Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Discussion related to the Garmin GPSMAP 66s/st GPSr
g66
Posts: 135
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:48 pm

Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by g66 »

I have set expedition mode to OFF

In the last months, i turned off the unit, and when i turned it on some days later - battery is emty.

I had this for 4 times, and i am sure, i turned off the unit.

Does anyone else observe this strange behaviour. - battery drains if powered off - but it is not every time.


The first times, i believed, i had forgotten to turn it off - but now, i am rather sure, to have it switched off.
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GPSrChive
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Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2017 11:29 pm

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by GPSrChive »

Current firmware version?

Any observations as to reported battery charge level when turned off vs how long the unit was powered off?

Also, which batteries are you using?
Spiney
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:35 am

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by Spiney »

I have never seen this behaviour with my 66st but when I was experiencing short battery (not discharged batteries) life it was because the batteries were approaching the end of their life (Black Panesonic Eneloop - 2500mAh) after a couple of years.

Three more questions for you:
- how old are the batteries?
- how are you charging them (in the device or with a charger - which model)?
- have you used a smart charger to check on the battery capacity and charge status?
g66
Posts: 135
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:48 pm

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by g66 »

Loader external: AV4
The best loader - i know
Batteriy- ENELOOP PRO

I can do internal gpsmap 66 loading - but it takes a very long time and eneloop ist no really full afterwards
Only external AV4 gives full capacity

I will measure the eneloops, if they are to old :-)

It was with different previous firmwares.
7.60 is installed only since a few days.
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GPSrChive
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Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by GPSrChive »

Yes, a quick and simple test would be to test with a brand new set of batteries.
asprin624
Posts: 143
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 11:34 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by asprin624 »

I use Ladda 2450 from IKEA which are over one year old.
Was out over the weekend with the 66 and ran the it for 3 hours each day and still show a full charge.
Now back home and the batteries is still good to go.....
Plus It has been off for over 1 1/2 weeks before I took it out to use over the weekend.

It is hard t say how one has their 66 setup for the batteries to drain so quick.......
987
Posts: 317
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2020 5:40 pm

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by 987 »

The only one setting i can think of that drains batteries is if pressure readings should be saved even while the unit is off.
This setting is found under:
Setup - Altimeter - Pressure trending.
If Save Always is selected the unit will use batteries even while powered off. I guess it will work similar as expetition mode, but only for pressure.
Spiney
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:35 am

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by Spiney »

The Alarm is another setting which, when set, will also run while the device is powered down. It might be worth checking that any Alarm is turned off, since when it turns the GPSr on, the device stays on.
g66
Posts: 135
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:48 pm

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by g66 »

Thanks for feedback
Alarm is off
Pressure trending is not set to always

Eneloops are tested and in perfect condition

I will observe it.
asprin624
Posts: 143
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2019 11:34 am
Location: Belgium

Re: Gpsmap 66 drains battery when turned off

Unread post by asprin624 »

As I reported back on Jul 14, 2021.
Last weekend was the first time the wife and I want for a couple of days hiking.
I had not charged my 66 since last reporting. After the first day of hiking all day the 66 showed 50% battery left.
So seeing we would be out for the next 3 days hiking all day I recharged the batteries.
I just checked as we are back home and the 66 shows still full charged.
So the user with the battery problems has not reported back it is hard to say what his problem really was.
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