Digital calipers, and battery use...

[dbhost]

I currently own 2 digital calipers, Both are 6" calipers. The first is a Neiko 6" from Amazon, and the second is a Harbor Freight 6" Digital caliper.

Something I found out sadly is that both of these things seem to go through batteries like crazy. My solution has been to, instead of just turning it off and putting it back into the case, I take the extra step of removing the battery and stowing hte battery in the little pocket in the case.

I just find it a nuisance to have to replace the batteries every month or two, using this method I have been getting an average of 6 months life out of the batteries. Still seems a bit excessive, but at least I don't constantly wonder if the caliper will power on when I need it...

Might just be. I probably missed it.

[LCHIEN]

I posted some years back that I tested HF calipers with a precision microammeter.
I was not too surprised to find the current draw when off is the same as when on.
The only difference is the LCD current usage which is usually quite small and made no difference.

I am pretty sure that most all of those digiatal calipers work the same way. They have a etched patterns that give an electronic pulse for each movement of .0005 inches. And keeps relative track from when it was last zeroed. Basically the unit measures and keep track of position all the time.
The reason whey they keep the power on while off is to maintain the zero - and the count. you will find if you move it while off they still indicate proper zero. Otherwise you would have to rezero the unit each time.

[capncarl]

I have several cards of button batteries, I thought I had all the bases covered and could replace about any button battery..... until last week. Now I need to find another weird size. How many different sizes are there?

[Condoman44]

I agree. In fact between my tools that use button batteries and the watches my LOML uses I have a supply of many sizes. Some time ago I found a battery cross reference guide from Mallory. I adapted it to a Word document that I share here. I keep my inventory of batteries and use it as a reference when needed.

BatteryCrossRefChart.doc

[capncarl]

It’s not just digital calipers that constantly use up the batteries. Somewhere on this site someone explained that the device was always on, the switch only turned off the display. I have several other digital devices, a Wixley angle box, another angle device, my favorite is the Craftsman digital miter gauge.... even the digital depth gauge on my Dewalt planer eats batteries unless they are removed from the device. I’m not sure if the same problem isn’t true with the digital thermometer and digital multimeters.

[twistsol]

I'm in the same boat. Every time I took the calipers out of the drawer the battery was dead. I now also take out the batteries and keep a supply of them on hand in the shop ... because I often forget.

[cwsmith]

I do the same as I recall reading a few comments about this a couple of years ago. IIRC, I thought it was Loring who offered the idea, but I could be wrong.

CWS

[dbhost]

I currently own 2 digital calipers, Both are 6" calipers. The first is a Neiko 6" from Amazon, and the second is a Harbor Freight 6" Digital caliper.

Something I found out sadly is that both of these things seem to go through batteries like crazy. My solution has been to, instead of just turning it off and putting it back into the case, I take the extra step of removing the battery and stowing hte battery in the little pocket in the case.

I just find it a nuisance to have to replace the batteries every month or two, using this method I have been getting an average of 6 months life out of the batteries. Still seems a bit excessive, but at least I don't constantly wonder if the caliper will power on when I need it...