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Replacing beacon batteries?

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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
Just wondering how low on battery people allow their beacons to get before they replace them? I've heard rumours that it can be unsafe to continue to use a beacon with less than 80% battery life, and others saying that even waiting until it gets as low as 20% is still totally fine.

Thoughts?
Mar 26 2011 9:08AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
BCA says 20%.
Mar 26 2011 9:44AM
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teleak
Posts: 2251 - Karma: 105
Change 'em before you hit 50%.
That's what i was taught in my avi 1 class.
Mar 26 2011 10:18AM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
If I turn on my beacon and it says anything besides "99" I get worried.
Mar 26 2011 3:07PM
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NWPA
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 165
I change them when it hits 50%
Mar 26 2011 4:10PM
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Jaymon
Posts: 860 - Karma: 1,213
60% is my rule, but you should be fine until 20% just know that if you get down to like 30 or 40% you wont have nearly as much time in search mode as that drains batteries hard, especially if you are suppressing signals from multiple burials
Mar 26 2011 4:15PM
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Ghini
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 3,002

This is a part of a crazy avy story I've read on WePowder.nl;

''I picked up my beacon to begin another search and noticed that it was not in receiving mode. The model of beacon I have has an “auto revert to send” feature that switches back in to transmit mode after 8 minutes so that if a rescuer was caught in a second slide, their beacon would eventually begin transmitting again so that another rescuer could find them (which would be impossible if the beacon stayed in receive mode). I assumed this had happened and tried to put the beacon back into search mode but nothing happened. I thought that maybe I was being panicky in how I was pushing the button, so I switched the beacon off and back on again, and it would not turn back on. At the time I thought that maybe I had damaged the beacon while digging up the first victim and had broken it, but back in the hut that night it turned back on. It is my theory at this time that the battery died in the cold air. I have previously done a test on another trip where my beacon showed over 70% battery when I left during the day, and at the end of that day showed 30-40% power remaining, only to show 70% again the next day. Also, receive mode uses up battery much faster than transmit mode. I also did a test at home today by turning the beacon on and setting to search mode and waiting to see how it changed to send mode. There was probably 15 or more seconds of very loud warning tones indicating that the beacon is about to switch back, and I’m confident I would have heard that at the time. I believe the battery died before this even happen (i.e. in less than 8 minutes). ''

Kinda makes you think..

Full story here: http://www.wepowder.nl/forum/index.php/topic,2586.0.html

Mar 26 2011 4:31PM
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@skiinmitch
Posts: 2781 - Karma: 78
as soon as mine goes below 80% i change them. never can be to safe
Mar 26 2011 8:22PM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
Really depends on what beacon it is/how old it is. 40% is fairly safe. I know at many of the larger heli-ski operations this is what they use.
Mar 27 2011 1:28AM
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LivinOuttaBounZ
Posts: 949 - Karma: 382
I don't put the batteries in until I am buried.
Mar 27 2011 1:46AM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,157
my old school ortovox has no battery indicator. so I just carry extra's when I use it. hah.
Mar 27 2011 3:05AM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
Click for larger image

Story of my life bro.
Mar 27 2011 3:23AM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
I've got a BCA tracker, it had around 80% left, used it 2 or 3 more days, then it was reading like 42%. I changed them. Thought it wise.
Mar 27 2011 6:00AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Whoever is saying "charge them", you really shouldn't use rechargeable batteries in a beacon, they run at 1.2V not 1.5V like alkalines so range may be affected.
Mar 27 2011 7:05PM
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.jesus.
Posts: 2288 - Karma: 22
I don't have beacon but my parents change theirs after every bc trip
Mar 27 2011 7:23PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
Remember, if you are using your beacon well below freezing, you should have the crazy expensive batteries in thur. The Energizer Lithium. They are not nearly as affected by cold, and they will last for months. They could find you after a month with those.
Mar 27 2011 10:50PM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
not sure, but I don't think some beacons work with lithium batteries.
Mar 28 2011 1:45AM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
NO


I have been told like the rechargables they operate at a different voltage, and it might effect your beacon.

