Perdix AI AA Battery

[Saboteur]

Thanks to all who advised..it is cheap insurance.

 

[davehicks]

Over time Shearwater has gotten much more explicit in stating that you should NOT use alkaline batteries in their dive computers. Older documentation may not reflect this but if you read the FAQ on their website it is very clear now. The newest computers ship with package inserts warning about using alkaline cells.

What Shearwater says now is:

• Don't use alkaline
• Do use Energizer Lithium batteries

While you can still use SAFT, rechargeable lithiums, and even alkaline AA batteries, these are all secondary choices.

• SAFT has an issue with fakes, and they go from Full Charge to Low charge over the course of a single dive.
• Rechargeable lithium cells don't have many hours of run time, and quality varies greatly.
• Alkaline cells will eventually leak in your computer if you use them frequently, can cost you $$$ for a repair. Only use these in desperation and remove the battery after any repetitive dives are over.
• Energizer lithium lasts many hours, readily available, doesn't leak, and has enough power to run the big haptic motors in the newest Shearwater models.

 

[Saboteur]

Over time Shearwater has gotten much more explicit in stating that you should NOT use alkaline batteries in their dive computers. Older documentation may not reflect this but if you read the FAQ on their website it is very clear now. The newest computers ship with package inserts warning about using alkaline cells.

What Shearwater says now is:

• Don't use alkaline
• Do use Energizer Lithium batteries

While you can still use SAFT, rechargeable lithiums, and even alkaline AA batteries, these are all secondary choices.

• SAFT has an issue with fakes, and they go from Full Charge to Low charge over the course of a single dive.
• Rechargeable lithium cells don't have many hours of run time, and quality varies greatly.
• Alkaline cells will eventually leak in your computer if you use them frequently, can cost you $$$ for a repair. Only use these in desperation and remove the battery after any repetitive dives are over.
• Energizer lithium lasts many hours, readily available, doesn't leak, and has enough power to run the big haptic motors in the newest Shearwater models.

Interesting .. yes the Perdix 2 says don’t use alkaline, the Perdix AI manual says they are “recommended” but with the leakage and time caveats. It came with the Energizer alkaline. Anyhow, it’s been changed out to Energizer lithium and I’m taking several spares.
Also of note on Shearwater’s faq battery question is a link to Energizers site. They guarantee with repair or replacement any device with leakage from their alkaline batteries. I did not know that.
Thanks all.

 

[brsnow]

Would you change out a battery on new perdix 2?

 

[scrane]

I am reluctant to use alkalines in my Perdix but it’s nice to know you can use those universally available AAs in an emergency.

 

[Belzelbub]

Would you change out a battery on new perdix 2?

If it's an alkaline battery, yes. Just not worth the risk to me.

My Perdix AI came with an alkaline battery installed. First thing I did was replace it with a Lithium.

 

[Marie13]

Would you change out a battery on new perdix 2?

If it didn’t come with an Energizer Ultimate Lithium, yes. Now this reminds me to make a note to check the battery that came in the Petrel 3 I got with my new CCR a month ago.

 

[Jens Bölte]

Hi,

I kept on using AA instead of Energizer Ulitmate Lithium despite the change in recommendation by Shearwater. Yes, AA can leak but you must keep them for a long period time in your computer and they must drop to extremely low voltage for this to happen. So depending on temperature the AAs last about 50 hours of diving. That is about 6 months of diving for me. I usually dive the AAs until the Shearwater gives a warning or I go cave diving. Then I change them when they hit 1.2 V. Keep in mind, that the vibration alarm does not work with AAs.

Best wishes Jens

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Hi,

I kept on using AA instead of Energizer Ulitmate Lithium despite the change in recommendation by Shearwater. Yes, AA can leak but you must keep them for a long period time in your computer and they must drop to extremely low voltage for this to happen. So depending on temperature the AAs last about 50 hours of diving. That is about 6 months of diving for me. I usually dive the AAs until the Shearwater gives a warning or I go cave diving. Then I change them when they hit 1.2 V. Keep in mind, that the vibration alarm does not work with AAs.

Best wishes Jens

You’re playing with fire, but it’s your computer. I hear the new Perdix 2 is pretty nice. Trash yours with a battery leak and you can always upgrade.

 

[happy-diver]

Well thank's, for reminding me to remove the flat Energiser from my Petrel EXT
on the Chest mounted CC rebreather that I built in the laundry a few years ago.

and the flat Saft out of the OC Perdix, there was no leakage and only the slightest
of sealed battery compartment stench, well I have used them each once this year.

and for reminding me to remove my Perdix from its console before it gets smashed
on the current crop of anti computer rocks, I find myself diving amongst these days.

Because I don't really need a computer here although I end up in 14 metres dropping
off the shelf, as I am busy looking for what may kill me on these oceanmanship dives.


So thanks and Energiser only it is as any of that other stuff is just bad practice diving!