Question about Battery Life

I've had my pm now for about 2.5 yrs. Have now been using it 100% of the time for the last year. I was told originally it would last between 5 and 10 yrs. At my last appt they said the battery is at 2.99 and they change it at 2.81. My question is that its been at 2.99 since I got it. Wouldn't it typically decrease over a couple years? They've already told me that this particular model isn't good at predicting battery life when it gets close to running out of juice, just wondering if its normal that it hasn't changed at all since I got it?
Don't know if my question makes sense...

2 Comments

numbers

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-09 10:03:48

The numbers tend to stay the same for a while, then go down a little bit, then go down a little bit, then a little more, then plummet. It's a steep curve, not a straight line, if that makes sense. The tank at the end is what makes it hard to predict exactly when it will go. I'm on my 4th now. The last year they let me know it's coming. Once it says less than 6 months, I go in every other month. When it says less than 3 months, I go every month.

At the end, there are 2 modes. ERI is elective replacement mode. It's like the gas light on your car. Everything works but the end is near. EOL is end of life. At this point, it limits function. It keeps us safe but turns off the bells and whistles and paces at a steady number, usually 60 bpm. If you pace a lot, you will not feel good in EOL. Some insurance requires EOL but try to get it done in ERI if you can.

Hope that helps! If you haven't heard, replacements are super easy and nothing to fear. If I get an early appointment, I'm home fixing my own lunch. They go in the same place so it's all scar tissue this time.

Predicting battery life

by ElectricFrank - 2013-03-09 11:03:29

There is no way to actually predict the remaining battery life. It is dependent on the particular battery, one or both chamber being paced, % pacing, and even your activity level. If you stop and think about it the battery indicator on our cell phones is about the same. When mine is at 50% of the bar I've got more like 75% remaining.

I'm an engineer and there are frequent articles in my trade magazines about how to better measure battery life.

frank

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Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going.

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