Robert
11-02-2007, 05:24 PM
Garmin GPS & the New Energizer Lithium Batteries User’s Report
Energizer disposable lithium AA cells (blue and silver) are very popular with SAR team members for multiple reasons: they are light; have a long shelf life; have the same cost/power ratio as alkaline batteries; perform better in cold weather; and pack twice as much power per cell as alkaline batteries. But, Energizer has changed the chemistry of their lithium cells from 1.5 volts to a minimum of 1.7 volts, which has caused problems in some products such as Petzel headlamps and Garmin GPS units. Some GPS units (e.g., 60CSx) have over-voltage protection that shuts the unit down at about 1.6-1.65 volts, which means if you put a couple of the new Energizer lithium AA batteries in your Garmin GPS it will turn itself off. For now, the only solutions are to use less effective alkaline batteries instead or to use a bit of the voltage off the lithium batteries by using them in something else first.
Energizer disposable lithium AA cells (blue and silver) are very popular with SAR team members for multiple reasons: they are light; have a long shelf life; have the same cost/power ratio as alkaline batteries; perform better in cold weather; and pack twice as much power per cell as alkaline batteries. But, Energizer has changed the chemistry of their lithium cells from 1.5 volts to a minimum of 1.7 volts, which has caused problems in some products such as Petzel headlamps and Garmin GPS units. Some GPS units (e.g., 60CSx) have over-voltage protection that shuts the unit down at about 1.6-1.65 volts, which means if you put a couple of the new Energizer lithium AA batteries in your Garmin GPS it will turn itself off. For now, the only solutions are to use less effective alkaline batteries instead or to use a bit of the voltage off the lithium batteries by using them in something else first.