Caliper batteries...

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raddiver

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So i thought i would share.
I don't know about you guys, but when im reloading, my calipers never get a chance to turn off so i burn through a bunch. At the cost of 5.00 for 3 batteries in most stores, i had to find something different.

So anyway, I took a chance and bought a lot of 150 357/303 batteries for my calipers from ebay.
So far so good. Ill report back later on how long they last.
But i figured at the tune of 6.00 per 150, compared to 5.00 / per 3, i shouldn't have to buy batteries for a very long time, even if they are not as great as energizer or Duracell.

battmanaz is the seller i bought from. Ordered them on Saturday, arrived Wed.

Just thought id share and try and save y'all a few bucks to spend elsewhere on components. :)

-Rad
 
Unfortunately, the inexpensive digital calipers are hard on batteries. They even discharge when the caliper is turned off.

Best to remove the batteries when the calipers are in storage.

Good source for reasonably priced batteries.

Of course, dial calipers don't have battery life issues.
 
That's the ticket rad. You can't bear evilbay for those kind of batteries. I get the ones for my weapon lights and lasers there as well and I've had excellent service from them.

The wife needed some that were about the size of a quarter and they were nearly $10 each in town. I got 5 delivered for 99 cents.

You can also get the cells to rebuild your battery powered drill motors there.

Seedtick

:)
 
I reload 3 to 4 times per week and maybe average 1 hour each time--call it 4 hours per week total. I measure every cartridge, so it's always on.
I use the higher end Harbor Freight 6" digital caliper and go through about 3 batteries per year. I have a back-up caliper from Frankford Arsenal that used about the same when it was my only caliper.

I would store those less expensive batteries in the refrigerator (not the freezer) to extend their shelf-life.
 
Good buy. Will definitely look into that. I've always kept mine in the freezer as that is how the old military did it. The lower the temp, the longer they will keep. But.... either the frig or freezer; keep in an air/moisture tight container (relative humidity in either is 100%). Also is good to remember that when warming them back up for use, moisture will condense on them and cause problems. I use a vac-pac and put usable quantities with two seals between each batch where they can be cut away and warmed while still sealed.
 
Condensation problems?

I imagine that condensation on batteries while they are warming up from being in cold storage might be a problem.

I wonder if putting the (warming) batteries in 1) a flowing air stream or 2) a sealed container with a dessicant might prevent the problem.

If I lived in an arid climate, #1 might work well enough. If a humid climate, #2, though it is harder to monitor.

Aside from commercial dessicants, which are more popular nowadays, we used to keep rice in our salt shakers to keep the salt from clumping. I lived in the Panama Canal Zone and in Hawaii for a few years as a kid. You learn these tricks.

Lost Sheep
 
I bought a card of 357 batteries from Sam's Club a while back. I think there were a dozen batteries in the pack for the price of only two.

AND, you don't have to support that anti-gun organization Ebay!
 
Unfortunately, the inexpensive digital calipers are hard on batteries. They even discharge when the caliper is turned off.

Best to remove the batteries when the calipers are in storage.
Click to expand...

Usually caused from putting the calibers in the case and shutting it ant the semi firm foam pushes on the "on" button making the battery run down. Make note where the button is and releive that area on the foam on the lid of the case and more than likely the problem will be solved.
 
jcwit said:
Usually caused from putting the calibers in the case and shutting it ant the semi firm foam pushes on the "on" button making the battery run down. Make note where the button is and releive that area on the foam on the lid of the case and more than likely the problem will be solved.
Click to expand...

Yes, the lids on the cases is a known cause of turning on the calipers when not wanted. Checking for this condition is easy and as stated, the fix is easy.

But, even so, the calipers discharge batteries at an unacceptable rate when turned off and the on button not depressed. I have several inexpensive calipers and if I do not remove the batteries, the batteries will be dead in just a few months.

As, I do not use some of the calipers very frequently, it gets frustrating and expensive to replace the batteries for every couple of measurements. Easy solution is to remove the batteries between uses. The batteries last a very long time and I do not risk damaging the calipers from leaking batteries.

