My Digital Caliper Battery (DIY) Modification

It was one of those days, one of those days with too much time and absolutely nothing much to do with it.

This is when the idea came to me, I thought I might modify the type of battery my Digital Calipers take. It was certain I was getting tired of the cost and at what frequency I was replacing the battery my Calipers currently use.

I'm basically replacing the 'button' type battery the caliper currently uses to a more common AAA, 1.2v, 800mAh, NiMH, rechargeable. I'm certain 800mAh will outlast the 'button' type but even it didn't replacing with a 'rechargeable' would nevertheless be the added value in this little project.

Well the J.o.B didn't take too long ... I'd guesstimate at an ½h, maybe ¾h at the most.
... Given the type of day it's been I wasn't in that much of a rush so I took a more relaxed pace.
... Also NOT forgetting the TIME I spent documenting the my little project with the photographs.

           

However I'll be finishing off my little project off tomorrow by mounting the battery
    [acronym=EYE See! "w00d's Photo Musings" LINK to my BLOG]w00d



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I guess the real question for me would be, what are you measuring so much that the battery is always dead?

Interesting question because I wasn't using the caliper so much it drained the battery, NOPE my problem was I never used it ...
... thus when needed I would find a dead battery. And this would have been the fourth

Then I found this tutorial at SparkFun: Digital Caliper Battery Hack {LMAO busted, NOT my idea, just my interpretation}

Apparently, according to these guys (users) the "OFF Button and Auto-off function only TURN'S OFF it's display but the electronics continue to run"
... yup at a lower power state but NEVER completely OFF 

Anther option and probably the best solution to the issue would be,
... and as it was also suggested would be to simply "remove the battery and keep it along side the caliper in it's case"

That probably would have also worked for me but "I was bored, had parts and the time"

My question, if this happens to 'every' caliper as stated by the guys at Sparkfun, why this is the first we've ever seen of the issue?
... I would think every time we (not only myself) go to use these things we too would, should always find a DEAD battery?

    [acronym=EYE See! "w00d's Photo Musings" LINK to my BLOG][shadow=grey,left][size=1em]w[/size][size=1.25em]00[/size][size=1em]d[/size][/shadow][/acronym]


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FIN!

             

 
   


    [acronym=EYE See! "w00d's Photo Musings" LINK to my BLOG][shadow=grey,left][size=1em]w[/size][size=1.25em]00[/size][size=1em]d[/size][/shadow][/acronym]

EDIT: I don't NEED to MOD the Data Port Cover, normally we would have to drill a hole to pass the wire though
                        but I LOST it's cover soon after purchasing so this step is obviously NOT needed.

Battery store's away nice'n neat in the case ...

   


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Now you can toss the caliper in a drawer for a couple years and it might work next time you need it.  LOL. 

Well people like their 'Fuzzy' Dice, I gots me a 'Fuzzy' Battery {LOL}
... Was crazy/stupid, one use one battery, equals expensive!

Also found the answer to my question: Quote Wiki, AGAIN  Darn Chinese and their stupid games --->

Many Chinese-made digital calipers are inexpensive and perform reasonably well. One point worth noting is battery current when they are turned off. Many calipers do not stop drawing power when the switch is in the off position; they shut down the display but continue drawing nearly as much current. The current may be as much as 20 microamperes,[10] which is much higher than many established brands. Sometimes calipers may not work properly when the battery voltage has dropped relatively little; silver cells, preferably selected from a datasheet to have a constant voltage for most of their life, may give a much longer usable life than alkaline button cells

PS: When looking at the photographic side of the equation I found an easier way to colour my backgrounds. Instead of changing the background in the Photo-editor which is always a time consuming PIA, I found I could use my Monitor to get the colour (or images) I wanted quick and easy, See PIC

EDIT: FYI, for more information or to specifically LEARN whats inside and how Digital Calipers work have a look at the following video by Sparkfun.
... Or we could read a TEXT version on how they work - Furthermore, Capacitive Sensors  [PDF] by L. K. Baxter.
... And only to plug my own site I also echoed 'my modification' post HERE

                      [youtube]i7J7oHkCw4g[/youtube]



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{LOL}

Actually we have updated teh photos and added some