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General => The Tailgate => Topic started by: alscalls on January 06, 2009, 07:40:53 PM

Title: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 06, 2009, 07:40:53 PM
I am having trouble with my new E-caller eating batteries......6AA every 30 min.
I think something is wrong with it and I have e-mailed the company.
But I would like to know your thoughts on the subject.
If I buy rechargeable which ones do I buy? Most chargers only charge 4 at a time not 6 or 12
How can I extend battey life ?? some of my sets are more than 30 min.
how can I be out all night hunting when my batteries are done on the first stand? :shrug:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: FinsnFur on January 06, 2009, 08:22:39 PM
Try lithiums :wink:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: Silencer on January 07, 2009, 05:10:27 AM
man that seems too quick imo, enough to get a guy upset.  neither of my e-callers eat em up that fast and I run the dollar general cheapo's and buy em in bulk.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 07, 2009, 05:15:57 AM
I have some NiMH / 1.2V /2300mAh rechargeable I only have 4 of them so I will buy some more and try those next.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: KySongDog on January 07, 2009, 05:51:42 AM
There is definitely something wrong, Al.  Of course you already know that.  :doh2:   Those batteries should last at least several hours if not all day.  IMHO.  Have you gotten a response yet from the company?

Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: pitw on January 07, 2009, 06:22:29 AM
Heck Al I use a few of your call's and I'm still on the original battery :shrug:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: KySongDog on January 07, 2009, 08:58:56 AM
When your battery dies, Barry, you are dead.   :eyebrownod:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: pitw on January 07, 2009, 09:57:31 AM
Quote from: Semp on January 07, 2009, 08:58:56 AM
When your battery dies, Barry, you are dead.   :eyebrownod:
Crimson amphibian would like that and I guess it won't bother me to much either :wo:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: possumal on January 07, 2009, 10:58:22 AM
Alscalls Al.  If you are using rechargeable batteries, you must make sure that you break them in right to maximize their capacity.  When you first receive them from any ecaller company or from wherever you buy batteries, they are not fully charged.  They have the "Memory" factor which simply means that if you do fully charge them as you should, but then you go out and make 3 or 4 stands, running them down perhaps 40%, and you top them off with a charger that plugs into your cigarette lighter, or wait until you get home and top them off, and then you go hunting again in the next few days and repeat this scenario, they develop 50% memory or whatever the amount you are depleting them.  You need to fully discharge them at least every two weeks, (especially  during the break in period), to increase their memory capacity. SLA type batteries are not afflicted with this memory factor and you can top them off all you want. They will eventually lose their potency like your car battery, but they will let you know when that is about to happen by becoming less efficient. Here is a link to some excellent information on the subject: http://www.thebatterystop.com/battery_info.php?gclid=CMuKuc_2_JcCFSJIagod-Wc-Cg
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 07, 2009, 04:10:26 PM
Thanks for the info AL......I am shopping for batteries and a charger just for this unit.
However the ones that went dead on me were Energizers and I found out today why.
I thought I was turning off the unit with the remote...... :nono:........It was only in a stand by mode and still using the batteries all night and most of the next day. When I got home the batteries were  low and two sounds later dead.
I must turn the unit off using the button on the unit itself and the screen even tells me Bye! Bye!  :doh2:
The company called me today and were very helpfull. :yoyo:
It was all my fault the batteries should last 8 hrs or so.  I will try again lesson learned.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: KySongDog on January 07, 2009, 04:53:32 PM
Yep, failure to turn the unit off will have a significant effect on battery life, me thinks.   :roflmao:

Don't worry alcalls, you're from West-By-Gawd Virginny so we understand.   :roflmao:   :roflmao:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: Silencer on January 07, 2009, 05:05:43 PM
QuoteIt was only in a stand by mode and still using the batteries all night and most of the next day

Al, I think I found your problem.  You're not turning the unit off correctly.  You must do it on the unit itself not from the remote.   :innocentwhistle: :wink:

Quite often  I somehow turn mine on or forget to turn it off with it on mute and when I go to use it again its dead.  I think they should provide an auto turn off after so many minutes of not being used.  I know my camera has that function.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 07, 2009, 05:24:30 PM
In my defense..... There is a button on the remote that says on/off.......So I assumed... :shrug:
I should just stick with my mouth calls....no hasstle no batt. needed. :biggrin:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: Frogman on January 07, 2009, 05:43:45 PM
I'm happy you figured it out Al.  I know you were excited to get the call.  I hope it is working as expected now!

I have spent all afternoon trying to re-arange the sounds on my Scorpion.  Just got it up and running again.  Now the sounds are in different place than I'm used to.  I will have to get out and use it a lot before LBL so I can learn the new locations of my sounds!?


Jim
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: HaMeR on January 07, 2009, 08:11:01 PM
Al-- That  battery offer still stands!!  :yoyo: Just let me know.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: FinsnFur on January 09, 2009, 08:51:14 PM
Al,
Baxter says these things do infact have an off/on button on the remote, but your caller is still actually on when you turn it off via the remote.
In all actuality it only makes sense and is a cool little feature, because if it turned the unit off completely, you'd never be able to to tun it back ON via the remote.
It's still on, and that's how it's able to receive your signal to be turned back on. Off means stop playing.

So if you want to conserve battery life, kill the unit with the remote and then kill the unit with it's own switch. You'll probably triple your battery life.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 09, 2009, 08:57:28 PM
 :doh2: I know now.......
But I will always believe on means on and off means off!  :laf:
I just wish I had figured it out before wasting batteries :roflmao:
If the weather lets me I will give er a test run in the AM :wink:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: FinsnFur on January 09, 2009, 09:07:22 PM
Ok, you get the official Glen Guess big dummy award (http://www.finsandfur.net/forums/images/ggs.gif)

I gotta see what I can round up here for prizes.

NEXT!  :laf:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 09, 2009, 09:50:43 PM
hey give me a break my mouth calls dont have no buttons :wo: i should make on with buttons :laf: :laf: :laf:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: Frogman on January 09, 2009, 10:47:25 PM
Hang in there Al.  You will get it figured out.  I hope we can get and give it a try on Sat.

Jim
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 10, 2009, 09:49:31 PM
Took the new call out for a spin this evening......We took the shotguns hunting the thick stuff and a lot of fog/rain.
One Grey fox ran past me at about 70 yds. but it never came any closer so no shots fired this day.
The call worked well other than what I believe is a learning curve with the remote......I goofed up some operating it I think so time will tell. I will say I could not see the caller and had a small hill just blocking the view of the caller and the remote did a fine job of operating the call. About 80yds away from me.
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: HaMeR on January 10, 2009, 10:24:17 PM
Cool. How was the battery life?
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: alscalls on January 10, 2009, 10:26:24 PM
I played with it for an hour or so at home and then took it hunting and it still shows full charge so :shrug: We will see so far real good! :yoyo:
Title: Re: Battery life......
Post by: Silencer on January 12, 2009, 03:16:11 PM
good deal Al, they should last ya some time.