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Phonak Lumity Life Aids + 312 batteries: how COLD can they go?

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Ok, logging in from Naryn, Kyrgystan. Week 3 of our trip will take us to the Khan Tengri Base Camp at 13,300’ Thursday afternoon thru Saturday morning. Weather forecast at mountain-torecast.com3 says temps will range from -28F to -12F.

We’ll be camping in tents there, so I’m concerned about my hearing aids AND the batteries in that kind of cold. No heat at all. Just me in a down parka and down sleeping bags in the tents.

Does anyone know if these aids can withstand the extreme cold? My batteries are in their original Duracell cases, and maybe I could keep them on my person and sleep with them in the tent as well. I’ll still have a few more days after we helicopter off Base Camp and return to Bishkek before coming home.

Any advice here very welcome. Wifi is limited, and my last chance to check for any info will be Tuesday night. Thanks in advance to anyone out there who has had similar “adventure” with their aids. I don’t want to risk freezing them to death, or killing the batteries cuz these 312s are nowhere to be found, even in the capital of Bishkek. I called the Phonak outlet here (yes, it’s a new one!) but no one spoke English and couldn’t even confirm I could get batteries at the Phonak outpost here.

Thanks!

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All I could find is that “optimal” temperature is at least 50 degrees F. That was both for usage and storage so I’d say always keep them with some access to body heat. They said they would drain more quickly at lower temps. Not much info, but try to keep them warm.

If you are wearing any sort of hat, the batteries in use will be above ambient temperature. As suggested you could store the extras against your body. A exterior coat pocket might not be warm enough versus say a sweater pocket under the coat or interior coat pocket.

Please share a report on any cold weather issues.

Thanks MUCH to you folks! Yes, I recall that battery life drains faster when in COLD and DAMP as we are - so far, I’ve been above 12,000’ several days, and my batteries tend to give me ONE less day. If I have them in ANY program at all (Speech in Noise, or “mute” for sleeping in gale force winds) they can drain in ONE day - that’s scary, cuz even tho I brought a month’s supply, there are none to buy here at all. Countdown mode. We’ll be back down to 2500’ by Saturday. Whew.

Will post on the “experiment” and DEFINITELY keep these batts & aids in a pocket on my person.

Batteries don’t discharge faster in cooler conditions: in fact it’s usually the opposite given that it’s harder to control the runaway of the zinc breakdown/oxidation when they get hot.

In cold conditions, they can run less well, but usually the main problem is condensation and shorting across the very narrow gap between the poles of the battery. If I was going where you are, I’d buy a Peli case big enough to take my stuff and a few silica gel bags/capsules to go in it. Keep the batteries in there too.

You can get heftier ones (Peli cases) for your phone and iPad as well. My iPhone lives in one when I go kayaking inside a secondary ziploc. In Winter/condensing conditions I use silica gel in them as well. The cases live in my paddling van but the silica gel tabs live in a luminous sock in the airing cupboard.

Edited

Here’s Rayovacs technical data: https://www.rayovac.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rov_premium_size_13.pdf They state operating temp down to 14 degrees F. and recommended storage temps down to 50 degrees F. The temps OP will experience are way below that. My chemistry is rusty but pretty sure that chemical reactions will run a lot more slowly at low temps. Perhaps the reaction gets so slow as to be practically useless? I also read somewhere about the possibility of the electrolyte freezing (which seems like a real possibility at the temps mentioned.)
Edit: Freezing of electrolyte does not seem to be a real concern. From what I read they use about a 30% KOH solution for an electrolyte and that has a freezing point of -60 C. or -76 F.

Those low temperatures are wind chills, right? For batteries the most relevant will be the actual temperatures, which are fortunately considerably warmer.

I live in upstate NY, where we get actual (not windchill) temperatures of -15F in winter, and I find that the limiting factor is frostbite. As long as my ears, fingers and toes are warm, my Phonak Naida P-90 UPs (675 batteries) work fine. A hat keeps the hearing aids nice and warm and doesn’t interfere much with hearing.

