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Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

J

jlow

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 15, 2010
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I have the above instrument and it seems that the batteries run flat after 3 months even if I only use it a few times (less than 10) and turn it off afterwards.

I like the unit except for this and was wondering if the problem is that it actually drains the battery even when it is turned off, or could it be that even when it is in something like a Triad Tactical Kestrel MOLLE Pouch that the on button can be triggered accidentally?
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

I have a 4500 and my batteries usually puke in 3 month increments regardless of usage. In fact they puked on me today as I was leafing through my logbook to dope my scope. Today was my first time on the rifle in 1 month and I assure you the kestrel was off for that month.
Seems even the nuclear batteries (duracel ultra, energizer max) designed for electronics don't last long either.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Watch those bad boys. My Kestrel batteries died while it wasn't in use and I had the dreaded "blue fuzz" corrosive crap in the battery compartment. Since it appears to be stainless there wasn't much harm but I am watching it carefully now.

Tom
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Thanks guys for the quick response, so that confirms my own fears – will just have to do a scheduled battery change to avoid that blue fuzz!

I wonder the reason for the drain? The unit must keep some part of the system running all the time regardless of whether it is turned on or not or it cannot burn through batteries that fast? Maybe someone from Kestrel can comment to help us understand.

I have a high end Sony Viao laptop that has a similar problem but with that one, I can pop off the battery and it then will not drain. Unfortunately you cannot do this with the Krestrel since you have to recalibrate the compass each time you change batteries….
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

OK, I think I figure it out.

It appears that the Kestrel even when it is turned off, is designed to “<span style="color: #FF0000">continue to automatically store data at the defined store rate</span>” which can span from ever 2 sec to 12 hours. Apparently “<span style="color: #FF0000">The battery life will be decreased if data is stored frequently</span>.” So I intend to check the default rate and change that to a longer time since I have not used this feature.

Apparently “<span style="color: #FF0000">The only way to completely shut off the unit is to remove the batteries</span>”.

HTH
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

The data snapshot is a good feature when you're up in the mountains and are expecting a weather change. Based on the air pressure / temp you can predict the weather and see trends... But you're right, it doesn't need to be every 30 seconds!

Mine is set to once an hour it'll take a picture and store it - had mine for over a year now with the same batteries.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Put in new batteries and check the default store rate and this appears to be <span style="text-decoration: underline">1 per hour</span>, changed it to <span style="text-decoration: underline">once per 6 hours </span>to see if it improves.

Not sure you want to pop the battery compartment off when not in use since you will loose all your calibration including your compass and any special screen setup you like.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

My 4500NV has the store rate set to 1 hour. I hasn't eaten any batteries in the 3 months I've had it. The battery level has stayed above 80%.

It appears you can also turn off the auto store function in the setup menu, meaning you can only store data manually. You guys with battery issues might want to give that a try to see if anything improves.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Actually, this is the second time that my Krestrel has run out of power after 3 months. The first time I thought I had accidentally left it on, but it appears not to be the case.

As for turn off the auto store function, I think the manual says that this cannot be turned off.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

yes they do, i just replaced mine after about 1 month, i'm also running the BT interface and it drains the coppertops real quick.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Every time I turn mine on without using it the batteries are less and less. I had to change the recording interval
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Yup, change the recording and switched to rechargeable NiMH low self discharge battery's 2500 mAh.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

It’s been a little over a month now since I changed the battery on 8/15/2011 and I just checked them, the screen says 90% so it appears to be lasting a bit longer….. Remember, I changed the storage rate from 1 per hour to 1 per 6 hours. I am using the regular copper tops.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

I've grown addicted to my new 4500 NV, but was experiencing overwhelmingly rapid battery depletion. Steve Sheldon of Triad Tactical was kind enough to give me this same gouge.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

It works. It's been 6 months now and I still have 80% battery when I checked it this last week.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jlow</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Put in new batteries and check the default store rate and this appears to be <span style="text-decoration: underline">1 per hour</span>, changed it to <span style="text-decoration: underline">once per 6 hours </span>to see if it improves.

Not sure you want to pop the battery compartment off when not in use since you will loose all your calibration including your compass and any special screen setup you like. </div></div>

I always pull my batteries and I don't recall ever losing my custom user screens.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mavrick10_2000</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jlow</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Put in new batteries and check the default store rate and this appears to be <span style="text-decoration: underline">1 per hour</span>, changed it to <span style="text-decoration: underline">once per 6 hours </span>to see if it improves.

Not sure you want to pop the battery compartment off when not in use since you will loose all your calibration including your compass and any special screen setup you like. </div></div>

I always pull my batteries and I don't recall ever losing my custom user screens.</div></div>

You wont lose your screens, but you will lose any calibrated data you have entered. Ie. compass calibration.

