Caution: Watch Out for Batteries Too Long for Garmin Battery Compartment

I've recently discovered that Powerex 2300 mAh NiMH batteries can
break the flat battery contact spring in a Garmin GPSmap 76S
receiver. The Powerex 2300 mAh batteries have a positive terminal
button that is longer than other batteries and squeezes the flat
battery contact spring too much eventually causing it to fail
where the spring folds over (at the bend). It may have taken a
few insertions before the spring broke in one case. In the next
case, it broke the first time.

This does NOT happen to all Garmin 76 series receivers. I have
been using these batteries in a Garmin GPS 76 and a GPSmap 76
since January 2005 without breaking any spring, although the fit
is extremely tight.

The positive terminal button on all other batteries that I have is
shorter than the button on the Powerex 2300 mAh. This includes
Powerex 2200 mAh batteries and NEXcell 2300 mAh batteries. So most
batteries probably don't have this risk. So far I don't have any
batteries with a capacity greater than 2300 mAh so I don't know if
any other larger capacity batteries have this risk.

--
Dan
(email change 2001 to 2004)
(www.gpsmap.net)

well- I did wonder why the upper batter slot on my 76CS has no spring while
the bottom one does...
I'm using Energizer 2500 mAh and hope not to have the same problem

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 23:53:21 GMT, "Chull"


So do I.

On the other hand, it seems to be quite advantageous to have
slightly bigger AA cells that fit tightly, because this
alleviates the shake interruption problems some Garmin receivers
have.

Of course, if the cells are so big that the case breaks, that's
no good.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

Hmm, I've been using Energizer 2500s since buying my 76CS a little over
a year ago. One of the flat contact springs has definitely flattened.
Did your's actually break? Since I've now gone beyond the one year
warranty period and if it did break on mine, I wonder if Garmin would
repair it for free.

Bob

Bob wrote:
Yes, it broke. Most of the batteries (except the Powerex 2300's)
I currently use don't work (contact is not made between the
positive terminal and what's left of the flat spring) without
slipping a metal shim in between. The shoulder of the battery
rests against the plastic rails that holds the flat spring and
the positive terminal button isn't long enough to reach what's
left of the flat spring.

I decided to try some other batteries I don't use in GPS receivers
anymore. Note that they don't work if the distance from the
shoulder to the top of the positive button is on the short side.
If it's long enough, it will make electrical contact.

The following don't work:

Ray-O-Vac Rechargeable Alkaline
Powerex NiMH 2200 mAh
NEXcell NiMH 2300 mAh
Gold Peak NiMH 2000 mAh
Gold Peak NiMH 1800 mAh
Powerex NiMH 1800 mAh


The following work (turns on while sitting at desk - may be
more susceptible to vibration shutdowns):

Ray-O-Vac NiMH 1600 mAh
Longs brand regular Alkaline
Powerex 2300 mAh

--
Dan
(email change 2001 to 2004)