Just a little Xterra info :nerd:

[khouse]

I usually change my batteries when they were half empty. This time I ran them all the way down. I had no problem digging deep targets with the battery meter on low. Even when I finally got the dreaded low beeps telling me to change the batteries. After 4 tone alerts (about 10 minutes) I changed the batteries. I then checked the voltage of each of the old AA batteries. The average voltage was 1.125 volts. This would equate to 4.5 volts since they run in series. So I would have to conclude that the Xterras are regulated to 4.5 volts. It would seem to me that the NMH batteries that are 1.2 volts (4.8 series volts) would not be able to power the detector for a very long time. I'm just throwing this out there.......................... This may not be important info but it is info.........................

 

[Tim-PY]

[size=medium]Well I'm not an expert on batteries but believe it is the amps that give the life. In other words a 1.2v rechargeable that is a 2700mAh should outlast a 1.5v alkaline 1350mAh by almost twice as long. I know with the cordless drills there was a lot of hype about the voltage increase but if you have a 18v generic brand which usually had a low amp battery a 12v with high amp would outlast it. Same as an auto battery, the more "cca's" (cold cranking amps), it has, the stronger it is although the same voltage. Up here in the cold country of NY you want a strong battery to turn over your vehicle as the oil thickens and makes for a harder start! [/size]

 

[khouse]

It can't be the amps that are tested to generate the battery reading on the Xterra. It has to be the voltage. Your right that the amps will determine the longevity of a battery. But an Energizer Alkaline AA battery is rated at 2850 mAh on the Energizer web site. Most AA alkalines run about 2500 to 3000 mAh.

 

[RonNH]

After a season of throw-aways, I thought I would try some rechargeables. Someone on here, I think it was Pinpointa said he uses Sanyo Eneloop, so I did some research on them. They are sold already charged and can hold this charge without signifigant drop-off for up to a year and can be recharged up to 1,000 times. Also, they supposedly have 4 times the life of other rechargeables. So you can have 4 in your machine and 4 charged up and ready to replace the dead ones. At $15 for 4 , it seems like you would make out ahead in the long run even if you had to spring for a charger. These batteries are NiMH and run 2000mMAH, so they seem to be compatible with the X-Terras from what I can gather, but I'm no engineer. I guess the new season will be a good test and if some of you have had good experience with other rechargeables, let us know and maybe we can keep some of those alkalines out of the landfill. Ron

 

[Elton]

Ron..where did you purchase the sanyo batteries???

 

[khouse]

I have been buying Costco AA alkaline batteries for $9.99 for 48 batteries. I has two sets of rechargeable that didn't work very long. They were nickel metal hydride 1600 mAh

 

[Tim-PY]

[size=medium]I believe as the amps decrease with use the voltage then drops. I was using the alkaline example as an example, the mHa's vary from each company but Energizer is usually a good choice, some of the generics don't last long in many applications. I also remember reading about the Sanyo Eneloop but didn't find any information from consumer reports. 2000 MHA is low at todays standards for NiMH batteries, most are 2500 MHA and up, I am using 2650's right now by Duracell. Just an additional note for those who like the Alkalines, Consumer Reports rates Walgreen's AA's as the best buy!, that is above Energizer, Duracell, and others at almost half the price![/size]

 

[nero_design]

The Alkalines are the type of battery best suited to the X-Terras. You can try Lithiums (like the Energizer Lithium E2) but they might carry an overvolt. And the NiMH batteries are often undercharged. The very same applies to other electronic devices like digital cameras etc. Many digital cameras need a fully charged battery in order to complete certain functions like downloading to the computer. Cameras which take AA batteries for example had problems when the user wished to download their pictures because the batteries needed to be fully charged to allow this. And digital cameras often attracted owners fond of rechargeables... hence there was often a lot of debate about why certain cameras were underperforming with batteries.

The instruction manual of the X-Terra 70 makes it quite clear that the detector is actually sensitive to overvoltages in batteries. This would imply that the machine is possibly not forgiving with undervoltage as well. The X-70 requires typical batteries like the Energizer series. As khouse said: "Most AA alkalines run about 2500 to 3000 mAh." Some rechargeables undoubtedly work. Buy those or something else that performs. I'm VERY happy with the fact that I can buy a set of fresh batteries from any local gas station for a few dollars... The GPX-4000 costs over $400 here for a new spare battery! Weighs a WHOLE lot more than my 4 x AA spare batteries too!!

 

[khouse]

It's very hard to find the MAH rating for any batteries on line. The only good one was at energizer.com then click on tech data in the upper right of the home page. There will be the ratings of the batteries. I actually use Kirkland brand from Costco. They cost $9.99 for 48 aa batteries. Although I can't find any ratings for them they get good reviews as this site states.
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2006/Projects/J0729.pdf

 

[RonNH]

I got them at Ace Hardware. Circuit City carries them also as do a few other places. I'm anxious to try them as they sound pretty good. Well, they have a good web site anyway! Ron

 

[B.T]

I have run Alks as well as NIMH and reckon the new type of high power NIMH last just as good as ALKS. Dont worry about what they read on the batt info, 1.2 etc, look at the ratings. I used to use Energiser NIMH 2500mah which lasted like ALKS. They lasted a good 2 years of recharging. I now use Power Tech 2700mah and they are even better. ALKS are now a wate of money compared to the new NIMHs that are available. I only keep a set of ALKS in my backpack for emergency use. Dont worry , the Terra wont know the dif
Ps: I run the guts out of my machine on a weekly basis hence the batts get a caning too and believe me there is no perfomance loss with the Nims.