"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Rich Greenberg wrote:
snip

Manufactures usually start off with a recommendation to
freguently test critical battery operated devices and to
change batteries in other equipment when it starts to
operate poorly (duh). Then they jackup the recommendation
to include more frequent testing or to changing the
batteries at some arbitrary fixed interval. That usually
progresses to a recommendation to change batteries at an
even more frequent level to help sales and avoid any chance
of customer problems.

Your change frequency depends on the type batteries you
use. Regular, heavy duty, or the energizer type. Appliance
manufactures have to assume the lowest common denominator,
which is the regular battery, to avoid customer complaint
and law suits. For critical use, I think you should use
only the energizer type batteries, and you waste resources
if you change them as if they were regular batteries. The
logical thing to do is test how long the batteries will last
in that appliance by marking the date and then seeing when
they fail, because appliances vary in their power
requirements. After that, change them in response to your
tests.

You can also take them out of the critical components early and reuse
them for portable radios, toys, etc until they die.

Sorry that doesn't work. Do you ever check the voltage of
your batteries and know when they quit working in an
appliance? Do you even know what the voltage of a fresh
battery is? Well I do. Batteries that still work in some
of the critical appliances will not operate many other
appliances. A battery that is low but operates my smoke
alarm or thermostat backup for another several months will
die almost immediately in an R/C transmitter and won't even
start the tape in my walkman type machine.

David Babcock wrote:

Then you take the older batteries and use them in something that isn't
critical and more likely to use the remaining charge, like a radio, or a R/C
toy, etc.

"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message
...
Work for a battery manufacturer do you. I just replaced my
thermostat battery when a problem with my furnace appeared.
The battery had no affect on the problem and was still
functioning. But it was 28 months old. Replaced the
battery in my battery operated smoke dector last week
thinking the tweet came from it. Nope it was a CO monitor I
forgot about, but left the new battery in the smoke detctor
anyway. The old battery was dated 01/24/01. The previous
battery last well over 2 years also. Several years ago I
started putting a piece of masking tape on all batteries
with the replacement date, so I would have some idea how
long they lasted. Well, know I know. Changing ever year is
a waste of time, and changing every 6 months is a waste of
resources.

If the guy is worried, he should change the batteries in
critical equipment before he leaves. I don't, but then I
check the date on the battery and the operation of the item.

Joe Bobst wrote:

I want my house to be more proofed for things like temporary power
outages,
etc, in case we are not around.

Do what everyone else does with these thermostats - put in new batteries
when
Daylight Saving time rolls around. Why get all worked up about something
that
is your own responsibility? You can get control systems that are
fail-safe and
fool proof, but unless you have a seven figure income they may be priced
beyond
your budget. Odds are your batteries had gone way beyond their stated
effective
life, so if you tend to be forgetful, get the highest quality
replacements on
the market.
Maybe a warning tag on your furnace filter compartment would be helpful
for
next year. HTH

Joe

"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Sorry that doesn't work. Do you ever check the voltage of
your batteries and know when they quit working in an
appliance? Do you even know what the voltage of a fresh
battery is? Well I do. Batteries that still work in some
of the critical appliances will not operate many other
appliances. A battery that is low but operates my smoke
alarm or thermostat backup for another several months will
die almost immediately in an R/C transmitter and won't even
start the tape in my walkman type machine.

There are plenty of things which do not have such high current
requirements. Also, my suggestion was not directed toward people who
leave the batteries in until they are low, as you suggested, it was for
people who want to change them out way before failure.

It may seem like overkill, but I never have to worry about a dead battery

Dave

"Rich Greenberg" wrote in message
...
In article pfoHb.217354$_M.954070@attbi_s54,
David Babcock wrote:

Two things I do as I turn my clocks ahead and back, change the batteries
in
my smoke detector, and in my Thermostat. The cost is minimal, the safety
factor isn't.

Twice a year seems like overkill. I change all the smoke detector and
clock backup batteries between xmas & new years. Just yesterday to be
exact. My thermostat doesn't have a battery.
12 9v block batteries. 2 six packs from Sams.

