Garmin(rechargeable Batteries)

[cburchett77]

I bought the duracell rechargeable batteries from Wal-Mart. I put the batteries on charge over night. The next morning they showed fully charged. I put them in my gps and the battery indicator showed the batteries to be not fully charged. This makes the second set I have tried. I took the other ones back to Wal-Mart thinking it was the batteries. The question is; will the gps run the batteries for a long time and it just don't recognize the batteries to be fully charged or will I have to go with the Garmin batteries to last? It shows a full battery on the regular batteries that you throw away after they are done.

[hookset]

New batteries have to build up a memory, or lose memory, I don't remember. I was told to charge, then drain the batteries completely for about three cycles. The batteries should then hold charge the best. I'm getting pretty good usage out of the Duracell rechargables, but it took about a week of using them for them to show full charge in the Garmin.

[cburchett77]

Thanks. That is what I wanted to know. If I take another set back to wal-mart to trade in they are going to ask questions.LOL I left it on all day to day to try to drain them down or to see if they go dead. I will know more this evening. I will keep them and try them out some more.

[Norshore]

Clyde,
I have been doing the same thing for a while now, mine show fully charged when I put them in. I have noticed the top bar on the charge indicator falls off quicker than a new battery, after that they seem to last as long as any other battery I have tried.

Maybe try running them down to nothing and then re-charge, seems crazy but it does work on alot of batteries. And check the settings screen (page 44) you may need to change the battery type.

[birmi1nr]

There a setting in your garmin that you have to change for the type of batteries that you install in it to get the battery life to read correctly on the garmin. You need to change it to the NiMh setting for the rechargables. Without having my Garmin in front of me I can't tell you how to do it, but thats your problem.

[hookset]

I have noticed the top bar on the charge indicator falls off quicker than a new battery, after that they seem to last as long as any other battery I have tried

I've seen the exact same thing. It goes to 3 bars quickly then stays there a long time.

[Norshore]

Settings
The Settings menu (MENU> MENU> Advanced>
Settings) customizes the operation ofyour Astro 220.
System Setup

To open the System page:
Press MENU> MENU> Advanced> Settings>
System.

• GPS-sets the unit to operate in Nonnal mode,
Battery Saver mode, GPS Off, or Demo Mode.

• WAAS/EGNOS-enables or disables WMS (Wide
Area Augmentation System) in the U.S., or EGNOS
(European Geostationary Navigation Overlay
Service).

• Battery Type-selects the battery type (alkaline,
NiMH, or lithium).

• External Power Lost-selects whether the
Astro 220 stays on or turns off when external
power is removed.

• Proximity Alarms-turns all proximity alarms on or
off.

To restore system defaults and view system
information:
On the System page, press MENU.
• Restore Defaults-restores system settings to the
default settings.
• View Card Inf()-(jisplays the microSD card status.
• Mass Storage Mode-allows you to use the
microSD card as a data-storage device
• Software Version-displays the Astro 220 software
version, the GPS SW version, and the unit
identification number.
• NOTE: View Card Info and Mass Storage Mode are
~ available only when a microSD card is installed.

[cburchett77]

birmi1nr: Thanks. I went home and checked my battery type and that was it. I was sure it was on the right one, but I forgot I bought a couple of lithium batteries and changed it then. I put it on rechargeable NiMH and it showed them to be fully charged. This is the forum at it's best. Thanks for all the replies.