T2 and batteries

[pull tab mel]

Had the T2 a couple months now and the batteries still register good. Have used it multiple times. I dont want to throw away good batteries but want good performance also. Do you change them before you need to just to be sure? Air test still good....

 

[SteveP(NH)]

No you can use them until they die. The T2 has a regulated power supply and so as long as the batteries put out the minimum voltage required by the regulator circuit then the machine will run the same whether the batteries are brand new or used.

 

[jmaryt]

this is very true,and i corroborate this!..it is helpful to others to
be made aware of this!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

They are amazing on battery life!!

 

[Mark652]

I learned a valuable lesson on this forum regarding batteries that I think is worth repeating. The T2 drains the batteries asymmetrically, meaning that one drains faster than the others. When I get down to 2 or 3 bars on the battery meter I removed the batteries and test them with an inexpensive tester I got at Radio Shack. I always find that one battery is well down in charge and the other three are still in very good shape, so I replace the one battery and am back in business with usually all my bars but one. I used to toss all the batteries when I replaced them, now I only toss one.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Wow ! Good info!!

 

[Dave J.]

The T2 batteries are wired in series and therefore all drain at the same rate. Since batteries are not all precisely identical, one will die slightly sooner than others. If you throw that one out and replace it with a new one, pretty soon one of the original three will go bad. And so on. You're setting yourself up for constant low battery hassles.

The best way to deal with batteries is to replace all 4 at the same time with the same good quality brand, new. And toss 'em all at the same time even if there's still a smidgin of life still left in a couple of 'em.

Same principle holds with rechargeables.

--Dave J.

 

[Monte]

I was just ready to offer the same response. Funny how wrong info can get around or be confused.

On another topic, discussed elsewhere on this forum, I am going to e-mail you.

Hey, if you're a bit sleepy this late, maybe you'll slip and offer up an idea of what's cooking down in Texas (other than beans and rice) in the way of a new model? I sure know what I'd like to see.



Monte

 

[TerraDigger]

Whatever Dave J. shares with you......you gotta share with us po relatives.

 

[Monte]

n/t

 

[Mark652]

Dave J., I originally thought that too, but in my experience I have found the batteries drain as I described. I am no expert, but it has been the case since I started using the T2 almost 2 years ago. I agree with you that the overall length of time is less if you start rotating the batteries as I suggest, instead of close to 40 hours with all new batteries you might get 30 by testing and changing one at a time, but it still allows you to get the most from your batteries and when money is tight I go for that.

 

[Monte]

Dave J., I originally thought that too, but in my experience I have found the batteries drain as I described.

Well, I am not Dave J., but I use a lot of batteries. Not just in detectors but other useful tools, and I have done a fair amount of battery testing through the years, especially with metal detectors. As Dave J. cited, the four AA batteries are connected in series so they don't have different applied drain between them, but you can have some batteries drop off faster than others, even if they all came out of the same package.

I am no expert, but it has been the case since I started using the T2 almost 2 years ago.

I'm curious if, during the 2 years with the T2, you have alternated the brands you use? If you initially fill all four slots with brand new batteries of the same type out of the same lot? Do you use a decent battery tester that puts a load on the battery you test? It's likely that you might have 2 or 3 of the four die off close to the same time and not just 1 of them. What brand battery do you use, and are they alkaline batteries?

I agree with you that the overall length of time is less if you start rotating the batteries as I suggest, instead of close to 40 hours with all new batteries you might get 30 by testing and changing one at a time, but it still allows you to get the most from your batteries and when money is tight I go for that.

Batteries are cheap, especially AA types. Shoot, we use detectors to find $$$ and it doesn't take long to buy a supply of batteries to last for a year ... or more, if you don't get out hunting often. Personally, I usually buy my AA's at Costco as their house brand (Kirkland) is $10.89 for a package of 48. I have found them to provide decent long-term life on par with Duracell and EverReady. So, at $10.89 for 48 of them, that would only cost you 90

 

[Pops]

I've had my T2 for three years now and the battery meter has never shown anything but full. I change them when the pinpoint function resets the settings to factory when engaged. Batteries last a long time and the meter malfunction is no big deal. Has anyone else had this occur?