Carrying batteries

@jdtruly said:

I’ve been interested in the length of battery life several have reported here. I have Phonak audeo SMART IX’s which use a 312 battery and can almost “tell time” on the battery life which seems short - five days. Can anyone else using these aids (or comparable) post what battery life they’re getting?

When I listen to my Walkman radio plugged into the iCom for 4-6 hours per day, the batteries last 3-4 days. If I use headphones instead, I mute or lower the volume on the HAs (Audeo Smart IX), and the batteries last 7-10 days.

I too tried the ‘little aluminum bottle pill carrier’ and the batteries were apparently dead after being in there a week. I should have read this thread before.
But, If the batteries are not active till you pull off the tab, why do they short circuit and die if stored in a metal container?
I live on a boat in a hot humid climate and get splashed or rained on regularly so I need a water-proof and fairly wear resistant way to carry a couple in my pocket. The original cardboard packet wears out in a week even still here in Seattle, I can’t believe it will last in Majuro.
My Exelia Micro BTEs last enough more than a week that I don’t really know how long they last even after 2 months of changing them.

I also used the little metal container with the screw-on lid…thought I was being clever by stashing about 24 batteries in there…and lost them all!! I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t work but now I know that a metal container is NOT the way to store hearing aid batteries.

@svkatielee said:

I live on a boat in a hot humid climate and get splashed or rained on regularly so I need a water-proof and fairly wear resistant way to carry a couple in my pocket. The original cardboard packet wears out in a week even still here in Seattle, I can’t believe it will last in Majuro.

I recently bought some Duracell’s in a plastic box. Probably not waterproof but should hold up better than he cardboard.

I’ve had my Oticon 8000s (immediate predecessor to the Oticon Dual) for almost 2 years now. They’re fully automatic–I can’t control the amplification, although the internal circuitry seems to do a pretty good job of adjusting to meet my needs as the ambient noise level changes. Most of the day I’m in a pretty quiet office. My batteries (#10 itsy bitsy thingies) last roughly 5 days–varies according to what I’m doing. I don’t change them both at the same time, because there can be as much as a day difference in when they expire. The only time it’s annoying is when one will run out when I’m on my scooter or driving the car–have to pull over to change the battery myself, or in the car my SO can change it. I carry 4 batteries, 2 in each of the compartments, in the plastic Rayovac case my audiologist gave me, and that’s inside the soft case from Oticon. Whenever I use one from the case, I try (mostly successfully) to replace it that night when I get home.

Cary

I have Phonak audeo SMART IX’s with 312’s. The battery on the right side will last somewhere into the sixth day. Since I change them both at the same time, I don’t know how long the left one will last. I don’t carry batteries with me as I usually change my batteries on the morning of the sixth day whether they are dead or not.

I have original pack with batteries and I am keeping it at home and one with me in my bag/purse. I have an alarm in my calendar as a reminder to replace the battery. Sometimes if I am at class or something, I’d rather change it before and not to wait for signal of low battery XD

Batteries can be affected by extreme temperatures and moisture, so sometimes when you keep them in your car you may notice a reduced life expectancy from them.

As the above poster said, the batteries have tabs on them to keep them from being activated. when you pull the tabs off, the batteries are activated by the air. Do not put the stickers/tabs back on the battery after you remove them; you will NOT stop the drainage.

Contrary to what dockristin said about putting the stickers/tabs back on the batteries not stopping the drainage, I did a test were every night I removed the batteries and put scotch tape over the air holes and was able to get 4 extra days out of the batteries but I didn’t think it was worth the trouble. I get on average 14 days out of size 13 and was able to push it to 18 days by covering the air holes.

It surely work by turning down(3 click) the volume, hoping the battery will last at least 6 days, instead of twice a week. Carrying extra batteries in a plastic case and placing it by itself in my purse small pocket provide easy access (instead of digging it through). I also check the battery expiration which is 9/16, therefore it depends in the environment am in.
Did some research on battery but not sure if Renata is an HP battery.

with the price of 312 batteries… turning the volume down to make them last a little longer seems extreme.

And now we pause for a word from our sponsor:

http://www.localbattery.com/size-3121.html

In response to the original question, I give my patients keychain battery caddies to carry spare batteries. Not a plug for my site, but here’s a picture so you can see what I’m talking about:

http://hawkinshearing.com/shop_batt.html23

Just pull out the plastic handle, and there’s a compartment for 2 batteries.

wouldn’t it be pretty simple to tear the top tab off at the perforation and stick the batteries in you pocket or purse?
oh, and the sponsor of this site has #90 312 batteries for $29.