I haven’t noticed any problems with the batteries, but I don’t usually sleep outdoors in a tent! It would be wise to keep the batteries in your sleeping bag with you.

Alrighty! Quick update to say BIG THANKS for the additional links, information and insights. Latest forecast for Khan Tengri Base Camp HERE2. Looks like I’ll be okay if I follow some protocols.

I may be able to leave a stash of 312s down below as not all of us are taking the helicopter up to the camp. I’ll keep my backup “pirates” and maybe a week’s supply of 312s with me in an inner pocket closer to my body. The less I have to fiddle-faddle with battery changes up there, the better, so I’ll change batts tomorrow before the flight.

I will look into those Peli cases for SURE!!! Not sure they make one tiny enough to hold a few packs of 312s … I have my batts inside a snack-size Ziplock placed inside a Sea to Summit drawstring bag, so if I have to take them with me, they may not be exposed to the condensation issue if I keep the temp steady. I just need to get through Thu-Sat, and assuming the helicopters is running on schedule, I’ll be fine. In years past, the copter was delayed by as much as a few DAYS due to weather. That scenario I do NOT want.

Roger, over and out!

REALLY appreciate all the advice here.

One last question: does ANYONE know where to buy 312s in Bishkek, Kyrgystan?!? They have a brand new Phonak outlet there - NO ONE speaks English - and my query for batteries to purchase fell on a BRICK. Just asking in case something untoward happens to my supply.

All said, I could not have done this trip with rechargeables that give me 14 hrs/day of use. We stayed mostly in tents or yurts where power shuts off after dinner and comes on around breakfast time. IF there’s even a source for power. Many days back-to-back NO POWER available.

The cluster-puck of portable chargers (which need charging) and charging base AND rechargeables placed in the case in freezing temps is simply not optimal. So I feel incredily lucky to have these 312s on me - two pairs! Batteries to last over a month, and getting 3 days use with the usage.

Don’t know why, but it seems that when I put them in “mute” at night, that’s like a dedicated program, and therefore drains the batteries MUCH faster. I wish these precious little beans had a simple OFF switch so I wouldn’t have to fuddle around removing itty bitty batteries every night and GOD forbid, drop them in a cow pie when inserting in the morning. LOL. Nature. I love it! But away from civilzation, it takes planning.

According to Google, the Slukha Hearing Aid Clinic sells batteries:
178 Ulitsa Sydykova, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Phone: [+996 550 919 053]

I just open the battery doors on my aids at night to turn them off, and keep them in a case at my bedside. No need to take the batteries out.

WOW Hildegard! Thank you SO much for that info about batteries here in Bishkek! I’ll keep this info handy!

GREAT NEWS! We are winding down from the expedition across Kyrgystan and up to Khan Tengri base camp. Flying home tomorrow. I had ZERO issues with my precious 312s - the batteries were kept in a soft, felt pouch next to my body and the aids were A-OK all night with batteries in them and just set to “mute”. My protocol for here was to change batts every 4th day so they wouldn’t run out mid-day. Also, the weather conspired to give us ONE night only at base camp - WHEW.

Gotta say it was SO HOT up there on Friday we all sat in the sun in T-shirts and shorts, I kid you not. That was our best window for weather. Night was f-f-f-f-f-freeeeeezing cold, but our crew passed out hot water bottles.

What was far FAR moe challenging for me than hearing aids or batteries was the terrain: giant bowls of rough, rocky, slashing sharp morraine. I had my trek poles and could barely negotiate the way to tent or outhouse.

But back to the topic here of 312s and how low can they go? I think if you keep them in an airtight ziplock and soft, warm pouch next to the body there is NO issue. Ditto for these petite workhorse Phonak Lumity Life aids - I had my Precious Pinks in 24x7, and was lucky to have left a stash of batteries and the backup Caribbean Pirates with some crew down at 7200’ from where we flew up/down to base camp.

I’m calling this adventure over and EVER EVER so grateful for all the help, facts and advice given on the fly as I was able to check the 'net every few days.

LOVE THIS BOARD!

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