Perdix vs Petrel battery life

[tridacna]

Just finished 24 dives in Cocoview. (Two to go).

Total dive dive about 30 hrs.

I used a Perdix AI as primary; Petrel as backup.

New batteries in each installed before trip start.

Perdix still using same battery - shows about half full. Petrel on 3rd battery. Wazzup here?

 

[undrwater]

Bluetooth

 

[tcoen]

Hi Tridacna,

The Perdix is about 30% more efficient than the Petrel at the same level of brightness. Depending on brightness, using an alkaline AA battery about 25 to 40 hours is expected on a Petrel and about 35 to 50 hours on a Perdix. The Perdix seems to be operating fine, but the Petrel battery life is shorter than expected.

A common reason for such behaviour is that the battery type setting is set incorrectly. For example, if the setting is set to the '1.5V Lithium' type but '1.5V Alkaline' batteries are actually being used, the low battery warning will occur much too early. You can see what battery type is selected by pressing the right button a few times until the battery voltage is shown. The only way to change the battery type setting is to crack open the battery cap, then re-tighten it. After a power cycle a page will display to confirm the battery type, at which time it can be changed.

If you don't think that is the problem, contact us and we will investigate further.

Bluetooth is unlikely to be the issue here. The Bluetooth circuitry is completely powered down when not in use. While the Perdix does use the lower power Bluetooth Smart protocol, the Bluetooth on time is typically so short as to not have a significant impact on battery life (unless you are doing a lot of log downloading).

Best regards,
Tyler Coen
Shearwater Research

 

[rhwestfall]

@tcoen : If I am using Energizer Lithiums, what is the proper setting? "Photo"?

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Cocoview - as in Cocoview Roatan? Will you be posting a dive trip review? We have booked our first trip to Roatan and would appreciate any trip info you can share. Thanks

 

[tridacna]

Cocoview - as in Cocoview Roatan? Will you be posting a dive trip review? We have booked our first trip to Roatan and would appreciate any trip info you can share. Thanks

Yes I will next week. This was my fourth trip.

 

[tridacna]

Problem solved. SHEARWATER to the rescue again.

It was the “battery type” setting.

I absolutely love the Perdix. I thought that nothing could be better than my beloved Petrel but the AI Perdix is superb. Battery life on a AA Lithium: 32 hours and 26 dives -> still at 50%. Wow.

Hi Tridacna,

The Perdix is about 30% more efficient than the Petrel at the same level of brightness. Depending on brightness, using an alkaline AA battery about 25 to 40 hours is expected on a Petrel and about 35 to 50 hours on a Perdix. The Perdix seems to be operating fine, but the Petrel battery life is shorter than expected.

A common reason for such behaviour is that the battery type setting is set incorrectly. For example, if the setting is set to the '1.5V Lithium' type but '1.5V Alkaline' batteries are actually being used, the low battery warning will occur much too early. You can see what battery type is selected by pressing the right button a few times until the battery voltage is shown. The only way to change the battery type setting is to crack open the battery cap, then re-tighten it. After a power cycle a page will display to confirm the battery type, at which time it can be changed.

If you don't think that is the problem, contact us and we will investigate further.

Bluetooth is unlikely to be the issue here. The Bluetooth circuitry is completely powered down when not in use. While the Perdix does use the lower power Bluetooth Smart protocol, the Bluetooth on time is typically so short as to not have a significant impact on battery life (unless you are doing a lot of log downloading).

Best regards,
Tyler Coen
Shearwater Research

 

[shurite7]

Just finished 24 dives in Cocoview. (Two to go).

Total dive dive about 30 hrs.

I used a Perdix AI as primary; Petrel as backup.

New batteries in each installed before trip start.

Perdix still using same battery - shows about half full. Petrel on 3rd battery. Wazzup here?

Consider yourself lucky. Here in the cold lakes the battery in my Petrel lasted for three dives. The Perdix is a little better, but not by much at five to six dives.

 

[tridacna]

Consider yourself lucky. Here in the cold lakes the battery in my Petrel lasted for three dives. The Perdix is a little better, but not by much at five to six dives.

I’ll be at Dutch Springs on Jan 1 doing the New Year dive. I’ll let you know...

 

[_Ralph]

Consider yourself lucky. Here in the cold lakes the battery in my Petrel lasted for three dives. The Perdix is a little better, but not by much at five to six dives.

Lithium? I got a few dives out of one that I had laying around. Alkaline AA last much longer on cold water (40F here) and are more economical.

_R