Bill
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Just turn auto store off. This is from the manual:
"When On, data is automatically stored at preset
Store Rate. When Off, data is only stored when
manually captured with the button."
I have had the same set of batteries in for over 5 months with no problems.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?



<span style="color: #CC0000">As for turn off the auto store function, I think the manual says that this cannot be turned off.</span>

Recheck the manual. You should be able to turn the store functions off. Mine has been going on the same batteries for the past six months. Showing 78 % at the moment. If I'm out bush I turn auto store on for three days, when I go back home I turn it all of. Also, I turn on only the things I need eg: wind, temp, relative humidity, baro, and da. All the other stuff I turn off. Saves on batt juice.

P.S. I got the 4000 model.

Hope this helps.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

contact Kestrel and they will make it right....
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

Was out this last weekend at a precision rifle class and the Krestrel went belly up. The batteries had over 70% charge before I left and I had only started to use it when this happened. I took the batteries out and notice the start of corrosion on one battery at both ends. These were Energizers and just looking at my own post here, they went in last August and so have only been used for about 8 months when this happened. I guess I would not have been surprised if the battery was low or dead but with more than 70% charge, this is a problem because I would not have thought to check especially with a unit which needs re-calibration when you open the battery compartment…..

Luckily the contact points on the unit was not damaged. I think I will switch over from no on to using only Lithium batteries. So you guys using the alkaline batteries have been warned….
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

PCI: CR123s, check. AAs, check. AAAs, check.

A very simple solution if you're going to use equipment dependent upon batteries.

Recalibrating the compass? What, push some buttons and give it three spins? Something else to do in the assembly area (parking lot) while you're waiting.

BT will significantly accellerate battery drain on any device. Turn it off if you don't need to stream data.

Batteries will always fail you at the worst possible moment. If you plan for that, you'll usually avoid the problem. We'll spend $500 on another electronic gadget, but won't "waste" $5 in batteries to make sure it works when we need/want it to. Good thing my kid has toys that need the same batteries, she always has a fresh supply.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

I think if you read my post carefully, nowhere do I complain about batter cost. My point is to alert other users that even when your battery says it is OK, there could easily be a problem lurking.

BTW, I hope you don’t try to recalibrate you compass on any car surface….. and yes, we already know about streaming data and its effect on battery drain – it is in fact the major point of this thread?
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

And that "problem lurking" is exactly what? That your battery is about to die?

Ever notice how many other electronic devices reliant on batteries will give you the high sign when you turn them on, but as soon as you start using them, crash the battery bar? The more the battery has been used, the more prone it is to that happening.

Again, if you have to depend on the device, the smart money is on replacing the batteries BEFORE they have a chance to introduce failure into your operations.

I hope your "car hood" comment was an attempt at humor. Some of us were milling range before LRFs were required, reading wind before wind wind meters became necessary, running from data books before PDAs were invented, and finding our way in the dark before GPS was ever dreamt of. If you wish to depend on batteries, it would be wise not to grouse about the problems they can cause. All electronic devices eat batteries. Batteries are gonna die. If you don't plan for that, they're gonna die when you need them the most.

Nevermind.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Homers Brother</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And that "problem lurking" is exactly what? That your battery is about to die?</div></div>

I read the thread and came away more with the impression that the lurking problem was a default setting that had the Kestrel unit storing data too often, more specifically, when not in use. The result of this "rapid" data storage that isn't really necessary, especially when not in use, was decreased battery life, and an easy fix is to audit the settings to less frequent storage in order to at least double battery life (one individual went from 3 months max to over 6 months, still at 78%). Replacing batteries was merely a side show on account of poor battery life due to settings (the real issue and topic of the thread).

wink.gif
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

I just bought a 4500nv and I plan on having extra batteries in my bag, if I am doing a competition or going out for a reason that a dead battery would not be acceptable. I would install new batteries in all my electronics before starting anyhow not rely on an indicator, seems to me that would be part of you being ready for the competition. If you are trying to get ALL the life out of a $2 battery, well - insert sarcasm here.
 
Re: Krestrel 4500 NV eating batteries?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ledzep</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...and an easy fix is to audit the settings to less frequent storage in order to at least double battery life (one individual went from 3 months max to over 6 months, still at 78%)...</div></div>

No, that has nothing to do with your batteries dying, does it? Right.... I see now, you're just trying to keep your battery from dying sooner than it might otherwise die. And instead of three months and "maybe" your battery doesn't work, you get six months and "maybe" your battery doesn't work?

Problem - ultimately - not solved. Just hope your targets aren't shooting back when it happens.

Maybe some people just have the luxury of nitpicking for a solution rather than finishing decisively and moving on?

EOM [X]
 
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