A10 battery drain on new software

LostMike · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:00 am Post subject: A10 battery drain on new software

I have been using rechargeable AA batteries for some time (currently using Duracell 2650mah NiMH). But since the latest software upgrade I thought I had noticed that they were starting to drain more rapidly when the machine was off.

With the previous version I had charged them and left them in the switched off machine ready for the next walk. But this has caught me out with the latest software and a surprise change of batteries was necessary on one occasion.

As a test I charge up four cells a few days ago, put three in a switched off A10 and one on the window ledge the % drop in voltage from day one was
Batteries in the A10 10%, 13%, 22%
Battery out of A10 3%, 5%, 6%

On the fourth day I switched on the A10, got one red bar, was told the the battery was critical and it then shut off before I could do so!

I know this is not a very scientific study but it does warn me not to store the batteries in the unit.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? If so do you think it is the latest software upgrade?
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LostMike
Satmap A10. Platform 21
Software version 1.5.9193
Satsync 1.525

decay · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 23, 2006 Posts: 16

I run RS Componants 2600mAh Ni-Mh AA's in mine After a full recharge I reinstalled them and left it on the shelf for the last two weeks. It is still reading 3 bars.
Version 1.3.2.3

Maybe its your batteries...

LostMike · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:52 am Post subject:

decay said:

PaulB2005 · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

philpugh · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

Perhaps the Active10 is 'waking up' from time to time to do some housekeeping etc? Quite common with PDAs.
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Phil

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

Charged up my Satmap battery about six weeks ago and it was sitting in a drawer since then. Took it out today and after a two hour walk it is still showing four bars, so I don't think there can be any significant draw on the batteries when turned off.

LostMike · Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that Davidor.

Can you just confirm that this is with the latest A10 software (1.323 ) and the Satmap battery pack?

Though I am using rechargeable AAs I assume that should not make a difference. I have now tried new rechargeables and they still seem to lose power when switched off! Ho hum....
_________________
LostMike
Satmap A10. Platform 21
Software version 1.5.9193
Satsync 1.525

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

Hi Mike

Yes it is the standard Satmap battery that has been through many charge cycles now and V 1.300 software. I didn't think anything significant has happened to the software since then as I haven't been advised by email from Satmap to upgrade.

I was out of the country for 4 weeks (left just before the new world-wide base map!), so gave it a good charge before I went as I was a bit concerned about stories of battereis running down and flattening batteries never does them any favours. I checked the battery when I got back a couple of weeks ago and it was still showing four bars but it wasn't until today that I got out to use it.

Has V1.323 changed the power setup?

LostMike · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:44 am Post subject:

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

I've upgraded now so it should be fairly plain if there is a difference. I will report back.

I didn't realise until this thread that there was another upgrade, so hadn't put it on. I recall reading something about another version after 1.300, but thought that was just language upgrades; clearly there is a little more to it from the upgrade notes.

Obviously I will have to wait a week or so to see if I do now start getting battery drain whilest switched off.

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

V 1.323 put on last Sunday morning and fully charged lipol. Used for 3 hours on sunday. Been switched off since. Still 4 bars showing.

LostMike · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks Davidor.

Seems fairly clear. The problem is mine. It does not seem to be the batteries which are fine outside the A10 and otherwise I can't see anything wrong with the A10 so I'm not inclined to send it in for a service yet. We, or rather I, shall see.

Thanks again for the help.
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LostMike
Satmap A10. Platform 21
Software version 1.5.9193
Satsync 1.525

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

Mike: Used it again on Sunday for about 4 hours with a fair amount of screen viewing without recharging itfrom last week. It has just dropped to 3 bars. I'll leave it for a while without charging it to see if it drops any more.

Dave

davidor · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 14, 2008 Posts: 117

Another week has gone by. Still showing three bars and also after two hours use still had three bars. I have to conclude that ther is no discernable battery drain while switched off, as after two weeks and about 9 hours use it is still showing three bars.

LostMike · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks Davidor
_________________
LostMike
Satmap A10. Platform 21
Software version 1.5.9193
Satsync 1.525

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