Davis ISS Battery

[Blicj11]

I know most of you swap your 3 volt battery out every year but could someone tell me what it the lowest acceptable voltage reading for that ISS battery before penny pinchers like me should swap it out? I've been letting them drop to 2.8.

Thanks.

[Blicj11]

I was re-leveling my ISS yesterday (don't know how it became unleveled) and decided to swap my battery out in good weather rather than wait for a blizzard. The old battery was installed 4 years and 2 months ago. Its voltage was still good, 3.07. My new battery is a no-name brand that cost me $2. I want to see if it is as good as the Duracell Ultra batteries I have been using.

[elagache]

Dear Blick and WeatherCat penny pinchers,

. . . .
The old battery was installed 4 years and 2 months ago. Its voltage was still good, 3.07.
. . . .

Your point is perfectly valid and there is a genuine issue to discarding good batteries from an environmental point of view.  I change my battery every year because I use WeatherCat's maintenance scheduler.  However, I have a number of other household items that I've added to my calendar - changing furnace filters for example.  I suppose you could have your cake and eat it too.  You could check the voltage of your battery every year, but not change it until it drops below a certain level.

Sadly, I'm so pressed for time these days that I desperately need simpler strategies.  Fortunately, not everyone is so squeezed.

Cheers, Edouard

[Weatheraardvark]

I know most of you swap your 3 volt battery out every year but could someone tell me what it the lowest acceptable voltage reading for that ISS battery before penny pinchers like me should swap it out? I've been letting them drop to 2.8.

Thanks.

 
I would guess when the console says the battery needs replacing  would be a great idea.     I buy batteries in bulk so they don't cost as much, but I wait until I get a message on the console that the battery is low. The only exception is the outside batteries.  In the late fall, I replace the ISS, the soil and other transmitters so I don't have to replace the batteries when it is icy out there.

[Blicj11]

I would guess when the console says the battery needs replacing  would be a great idea.     I buy batteries in bulk so they don't cost as much, but I wait until I get a message on the console that the battery is low. The only exception is the outside batteries.  In the late fall, I replace the ISS, the soil and other transmitters so I don't have to replace the batteries when it is icy out there.

That annual ISS battery change is likely what most WeatherCatters do because it is prudent. I've just had great luck with that 3 volt battery running fine for 4-5 years.

[mcrossley]

I find mine last at least 4 years as well - at a very temperate 53°N - I wait for the warning, but mine are easily accessible.

[jenkins007]

My first battery lasted over 10 years. The next few I had to replace less than 1 year. Then I realized that I bought those batteries about 10 years ago. I bought a lithium one and hopefully it will last as long as the first one. I live in South Texas with lots of sunshine and the solar panel seems to work well.