My Kestrel eats batteries

[PinesAndProjectiles]

I've got a 5500, no ballistics, and it seems that every time I go to use it, the batteries are dead. It's not very convenient. I've since started storing the batteries seperate and have been installing them at the range.

Am I doing something wrong here? Anyone else having the same issues?

 

[azred33]

Using AA Lithium Battery ?

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Yes, the Energizers.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I have the 4500 and use the same batteries and it lasts forever

 

[m1match]

I suspect that you have your Kestrel set to automatically log atmospheric data and probably at a very fast rate. In the menu for settings, the one that has the Mode and Bluetooth menus, there is a Menu choice called Memory Options. If you choose it, you get another menu group that includes Auto Store, Store Rate, Overwrite, and Clear Log. If you have Auto Store turned On the Kestrel logs and measures all the atmospherics and stores it to memory. The Store Rate can be set as fast as every 2 seconds, and it takes battery power every time it measures the atmospheric conditions and stores the data.

I turn Auto Store to off on mine because I don't have any need to bring up past logs of temp or baro pressure or any of the other atmospherics.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Thanks for all the input. I'll play around with it later and see if what's happening.

 

[DocUSMCRetired]

Turn Bluetooth off when not in use.

Turn logging off when not in use.

Make sure you have the newest firmware.

 

[JZimm9mm]

My Kestrel (4500NV) seems to always be at 100% battery until one day it's dead as can be. In fact, I just went to check it before writing this and it's dead as dead can be. I always use Engergizer lithium batteries. I keep a stock in my range bag.

 

[DocUSMCRetired]

My Kestrel (4500NV) seems to always be at 100% battery until one day it's dead as can be. In fact, I just went to check it before writing this and it's dead as dead can be. I always use Engergizer lithium batteries. I keep a stock in my range bag.

Make sure in the settings you have it to set to lithium.

That is because you have auto logging turned on. The devices do not actually turn off, they go in to a standby mode. Where they continue to log atmospherics (if you have it turned on to). You can reduce battery consumption by turning this off.

 

[JZimm9mm]

I do not see a setting for battery type on mine. My data logging was turned on, so I turned that off. Thanks for the tip m1match and Doc.

 

[Blowby]

Press the Gear button> Go to System> Then Batt option.

 

[Dooby]

i have the 5700 with link. i notice, at power-on, there are 2 battery readings.

"5700 Elite" screen it'll show bat%
"with Applied Ballistics" it'll show bat%

but sometimes it'll have different percentages.

Also, after using the bluetooth and connecting it with the NK Kestrel app, my Battery reading showed ~55-65%. After powering it down and turning off bluetooth. i tnow shows 100% on both boot-up screen.

Can anyone explain that?

 

[BANG...ping]

I have experienced the same problem as DDR. My Kestrel is fairly new and has the factory supplied battery.
Bang

 

[Dooby]

http://panhandleprecision.com/kestrel-5700-sportsman-review/

Might've found an explanation for the fluctuations. But using the Bluetooth should warm things up.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

http://panhandleprecision.com/kestrel-5700-sportsman-review/

Might've found an explanation for the fluctuations. But using the Bluetooth should warm things up.

I'm running the 5500 which is sans Bluetooth and AB

 

[squib]

My Kestrel (4500NV) seems to always be at 100% battery until one day it's dead as can be. In fact, I just went to check it before writing this and it's dead as dead can be. I always use Engergizer lithium batteries. I keep a stock in my range bag.

Mine will show 70% battery life one day and 100% the next. I beleive they are temp. sensitive?

 

[davere]

Lithium batteries are purported to be better in the cold than alkaline batteries. But, my experience is that they still show quite a bit of voltage drop. I see that in the LiFeS2 batteries we use in the Kestrel (ie, the Energizer), and in Li-ion batteries for my professional cameras. I've seen my Kestrel go from 100% to 37% on a cold day... and then be right back up at 100% the next day, after warming back up.

Lithium batteries also have a relatively flat discharge curve, which means that they maintain a pretty constant voltage through their life - until they don't. That can make it hard for electronics to predict how much battery life is left (they do that by monitoring the voltage being output by the battery - if the voltage is always the same, the device thinks the battery is about the same charge for a long time).