It's not worth risking it in something as important as your beacon
Mar 28 2011 1:53AM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
NO...

You idiot...

I was not talking about rechargeable batteries...

I was talking about THESE:
http://www.energizer.com/products/lithium-batteries/lithium/Pages/lithium-batteries.aspx

Here are some choice quotes:
  • Last up to 8x longer in digital cameras (versus Energizer® MAX®.  results vary by camera.)
  • Weigh 1/3 less than standard alkaline batteries
  • Perform in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140°F
  • 15 year storage life
  • Leak resistant construction


They are 1.5 Volt batteries. They last like 10 times longer, and they operate an any temperature that you will likely encounter skiing.

Energizer Lithium series. They kinda kick ass...
Mar 28 2011 4:03PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
sorry for coming off how i did, but i have heard that those can cause similar issues to rechargables

it could be not true, but i prefer to just stick to normals and replace them more often
Mar 28 2011 4:31PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
No, they are still 1.5 V. They just have a higher mili-amp hour count. They last longer, that is the only difference.

I have been on multi-day tours with brand new normal alkalines and had then read at 18% at the end of the trip, then 95% a couple days later. They are way too affected by cold.

Go with the lithium, its why they are more expensive, they are better.
Mar 28 2011 4:38PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
And I guess here is a quick, wtf is that tutorial for batteries and such...

Volts: voltage the difference between terminals of a battery. The higher the voltage, the harder the battery can "push" current through a circuit.

The voltage of a battery depends on quite a few things, but in the instance of AA and AAA, it depends on the chemical reactions happening. Both lithium and alkaline batteries have a reliable 1.5 volt output.

If you are using a beacon below 20 degrees, or for more than one day, you should be using lithium batteries.

Lithium batteries are also less toxic? (pretty sure).
Mar 28 2011 4:44PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,157
^okay, cool. but beacon's use hardly any battery in the first place. It's not like we're charging a big boombox or something... You're gaining more marginal utility with a smaller cost.
Mar 28 2011 4:50PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
Beacons do not draw much amperage at all, that is true. But that is hardly the concern. Temperature is a concern when you are traveling in a winter environment. For example, quoted from earlier in this thread:

"This is a part of a crazy avy story I've read on WePowder.nl;

''I picked up my beacon to begin another search and noticed that it was not in receiving mode. The model of beacon I have has an “auto revert to send” feature that switches back in to transmit mode after 8 minutes so that if a rescuer was caught in a second slide, their beacon would eventually begin transmitting again so that another rescuer could find them (which would be impossible if the beacon stayed in receive mode). I assumed this had happened and tried to put the beacon back into search mode but nothing happened. I thought that maybe I was being panicky in how I was pushing the button, so I switched the beacon off and back on again, and it would not turn back on. At the time I thought that maybe I had damaged the beacon while digging up the first victim and had broken it, but back in the hut that night it turned back on. It is my theory at this time that the battery died in the cold air. I have previously done a test on another trip where my beacon showed over 70% battery when I left during the day, and at the end of that day showed 30-40% power remaining, only to show 70% again the next day. Also, receive mode uses up battery much faster than transmit mode. I also did a test at home today by turning the beacon on and setting to search mode and waiting to see how it changed to send mode. There was probably 15 or more seconds of very loud warning tones indicating that the beacon is about to switch back, and I’m confident I would have heard that at the time. I believe the battery died before this even happen (i.e. in less than 8 minutes). ''

Kinda makes you think.."

This is why you should only be using lithium batteries in a beacon. The plus side? They will last far longer, so you are not sketched out.

If I ever hear "I was too cheap to buy the nice batteries" from my touring partner, I will not be too stoked...

Mar 28 2011 5:17PM
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jon@wh2o
Posts: 314 - Karma: 158
A good site for all things beacon related, but here is what he has to say about battery life:

and also as far as lithium batteries, here's another article worth reading:

hope this helps.
Mar 28 2011 6:19PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
thanks actually, I didn't know about the lithium quick decay thing.
Mar 28 2011 6:32PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
Thanks for the legit input mate.

+k
Mar 29 2011 8:01AM
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