--
Rich Greenberg Work: Rich.Greenberg atsign worldspan.com + 1 770 563
6656
N6LRT Marietta, GA, USA Play: richgr atsign panix.com + 1 770 321
6507
Eastern time zone. I speak for myself & my dogs only. VM'er since
CP-67
Canines:Val(Chinook,CGC,TT), Red & Shasta(Husky,(RIP))
Owner:Chinook-L
Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/ Asst
Owner:Sibernet-L

C G wrote:

"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Sorry that doesn't work. Do you ever check the voltage of
your batteries and know when they quit working in an
appliance? Do you even know what the voltage of a fresh
battery is? Well I do. Batteries that still work in some
of the critical appliances will not operate many other
appliances. A battery that is low but operates my smoke
alarm or thermostat backup for another several months will
die almost immediately in an R/C transmitter and won't even
start the tape in my walkman type machine.

There are plenty of things which do not have such high current
requirements. Also, my suggestion was not directed toward people who
leave the batteries in until they are low, as you suggested, it was for
people who want to change them out way before failure.

Yeah, I understood your suggestion. YOU didn't understand
that I am saying that most things require a higher current
to operate properly than a smoke detector or a backup
battery for the thermostat.

It isn't really relevant, since changing batteries every 6
months is just plain paranoid. My vehicle manufacture
suggest oil changes every 5 months, the dealer says the oil
should be changed every 3 months. I suggest that if your
vehicle is similar that you not believe the dealer but have
it changed every month. Better get that gas furnace
inspected and maintained twice a year also.

not likeky , air space will keep it from freezing but IGNORAMUS
says it all MMR

"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

C G wrote:

"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Sorry that doesn't work. Do you ever check the voltage of
your batteries and know when they quit working in an
appliance? Do you even know what the voltage of a fresh
battery is? Well I do. Batteries that still work in some
of the critical appliances will not operate many other
appliances. A battery that is low but operates my smoke
alarm or thermostat backup for another several months will
die almost immediately in an R/C transmitter and won't even
start the tape in my walkman type machine.

There are plenty of things which do not have such high current
requirements. Also, my suggestion was not directed toward people who
leave the batteries in until they are low, as you suggested, it was for
people who want to change them out way before failure.

Yeah, I understood your suggestion. YOU didn't understand
that I am saying that most things require a higher current
to operate properly than a smoke detector or a backup
battery for the thermostat.

I did understand that. I was making a suggestion to the compulsive
people who insist on changing the batteries way earlier than necessary.
From what you have said, I doubt you are in that category.


It isn't really relevant, since changing batteries every 6
months is just plain paranoid.

We agree on this.

My vehicle manufacture
suggest oil changes every 5 months, the dealer says the oil
should be changed every 3 months.

Interesting, my manufacturer says every 7,500 miles. The dealer agrees.

I suggest that if your
vehicle is similar that you not believe the dealer but have
it changed every month.

Huh?

Better get that gas furnace
inspected and maintained twice a year also.

Only twice?

I'm constantly amazed by the battery life of a reproduction "Regulator"
pendlum clock on my kitchen wall.

The darn thing has a regular geared clockwork mechanism timed by an honest
to G-d working pendulum The mainspring is wound up by a little 1.5v dc
motor which gets kicked on when the spring runs down. (You can hear the
motor whir for a few seconds while it's doing that.)

It's been going strong on one alkaline C cell for at least three years now.

Happy New Year,

Jeff

--
Jeff Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"If you can keep smiling when things go wrong, you've thought of someone to
place the blame on."



"George E. Cawthon" wrote:

Wow! I thought my 34 month battery (9 V) was pretty good.

Art Begun wrote:

I've had the same batteries in my 3 thermostats for 6 years with no
problem. Pretty amazing when I think about it. I know they still
work because usually once every year, the float gets stuck in the
condensation pump on one of them and that causes the safety to cut
power to the furnace and the thermostat goes on battery till I fix it
(clean out the algae). I have 3 separate HVAC systems. Wouldn't
screw around if I only had 1.