Davis Vantage Pro2 ISS Battery Life

Hello…

was wondering if anyone one else with a Davis vantage pro2 can tell me about how long the battery for the ISS is expected to last? I have had the original battery now in place since June 2007 and That seems like a long time for it to have lasted. The one thing I dont want to have to do is replace it in the middle of this winter.

The ISS on the main Unit with rain bucket and temp and hmidty sensors wouldnt be too bad to replace, but the ISS unit for the Anenometer Transmitter is the one that is way up on the roof, so wouldnt be any joy in going up there on a cold, ice, snowy day.

One last question…where is the best place to order a replacement battery for this unit?..perhaps someone has a Link.

Thanks…Chris

I was going to ask something like this too. I see my reception is
slipping the last few days. Havent moved anything and it’s down to 89%
and was thinking battery maybe.

At THESE prices it would be daft to wait till they give out on you. :wink:
(Note: This is not a recommendation of the company, they were just the first one’s I found doing a Google. :wink:)

I would change it once a year if it needs it or not. How long it will last depends on how much sun you get and how open to the sun the panel is.

No need to order, they are very common batteries and you can get them at most stores that sell batteries, somewhere like Target will usually have a good price.

I go along with Niko.
With daylght hours getting rapidly less, I tend to do it at this time of year every year.
My additional sensors don’t have solar panels and the cells only last about 10 months.

Davis, claims it will last 3 years, but really I would change it every year… pick a season…
I usually change mine twice a year… but then I have a real good deal on CR123’s from the Battery Station and I buy in bulk. I have all those 6 extra sensors running and of those, they do use the battery more.

Niko is right… do it annually. One of the things anyone needs to plan ahead is where are you putting the ISS and is it easy to get to to do the replacing and hence… pick the season so if you have mounted it on a roof, is the weather such you can go up and come down gracefully.

hello…

thanks for the links…does anyone know what the original battery that ships with the vantage pro2 “mah” rating is?

and what brand that battery is?

…chris

I think most of the ones I have gotten from Davis have been Panasonic. They are non-rechargeable lithium batteries so I don’t understand the mah question.

Panasonic CR123a, 1550 mah, 3.0V Lithium.

will this one work…

http://www.batteryjunction.com/1pcencr3voph.html

rated for use in temperatures of -40 F to 140 F

…CHRIS

That’s it.

Thanks Niko…

I just ordered 2…total price was $3.00…The shipping is cheaper if you choose USPS First class, instead of leaving it at the default choice of “Ground”. at least for my location it was…only $3.95 for shipping.

total was $6.95 for 2 batteries w/shiiping.

one is for the davis ISS and the other for the davis Anenometer transmitter ISS.

…Chris

It’s a good price, a lot cheaper than Safeway that’s for sure :lol: I also ordered 2 since mine are due for replacement. Be interesting to see what datecodes we get, although they have a very long shelf life so it’s unlikely to be an issue.

Hello niko…

Mine should be arriving in a few days now…perhaps even tommorrow. Ill let youknow what date code I get on them. When yours arrive, let me know what yours are.

after I purchased mine…the panasonic ones…I then found the Duracell “Ultra” one here…

http://www.batteryjunction.com/duraacell-cr123a.html

even though they are $1.70 each…Duracell is usually a good choice of Brand, either that or I have been brained washed into thinking Duracell is the best…lol

either way I dont think we can go too wrong at these prices. I may make it a routine to change mine every year in the Fall…

(I really dont know why either they show/have a MAH rating, since these batteries are not rechargeable.The solar panel on the ISS Doesnt charge these batteries, It charges a Capacitor in the the ISS Unit itself. The batteries are then used IF the capacitor runs out of juice. at least thats what I was reading on another website about all of this and how it works.)

…Chris

Hi Niko…

I received the batteries today. They were basically wrapped in bubble wrap and shipped in a bubble envelope with a receipt. Could not located any “datecodes” on the batteries themself’s.

…chris

This is a panasonic, the code is subtle but it’s there on this one:

Hi niko…

WOW…You were right…it is there. I needed a flashlight and Magnifying glass to see it, but found it on both batteries.

They both have the datecode of 6-2019.

Thanks…Chris

That’s good :smiley: Mine are on the way…

Thank you all for posting about the battery!

I have the classic Davis leaking capacitor going on, and didn’t realize it until I chewed up 2 batteries in the past month.
For the last battery I got before finding out about the capacitor issue, I just grabbed one quickly at a hardware store, and paid $11.50!!!

I just placed my order for 2 of the 123’s we need, and also stocked up on AA’s and 9V’s while I was there.

So, to replace my ISS SIM, plus 1 expensive battery, I am up to $83.50…

Anyway, thanks for sharing the battery site!

Got mine today, they are 03-2019’s which is good. I’l install my spare (a 2015) and one of these new ones, and have a good fresh spare. Good deal, thanks for the tip :smiley:

P.S. I discovered there are rechargeables made in this size, but of course that’s not what the ISS needs.