Garmin Dakota 20 Batteries

[DanLear]

Very dull question...sorry!

What batteries do people use and how much life do they get from them?

Ta!

[Chew]

I generally use rechargeable energizer batteries for most trips and normal Duracell batteries for longer trips.

Tend to find i'll get the best part of 2 days of use out of a set in normal conditions. Turn the power save function on and back light timer to the shortest setting.

In winter that can go down to a day with normal batteries which is helped by using lithium batteries although they are more expensive

[Richpips]

2300mah rechargebles for day rides.

Eye wateringly expensive Lithiums for multiday stuff.

[johnnystorm]

Once I'd learnt about dimming the screen I can't remember when I last put a fresh pair of lithiums in the Dakota.

[ericrobo]

I got a Dakota.... I thought you could get 20hrs riding before changing...
so the question is :
what battery would it be to get 20 hrs ?

And if you use one of these lithiums eg
Maplins
18650 Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery 1 Pack, 2600mAh , no memory effect

could you expect more than 20 hours ?

[johnnystorm]

Is the 18650 battery you refer to an external pack? Don't think 18650s will fit in the AA slots.

I'm using Energizer Lithium AAs. £7 a pair though. :(

[Taylor]

£7 a pair???
I bought a pack of 4 AA energizer lithiums for £7 in tesco two days ago.

[johnnystorm]

Sorry, you're right. £7 for 4.

I'm assuaged by the 50p a pair Lithium AAAs that Morrisons had before I bought them all for my spot. :)

[Karl]

The 18650 is a rechargeable lithium ion battery which isn't suitable for the Dakota from what I remember (3.6v). Standard lithium batteries are 1.5v.

[ericrobo]

Bloody confusing !
The advantages of lithium over NIMH are that they are lighter, and don't suffer 'memory effect'
but can you use in a Dakota (the voltage)

Are you sure the Energiser AA batteries are lithium ?
And do they require a dedicated charger ? (see below from http://www.greenbatteries.com/aa-and-aaa-battery-faq/)

"lithium ion AA and AAA batteries - this is really confusing because technically there is no such thing as rechargeable Li-ion 1.2 or 1.5 volt button top consumer batteries. However, there are AA size rechargeable Li-ion batteries. They are typically 3.6 or 3.7 volts and they require a dedicated charger, "

[johnnystorm]

My energizer lithiums aren't rechargeable. I have also had success with 7dayshop 2900mAh rechargeable AAs.

[johnnystorm]

Just looking at the in-laws Which magazine.

It says the memory effect in ni-mh is rare these days.

Best buy disposables are Energizer Ultimate Lithiums in both AA & AAA

Best buy rechargables are Energizer Recharge Precision.

[ericrobo]

JohnnyS
"Best buy rechargables are Energizer Recharge Precision."

But I don't think they are lithium,. they are NIMH.

Lithium are lighter, suffer no memory effect...
BUT can anybody give me a link to Lithium Rechargeable batteries that would work in a Dakota ?

[Richpips]

BUT can anybody give me a link to Lithium Rechargeable batteries that would work in a Dakota ?

Iirc AA lithium rechargeable batteries run at a higher (too high) voltage

[johnnystorm]

The duracells I put in today only lasted about 5 hours before racing down to 1 bar. :(

[numplumz]

Always used lithium AA batteries in mine, no problem. Buy them from eBay, you can a good price for bulk buy. Try Babz, super fast free delivery.
24 running hours on the timer is about the norm.

[ScotRoutes]

I've never seen a rechargeable lithium AA battery

[johnnystorm]

JohnnyS
"Best buy rechargables are Energizer Recharge Precision."

But I don't think they are lithium,. they are NIMH.

Lithium are lighter, suffer no memory effect...
BUT can anybody give me a link to Lithium Rechargeable batteries that would work in a Dakota ?

The Which test said that Memory effect wasn't an issue. Going by RRP prices if you bought their best buy batteries and best buy charger you'd save literally £100s over the life of the batteries. The charger with batteries (15min charger!) Is £25 on Amazon and the best buy batteries were £10 (although the ones the charger came with were still in the top 10.)