As additional notes, this condition is not limited to inexpensive calipers. When I was an engineer on a paper machine, our inspection tool box included a digital Starret micrometer. It would consume batteries between uses that were several months apart. Standard operating procedure was to draw batteries from small stores when setting up to take some measurements. Eventually, we got smart and removed the batteries.

As another side note, I have an inexpensive digital readout the vertical axis of my milling machine. I cannot kill the button batteries in it even when leaving it on for days at a time. In five years, I may have replaced the batteries once. But, i have slept since then. Go figure.
 
Yea, let us know if they last. I just changed out my batteries yesterday and said to myself I need to find some more.

Nice timing!
 
Not doubting your experience cfullgraf, but "there's that funny 3 letter word" the pr. of Harbor Freight Digi's that I bought 4/5 years ago, I've only replaced the batteries once and yes I leave them in all the time. Who knows what the deal is? Got me?

Batteries I use are from the Shipshewana Flea Mkt in Indiana, same battery one uses in a lazer pointer AKA kitty toy.
 
I started out with the Frankford Arsenal digital calipers and resisted the advice to go analog for a long time. I did get to where I just hated the hassle of replacing batteries, moreso because it was an aggravation rather than the expense. But one day on a whim, I bought a set of Lyman dial calipers for $25. I sorta needed a second set anyway just so that I could leave my cartridge comparator attached to one set to measure shoulder setback and still have another set handy to measure total case length. Anyway, after using the dial caliper a few times, I am totally sold on it. First of all I don't have to change batteries on it ever. But even more importantly is that when you are using the digital calipers, most times when you first turn it on and zero it out, it tends to hold that setting even after making some measurements and then setting it down for 15 minutes. Usually. But not always. To be safe I found myself constantly turning it back to zero just to verify. No problem with the dial calipers.
 
Lost Sheep:
I imagine that condensation on batteries while they are warming up from being in cold storage might be a problem.
Click to expand...

I'm 65 years old and have been storing household spare batteries in the fridge since "pre-alkaline" times. The alkaline, NiMH and Lithium batts probably don't gain significant life from being refrigerated, but mine is a habit started during carbon battery times.
I live in a hot moderately humid area and have had no problems storing batts this way.
YMMV

It's true about the "box" potentially hitting the "on" button when the lid closes. This could be causing the fast battery drainages mentioned above.
 
jcwit said:
Not doubting your experience cfullgraf, but "there's that funny 3 letter word" the pr. of Harbor Freight Digi's that I bought 4/5 years ago, I've only replaced the batteries once and yes I leave them in all the time. Who knows what the deal is? Got me?

Batteries I use are from the Shipshewana Flea Mkt in Indiana, same battery one uses in a lazer pointer AKA kitty toy.
Click to expand...

Maybe a caliper's appetite for batteries depends on whether the Chinaman on the assembly line had white or brown rice the night before.:)
 
I got tired of the battery eating cheap digital and got another dial type to go with my previous one so I could have one to take around and misplace while the other stayed put.
I have a very nice vernier but it is getting hard to read as time marches on.
 
I buy Sunbeam brand button cells at the dollar store. Eight or ten 357's to a card I think, or maybe LR44's. They last a lot longer than the ones I got a couple of years ago when I bought some online along with stocking-up on mercury cells for my old cameras and light meters. (the mercury cells aren't lasting all that long either, and they are supposed to last about forever when not in use)
 
I just now orderd a 10 pack of the CR2032 for $2.75 with FREE shipping.

It does sound too good to be true, but even if they are crapola I have not wasted a fortune - lol - I suspect however that they will do just fine in my MTM DS-1250 digital scale.
 
RustyFN said:
That is why I own one of these.

ry%3D400.jpg

The batteries have never died and they are always ready when I need them.
Click to expand...
Im with you Rusty , being a oldtimer & a machinist / mechanic , I don`t have battery trouble , not in my tools anyway !
 
Last edited:
Jim Watson said:
I got tired of the battery eating cheap digital and got another dial type to go with my previous one so I could have one to take around and misplace while the other stayed put.
I have a very nice vernier but it is getting hard to read as time marches on.
Click to expand...

I keep an old vernier around as a reminder of the "Good Ole Days". It does always work even if the operator's eyes don't.:)
 
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