Garmin External Power Pack

[andym]

I've got a Dakota 20 that takes AA's. Last year when I toured I was getting about 16 hours (or two days riding) out of a pair of 2100 NiMH.

But through winter they would only go for 10 mins before giving up so I discovered Energiser Ultimate Lithium (disposable) as a solution. They seem to go on for ages so I am going to give them a go on tour this year.

Yes but unless you're planning on going somewhere really cold why not save money (and be kind to the planet) by sticking with the rechargeables?

 

[ianrauk]

Eventually, got one of these little things, which run off a pair of regular AAs, including rechargeables.
Should work just as well with a 500....

Just a quick update.
After testing Stu's charger in my Garmin Edge 205 and found it worked perfect. I ordered myself one a few days ago and received today.
A nice little gadget for taking on long rides to top up your Garmins.

 

[arallsopp]

I can't seem to get more than 10-12 hours intermittent out of my NiMH's in a Vista HCx. What brand are you running?

Momentarily off topic, but this doesn't sound right, mate.

I get at least double that, and use the green/red Uniross 2100mAh NiMH Low self discharge ones here: http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/nimh/aa-rechargeable-battery.htm

The principle thing for me is the low self discharge bit. I use the GPS fairly rarely (the FNRttC, and maybe the odd social in between) and suspect I lose more charge through chemistry than drain. A pair of 2100s will normally last me for a good 26 hours riding, spread over about a month. That said, Adam loaned me some 2700s on a recent FNRttC, and I put about 450 miles on them before they started flagging 'low'.

I bought the eTrex because battery technology just gets better and cheaper, whilst an individual (proprietary) battery gets simultaneously worse at holding a charge and harder to replace. AAs for me, all the way.

For a real shocker, try whatever variety of Energizer is currently packaged with the greatest number of superlatives and lightning strikes. IIRC, I changed the batteries once during LEL, and that was 100% routing with intermittent backlight.

 

[yello]

After testing Stu's charger in my Garmin Edge 205 and found it worked perfect. I ordered myself one a few days ago and received today.
A nice little gadget for taking on long rides to top up your Garmins.

A couple of questions, if I may...

- their website says if offers 'half to once' recharging of a gps device. How does it perform on an Edge? I reckon "half to once" would give a range of around 22 to 30 hours use.

- the recharge tips, how big are they? My single issue with my Geomadic charger is the size of the tip - I have to push the Edge mount slightly off centre when the recharge tip is in to avoid it resting against the handlebar stem and being at an angle into the Edge USB port... I want to avoid stressing the USB port if possible.

- the velcro mount, if you have it; is it effective and is it included in pack?

 

[ianrauk]

HI yello.
Well I haven't used it in anger yet as I only received it today.
I just ordered the charger and a single small usb cable only.

My Edge 205 last about 12+hours on a full charge. So if I use this for an hour or so on a cafe stop on a FNRttC it will last me
the trip home easy. I would think you could get 20+hours easy.

Stu should be able to give you more information as if I remember rightly he ordered the whole kit and caboodle.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Momentarily off topic, but this doesn't sound right, mate.

I get at least double that, and use the green/red Uniross 2100mAh NiMH Low self discharge ones here: http://www.batterylo...ble-battery.htm

The principle thing for me is the low self discharge bit. I use the GPS fairly rarely (the FNRttC, and maybe the odd social in between) and suspect I lose more charge through chemistry than drain. A pair of 2100s will normally last me for a good 26 hours riding, spread over about a month. That said, Adam loaned me some 2700s on a recent FNRttC, and I put about 450 miles on them before they started flagging 'low'.

I bought the eTrex because battery technology just gets better and cheaper, whilst an individual (proprietary) battery gets simultaneously worse at holding a charge and harder to replace. AAs for me, all the way.

For a real shocker, try whatever variety of Energizer is currently packaged with the greatest number of superlatives and lightning strikes. IIRC, I changed the batteries once during LEL, and that was 100% routing with intermittent backlight.

It must be the standing time self discharge that is doing me. If I use my Extrex (rare backlight no compass) on a weeks worth of commutes (I like to log the stats), including the odd long way home that is about 10 - 12 hours use. No way will it go through a FNRttC or even a leisurely 100km after that without a battery swap with the ones I'm using.

Though I suspect the classy batteries I bought are now in a Sky+ remote somewhere indoors!

and, moans wails grinds teeth, my charger is now flagging one pair of my AA's as 'bad'.

 

[StuAff]

A couple of questions, if I may...

- their website says if offers 'half to once' recharging of a gps device. How does it perform on an Edge? I reckon "half to once" would give a range of around 22 to 30 hours use.

- the recharge tips, how big are they? My single issue with my Geomadic charger is the size of the tip - I have to push the Edge mount slightly off centre when the recharge tip is in to avoid it resting against the handlebar stem and being at an angle into the Edge USB port... I want to avoid stressing the USB port if possible.

- the velcro mount, if you have it; is it effective and is it included in pack?

On the ride from Pompey up to the smoke for the Bognor FNRttC, running off freshly charged Duracell 2650 mAh cells, it powered the Edge for the whole seven hours with no problem. I had everything in the Carradice up to that point. For the ride itself and my trip home, I just used the Edge as normal- 50% power showing.
With my Android phone, managed about 25% extra charge with the phone running (inc data & GPS usage) before it gave up the ghost.
The tips are standard ones for this type of device (I managed to break the one in the set right after I got it, fortunately I had one from a wind-up charger). Not tried using it on the bike, have a feeling it wouldn't fit with my stems.
No velcro in my pack.

 

[yello]

The tips are standard ones for this type of device (I managed to break the one in the set right after I got it, fortunately I had one from a wind-up charger). Not tried using it on the bike, have a feeling it wouldn't fit with my stems. No velcro in my pack.

Cheers for that.

The tip I have with an 'Energiser-to-go' extender is narrower than the one with the Geomadic and it fits well with the Edge on the mount. I can't do a straight swap sadly, the latter's got a 3.5mm jack, the former a 2.5 hence it being narrower. I'm still pfaffing around trying to sort cable and connectors to enable me to use either, as and when, with the minimum of fuss.

 

[ColinJ]

They are some Vapex 2,700 mAH cells I bought from 7DayShop.com. Garmin claim about 100 mA consumption without the backlight so 24 hours or so is about right.

I have the original bottom of the range yellow Etrex. I never use the backlight.

I should have added that I always recharge my batteries the night before long rides so any self-discharge is minimal by the time I use them.

 

[pshore]

Yes but unless you're planning on going somewhere really cold why not save money (and be kind to the planet) by sticking with the rechargeables?

Convenience to be honest. More capacity, less weight to carry.

If on a trip longer than one week, the capital investment in rechargables gets questionable unless you buy a charging solution which is another product to buy. I have no idea if buying a few disposable batteries along the way for a once a year trip is any worse for the environment than buying a charging product.

The better solution for the environment is to not buy superfluous gadgets in the first place.

 

[yello]

The better solution for the environment is to not buy superfluous gadgets in the first place.

:lol; I like that! (Hope it was a throw away recyclable remark btw )