of Wii remotes 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Check out Tadiran Lithium ion rechargeable batteries. Industrial grade. We use them for RC car racing controllers, but they will be good for 5000 charge cycles, operate and charge in nearly any conditions (above sea level obviously), don't suffer from the cold and last about 10 times longer* than a quality alkaline battery on each charge. If you get two sets, recharge the spares every day (completely unnecessary if a set of alkaline batteries last a week in the cold...but better to have a wasted charge cycle than a flat battery)...that is going to cover you for 10,000 ski days if you are paranoid or at least 20 years if you like to live on the edge.
I don't know if you can buy small packs. We got a box of 100 and flogged the other 92 off to other racers. I'm sure you knarly dudes could organise a group buy.
*Based on very unscientific testing, but one charge does last a lot longer.
http://www.tadiranbat.com/tli-rechargable.html
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Thu 9-03-17 2:26; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Also, If you are getting them for less than a tenner a battery you are probably buying single use ones or ones that have been made from chineseium.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@ish303, You are dealing with a life saving device (the transceiver, not the Wii), and you are concerned about saving a couple of £'s a week.............
@Thornyhill, Same point as above. Also, have you contacted the manufacturer of your transceiver, and received written confirmation that they are happy for you to use rechargeable lithium batteries in their transceivers which were designed alkaline?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
At UCPA in Val D'Isere, they said if your battery drops below 60% it's time to change it.
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Personally I'm a bit paranoid and change them at 80%. The ones that I take out get put in a tub for use in TV remotes , etc so no waste.
Bit surprised that people were unaware about the lithium battery issue. IME it is clearly stated in the manuals. You really should read the manual properly on a piece of equipment you are hoping might save lives!
On a related topic, the lock button on one of my Pieps DSP Sports has cracked meaning that it doesn't lock. Very dodgy as it can now switch off when you slide it into a holster or pocket  I've put in a warranty/repair request to Black Diamond / Pieps - hope they can just replace the button. Will update if I hear anything.
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@jedster, I haven't got a transceiver so not that easy to read the instructions
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the ortovox zoom+ starts making a horrible beeping noise when down to about 40% so difficult to ignore
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Dr John wrote: |
| the ortovox zoom+ starts making a horrible beeping noise when down to about 40% so difficult to ignore |
S1 does this at 50%
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| PowderAdict wrote: |
@Thornyhill, Same point as above. Also, have you contacted the manufacturer of your transceiver, and received written confirmation that they are happy for you to use rechargeable lithium batteries in their transceivers which were designed alkaline? |
They are the same voltage. The only potential problem would be if there was no regulator on the transceiver, which would be fairly crap....unless you are telling me that they produce different types of electrons. 
Anyway - I don't use a transceiver. I use them for remote control car racing and they are streets better than domestic alkaline or domestic Li-ion batteries.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Thornyhill wrote: |
They are the same voltage. The only potential problem would be if there was no regulator on the transceiver, which would be fairly crap....unless you are telling me that they produce different types of electrons.
Anyway - I don't use a transceiver. I use them for remote control car racing and they are streets better than domestic alkaline or domestic Li-ion batteries. |
Not come across the tadiran batteries but I thought lithium chemistry gives something like 3.6v per cell vs 1.5v for alkaline? Guess you could install half as many cells and use dummy cells to complete the circuit, but I can see someone frying their transceiver. Could be wrong through?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@kerb, a regulator on the transceiver would solve that and also stop the battery from discharging at a higher rate (causing overheating and fire in your pocket.) Given that a regulator will cost somewhere in the region of 30p and alkaline batteries can spike voltage if you get unlucky then it would be a fairly crap transceiver which didn't have a regulator.
I may be biased... Did you know that you can replace an AA battery with mains power and a few bits you can buy in Maplins for less than a quid. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Thornyhill wrote: |
I may be biased... Did you know that you can replace an AA battery with mains power and a few bits you can buy in Maplins for less than a quid. |
Finally a sensible suggestion, I went in to maplins and explained that I was thinking about doing the Valley Blanche and would need a 20km length of flex for my transformer and should I buy a long length of 230v cable or just use a short length and a long length after the transformer in cheaper 6v wire? Imagine my surprise when they had security remove me from the store.
PS Does anyone have experience of plugging things in at the Agille du Midi?
Thanks to the inspirational out of the box thinking of Thorney I've decided to go green and power my transciever via a solar array and 12v lead battery,of course this has been dictated by the fact that I had to go to Halfords as Maplin wouldn't let me back in.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@betterinblack, 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Do Halfords have solar panels that work under the snow, I'll definitely get one. Meanwhile thorny, just how long can you hold your breath.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| jbob wrote: |
| Do Halfords have solar panels that work under the snow, I'll definitely get one. Meanwhile thorny, just how long can you hold your breath. |
Not sure but the lad in Halfords did say they would fit them to my helmet for £5.99, although I hope that wasn't a euphemism
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@betterinblack, damn. If you get 20,000 of them you won't need a transceiver. Once you get buried someone can do some sleuthing to find you quickly. They just need to follow the leads. Maybe someone should now suggest having some sort of ribbon for ease of finding buried skiers.
Now, being serious...I was merely trying to demonstrate that an industrial spec Li-ion battery or mains power 'could' be used...the electrons are all the same. You just have to line them up properly, so if someone tells you that you can't use a Li-ion battery in a device designed for alkaline batteries they would probably be unable to tell the difference between a transformer, a rectifier and a voltage regulator. HTH.
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@betterinblack,
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@Thornyhill, we are close to the perfect Snowheads trifecta since we've had mention of helmets and avalanche cords in the same thread. No one utter the phrase snow tyres or we'll see the arrival of the ghost of Lewis avalanches past.
Oops I think I just inadvertently mentioned it 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@betterinblack, You could probably make your own snow tyres by duck taping all the half used alkaline batteries to your summer tyres. What could go wrong?
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