D4i Disappointing Battery Life

[Buadhai]

I bought a new D4i in November of 2013. I first dove with it in December of 2013

The battery died in October of 2015 after 119 dives and less than two years of use.

I had the battery replaced by Dive Supply, the authorized Suunto service center here in Thailand. The cost was about US$75.00

The second battery died in January of 2017 after only 40 dives and 14 months of use.

That means it cost me almost two US dollars per dive for the battery.

That seems excessive.

Is this poor battery life normal or is there something I'm doing wrong?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

$75 to change a D4 battery is absolutely insane. The battery itself is about $2 and you can swap it yourself with a small screwdriver in a few minutes. If you want to be extra thorough and change the o-ring too, that'll be a whopping $9.

 

[Buadhai]

The battery itself is about $2 and you can swap it yourself with a small screwdriver in a few minutes. If you want to be extra thorough and change the o-ring too, that'll be a whopping $9.

If you're as clumsy as I am you wouldn't even think about it.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

If you're as clumsy as I am you wouldn't even think about it.

In that case you probably need a computer with a truly simple user-replaceable battery. Or a non-clumsy friend. Honestly the life you're quoting is very reasonable for the computer. A couple of years and 100+ dives is not bad.

 

[Buadhai]

A couple of years and 100+ dives is not bad.

I agree, but one year and 40 dives is not acceptable.

Any suggestions for a similarly priced computer on which a 67 year old with bad eyes and shaking hands could easily replace the battery?

 

[Buadhai]

I agree, but one year and 40 dives is not acceptable.

I got the D4i back from the Suunto service center (Dive Supply). They included the old o-ring and battery. The battery voltage is still 3.3. Now I'm wondering if it really needed replacing.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I got the D4i back from the Suunto service center (Dive Supply). They included the old o-ring and battery. The battery voltage is still 3.3. Now I'm wondering if it really needed replacing.

You can't accurately measure remaining battery power with a voltmeter. It has to be under load to properly test.

 

[Buadhai]

Tested under load the voltage is 2.93

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Tested under load the voltage is 2.93

That's very dead for use in a computer. It might run a garage door opener but not a computer's power draw.

 

[Buadhai]

Thank you.

I still think that one year and 40 dives is not acceptable battery life.