GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

92Part II: All About GPSBattery basicsAlthough batteries may have the same size and shape, they definitely don’tperform the same. In Table 5-2 are the pluses and minuses of some of the differenttypes of batteries that you can use with your GPS receiver.Table 5-2Battery ComparisonType Rechargeable? Plus MinusAlkaline No You can get these popu- Can’t be reused.lar batteries just aboutanywhere. They’recheap (especially inquantity) and have arelatively long lifeLithium No These batteries are Can be up to tenlighter and work better times more expenunderextreme cold sive than alkalineconditions. They have batteries; can’t bethe longest life and can recharged.be stored for up to tenyears. These are differentthan the rechargeablelithium ion (Li-Ion)batteries found in laptopsand cellphones.GPS receivers are startingto appear on themarket with nonreplaceableLi-Ion batteries,though.Nickel cadmium Yes NiCads were the first Only have about(NiCad) generation recharge one-third to onebatteries,and they can quarter the life ofbe charged about 500 an alkaline battery.times.Can develop amemory (can’t befully recharged).Have to buy acharger. Probablygoing the way ofthe dinosaur,replaced by NiMHbatteries.