Topic: How long will a VP2 Console run on batteries when never using internal lights?

[TraderGary]

I have my VP2 Console sitting on my desk under a bright desk lamp. I can read it just fine and never turn on the internal amber lights. The manual says to expect approximately 6 months of battery life, but doesn't talk about not using the internal lights. My station is at the 6 month point and what happens with the Console? Does it warn you when the batteries need replacing? If the batteries fail, do you have to set the Console up all over again?

I'm curious whether anyone else uses their VP2 Console totally on battery and without ever turning on the internal lights, and if so, what is your experience? How long do your batteries last?

[johnd]

Yes, I think quite a few users run their VP2 console on batteries alone and without using the backlight. Battery life is quoted at 6-9 months. And yes you should get a warning when the batteries are getting low. Obviously using the backlight will shorten battery life but the backlight should automatically time out when powered from batteries alone (can't remember the time - 5 or 10 mins maybe?) and so limit the damage to battery life unless used frequently.

The other factor that can impact battery life is use of any logger (if installed). Very frequent archive downloads from a USB or serial logger are bad news for battery life and you can't really expect to use an IP logger (or WFL or Nano) on batteries alone - they might last a day!

[CW2274]

If the batteries fail, do you have to set the Console up all over again?

No, non-volatile memory.

[92merc]

I get close to a year on mine.  I have one hanging in the hall near my door to the garage.

[CW2274]

I get close to a year on mine.

Nice. People complain about the monochrome display, that's why it's a monochrome display.

[davidmc36]

I went to the trouble of setting up 5V power for all 6 of my consoles. I probably will only worry about the ones with loggers or Re-Transmitters if I ever need the power bricks for anything else. Never noticed the spec before. 6 months or better is pretty good.

[floodcaster]

I've got an extra VP2 console on the wall of our laundry room near a door to the garage. Coats and shoes/boots are in there as well so nice to check the wx before going out. I've never really kept track but I know the batteries last for at least 6 months, I'm guessing a bit longer. The low battery notification is displayed well before the unit runs out of power. I've seen it for at least a few days prior to getting around to changing the batteries.

[Garth Bock]

I have 3 VP2 and a Vue consoles along with an Envoy. The only ones on power bricks are the Envoy and the console with the WiFi logger 1. The other consoles get about 8-10 months on batteries. I don't use the lights at all. I have repurposed a PIR/LED nightlight module to illuminate one of the consoles with red light. I am working on miniaturizing it and making it clip on the console.

[racer3]

I don't use the backlight much and get close to if not more than a year using good Duracell batteries. When the batteries are low it tells you on the ticker on the bottom.

[archae86]

I have three consoles.  While the one with the logger that is connected to my PC has always run on a wall wart, the one in the kitchen has always run on batteries. I had one in the bedroom which ran on batteries after the onboard power hardware ceased accepting power from outside. I use nickel metal hydride batteries instead of primary cells wherever I can around my house. I can report that the Davis console does just fine with three C cell NiMH batteries.  I swap in freshly recharged batteries once every three months, but that is quite conservative.  Of course I use low self-discharge cells.

As I do preemptive swaps I don't normally see the low battery indicator, but I believe it ran for days even with my nickel metal hydride cells, which tend to drop through the detection zone much faster than alkaline cells would.

[darcyh]

Acknowledging this is an old thread, I have 3 VP2 pro consoles solely powered by the on board C cells. I rarely use the back light. I change the batteries once a year and have never had a low battery alert. I have tested the voltage on the expired cells and it is consistently around 1.3 volts no load into a Fluke 87V multimeter. In my experience at the 1.3 volt mark the batteries are pretty tired. This is using brand name (Duracell / Energizer / Panasonic / Rayovac) alkaline cells.

[Garth Bock]

4 consoles and 4 Envoys. I get around a year on the consoles. The Envoys are always powered and the AA batteries are just for backup but they get changed out at the same time. I suspect they last a lot longer but I don't want to risk it. The old console/Envoy will continue to receive and log data for weeks/months while the new console will quit after several hours of no power. (Yes I know power outages are less frequent and some have their 6313 console on a UPS.) The legacy console will always be an old reliable and the new console just eye candy.

[racer3]

I run the VP2 only on the 3 c batteries and seldom use the backlight and I always get at least a year out of them.  One of the reasons I don' want the new consoles. At least with an extended power outage I can still see what is happening.

[chief-david]

If you needed a new ISS....... keep the old console.

[darcyh]

If you needed a new ISS....... keep the old console.

Excellent advice.

Although I have a new 6313 console, there are no plans to get rid of the old LCD console.

I wonder if the price on the used market will increase given they are no longer available from Davis.

[Garth Bock]

If you needed a new ISS....... keep the old console.

Excellent advice.

Although I have a new 6313 console, there are no plans to get rid of the old LCD console.

I wonder if the price on the used market will increase given they are no longer available from Davis.

Probably. I have seen used consoles go for like new prices, even before the 6313 came out. You just have to lurk on eBay for a deal.
Over the years I have been buying consoles off of eBay for around $100-150. I now have 4 and 2 came with loggers. I have also bought 4 Envoys with loggers for about the same amount. When I have friends over they like picking up one of the spares and paging through its information. Kind of a weather conversation starter. Yes I know you can unplug the 6313 but Its interface is less intuitive to the untrained (versus buttons). Also, why you pass around an expensive device that you use to send your data ? I have a new console but the battery life, portability, and cost of the old one far outshines the new one even if it is kinda retro...but that is the in thing now.

[chief-david]

If you needed a new ISS....... keep the old console.

Excellent advice.

Although I have a new 6313 console, there are no plans to get rid of the old LCD console.

I wonder if the price on the used market will increase given they are no longer available from Davis.

I cant believe how much money people ask for used weather stations online.

With that said, Mine was cheap, and it is gone.