Smart Keys!

[knight2]

I bought sixty batteries for one of my hearing aids a while back and several of them are completely dead.

[Andym]

Everything is made in China. The EU allowing you to mark as "Made in Belgium" because the packaging machine is there makes a joke of consumer protection. It's so they can fiddle their numbers. We shipped all our manufacturing of "minor" items like this to China twenty years ago so are basically @#$%&d. There shouldn't be any problem if they actually come from a factory there that was set up by Germans and still has a German brand manage. The problem is there is no brand culture and hence no protection in China. Culturally they view conmen as clever and the conned as deserving what they get because they are stupid.

I can well believe the Chinese can't be bothered pirating Varta when they've already mastered Duracell.

Two thoughts:

Where did you buy the batteries? Supermarkets etc. will be more reliable in buying from the real companies directly not distributors who'll mix real with knock-off

Are you turning the fob off? If next door's telly zapper is trying to talk to the fob that'll eat the battery. It's another mess that the frequencies were so restricted. Turn it off and/or use a Faraday pouch. As a test wrap it in tinfoil.

Andy

[MrGrumpy]

Two thoughts:

Where did you buy the batteries? Supermarkets etc. will be more reliable in buying from the real companies directly not distributors who'll mix real with knock-off

Are you turning the fob off? If next door's telly zapper is trying to talk to the fob that'll eat the battery. It's another mess that the frequencies were so restricted. Turn it off and/or use a Faraday pouch. As a test wrap it in tinfoil.

Andy

Probably bought the batteries in Tesco, though not sure. Next time I'm there I'll probably pick up some more if I remember. I bought some Philips one this morning in a store - they claim to be '70% more powerful' but neglect to say what they are 70% more powerful than.

I am religious about turning the key fob off. But I only put this battery in a couple of days ago. The fact that the system no longer seems to object to the original battery that it claimed was flat suggests to me that there is some other issue.

[Pukmeister]

Hmm ...but the battery that it says has failed is a brand new Energizer! My pack of Energizers says 'Made in China', as are some Philips branded ones I just bought.

Perhaps it is worth trying the Varta brand and see how you get on ??

[MrGrumpy]

If I see some Vartas for sale I'll try them. It all seemed fine yesterday - the new battery had lasted one day at least!

[Waldorf]

Amazon sells Varta batteries.

[MrGrumpy]

I don't use Amazon. I'm sure there are some on ebay - but they might or might not be genuine!

[roadster]

I wonder if you are barking up the wrong tree with battery concerns. Its should be easy to check batteries with an ordinary multi-meter. Even a cheap meter would give you a basis for comparison despite not being absolutely accurate. When fitting a new battery its a good idea to polish both sides with a clean sheet of paper and if you have any doubts about the housing apply a touch of di-electric grease or vaseline to the contacts. On my meter a brand new 2032 battery reads 3.29 volts and ones which I have changed as a precaution read 3.0 . I also notice that Duracell batteries have a warning sticker which must be removed so its extra important to polish that surface.

[MrGrumpy]

. When fitting a new battery its a good idea to polish both sides with a clean sheet of paper and if you have any doubts about the housing apply a touch of di-electric grease or vaseline to the contacts. .

You could be right! Went to the scoot again today, and had the same problem - Warning light on scoot saying Smart key battery is flat (after 1 week). Took battery out of key, gave the battery and contacts in key a quick wipe with a cloth, and now its quite happy again! Might try the vaseline trick if I have more trouble.

[Data]

I wonder if you are barking up the wrong tree with battery concerns. Its should be easy to check batteries with an ordinary multi-meter. Even a cheap meter would give you a basis for comparison despite not being absolutely accurate. When fitting a new battery its a good idea to polish both sides with a clean sheet of paper and if you have any doubts about the housing apply a touch of di-electric grease or vaseline to the contacts. On my meter a brand new 2032 battery reads 3.29 volts and ones which I have changed as a precaution read 3.0 . I also notice that Duracell batteries have a warning sticker which must be removed so its extra important to polish that surface.

Just to be clear, use vaselene! Dialectric grease is NON CONDUCTIVE. It'll bugger the connection.