Author Topic: Do you discharge your batteries? (Read 944 times)

Dave in WV · « **on:** July 21, 2005, 04:49:52 AM »

I discharge the batteries for my radios and GPS once a month and recharge them. I've read and been told it's better than letting them sit between hunting seasons. Anyone else do it?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2005, 07:42:00 AM »

Dave I discharge my batteries on a less regular bases now that I use NIMH batteries. Most likely on a 3 month cycle. But I run down the batteries weekly because I carry the gps with me out on daily walks. I will also do the recycle process before a trip on my gps batteries and radio batteries.

When I was in LE we had a machine that would re-cycle the NiCad batteries every charge. I hated NiCad's. It was/is common to hear a dispatch telling a unit in the field to change batteries in their radio. The communications starts with the portable calling the dispatcher, Dispatch>>>>>>>>>>>>>>and then it drops off. The portable tries again and it drops off. Then you hear the dispatcher saying unit calling, change your batteries.

Sounds like you are a good battery manager.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2005, 08:07:42 AM »

I`ve got a hand held GPS and have had the same batteries in it for about 3 years. I don`t use it much. It just kind of "sits" around waiting for me to
give it a work out. Use it in my truck to check speed once in a while.
As far as dis-charging the batteries i really never gave it a thought.
Guess i`ll change-um out before this up coming hunting season.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2005, 09:13:42 AM »

My talkabout radios came with NiCad batteries. I bought NiMH batteries last year. The NiCads suffered from well intentioned folks charging them for me before it should have been done and one battery had about half life left. The batteries I use in my GPS are NiMH AAA size. NiMH are supposed to be more tolerant of charging before they are dead than NiCad but during the off season I figure the total cycle is better for them.

jgalar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2005, 04:06:45 PM »

Keep NiMH batteries charged and do not drain them. They are totally different than NiCads.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2005, 04:23:30 PM »

You guys have me wondering what I have in my radios.....I'm going to have to go look. I do discharge mine on a somewhat regular interval, I usually carry one to the barn and leave the other at the house so the wife can tell me what I'm doing wrong.........and how to do it better.......needless to say, they get a lot of use! :?

I haven't tried rechargables in my E-Trex Legend.....but sure need too!.....what do you recommend?

Dave in WV · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2005, 04:31:45 PM »

victorcharlie, go to Wallmart and they will have several charger/battery combos to choose from (at least here they do). Look at the number with mAh after it. Get the highest number mAh (milli Amp hour) batteries they carry in NiMH batteries. The higher the number, the longer they last. Mine are 2050 mAh batteries.
If you want the best battereis try a google search and type in " discount rechargeable batteries".

Dave in WV · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2005, 04:35:58 PM »

This is where I got my battery care info. It has worked for me.

http://is.med.ohio-state.edu/policies/battery.htm