rangefinder battery

[wmdron]

I need some advice. I recently bought a rangefinder, do I leave the battery in or take it out if it isn't going to be used for several weeks ? thanks, Ron...

 

[articmp]

I've never had any problem with leaving my current battery in..... I now use the ATN RangerEye 1500, which has a standard 9 volt battery. The ATN has an ungodly battery life, and has never shown any sign of leakage or corrosion. I did have a Nikon Buckmaster 440, it did show a little corrosion after the o-ring started to leak. The Nikon ate batteries like no tomorrow, the o-ring began to fail after about the 10th battery. And the Nikon used those overpriced lithium camera batteries. The ATN will run thousands of readings on a battery versus maybe 100 readings with the Nikon.

 

[itchyTF]

I don't know what the magic number is but I've had leakage problems with AA and AAA batteries left for a while. I wouldn't worry about a few weeks but I wouldn't risk it if it is more than that. Again, I don't know the magic number.

I had a tray of Duracell AAA batteries with a March 2014 date on them. After having a hell of a time getting two AAA batteries out of a laser pointer after they leaked, I went to the tray for 2 "new" batteries and noticed that 2 in the tray had leaked!

 

[fr3db3ar]

My rangefinders have never had the batteries changed and they are over 4 years old. Still work.

 

[flatlander]

I bought a Swarovski LG off the sample list at SWFA several years ago. Initially, I was extremely pleased with everything about this LRF, especially the legendary Swaro optical quality. However, about a year after the purchase, it suddenly started 'eating' batteries. I replaced the battery, and a week later - even though I hadn't used it to range anything - the new battery went T-U. Replaced it with another new one, and bingo - same thing again. Called Swaro's customer care, got a RA, and sent it in. Got a postcard notice a couple weeks later saying that they'd have to return it to the factory in Austria, and that it'd be several weeks before I could expect it back.
Well, it was worth the wait - Swarovski fixed the problem, and it's now been over three years since I replaced the battery.

I've ranged semi truck trailers on the highway at over 1900yds with the Swaro, but it's pretty tough to hit the small 12" swinger on the backstop at my range from 1000 with the Swaro's large aiming aperture.

 

[fredhorace77]

I had one of the older Bushnell yardage pro 800 compacts I used for bow hunting. same batteries in it for three years with no problem. picked it up one day and batteries were dead so I thought no biggie I got my dollars worth out of them. opened the lid to find the batteries had leaked. I cleaned it all up but still couldn't get it to work. upon further inspection the corrosion had traveled down the wires to the circuit board and broke loose the wire connection. fyi. don't try to saulder those back yourself. send it in for repair. consequently I ruined mine. with my new model I now take out the batteries at the end of the day. cheap insurance for this expensive new leica unit I bought

 

[fr3db3ar]

I can agree with Fred on that one. My night vision will eat batteries if I leave them in. I now turn the battery around in the houseing so that it's there but doesn't make a connection. Last a lot longer that way and doesn't get misplaced.

 

[wmdron]

Thanks everyone, this is what I wanted to hear. I wasn't sure what everyone was doing with their RF"s. I think I will err on the side of caution and remove the batteries after use.