sweetmarie

Just want to share some info here. A few years ago I was getting a message on the unit that I was about to lose my internal memory. I contacted Garmin and they told me to ship it to them and they'd refurbish it at no cost because they admitted that the original internal battery did not last nearly as long as they had planned. That's pretty good service in my book.

The unit came back with all the data intact, new scratchless case and all!!!

Recently I wanted to know what type of internal battery they put in there as they specified that this was a one shot deal and that they would not support the unit any longer because of it's "age".

Separating the unit was very easy, took a flat screwdriver and the two parts seperated like nothing. The internal battery from what I can see is a Panasonic BR 2032 lithium coin cell.

I know, I know, the unit is supposed to be sealed with nitrogen. Well it is no longer if it was. Wonder if they sealed with nitrogen when they replaced the internal battery or just when the unit was manufactured? I guess time will tell.
Anyway, all I wanted to find out is what typed of internal battery was in there so I can purchase some so when the time comes again, I can replace it myself, if the unit is still functionnal.

This unit owes me nothing and I have all my waypoints and routes downloaded on my pc so I can upload them into a new unit when the time comes.

dav

sweetmarie, thanks for the report.

I wonder, is the coin cell soldered in place, rather than in a normal holder? This seems too easy, since we've all heard the batteries "are not end-user replaceable".

Let us know how your battery replacement fares, when the time comes.

And welcome to the board

Andy

I had the internal battery replaced on my 76S also. Garmin did the same and replaced my scratched case with a new one. I've never opened it to see if it's really user changeable. It would be nice if it was.

sweetmarie

Here's a link to a few pics of my battery set up. What do the pros think, is it possible for the backyard tech to change this battery?
GPS Discussion - sweetmarie's Album: Garmin GPS 12 internal battery pic

dav

<tongue firmly in cheek here>

Okay, I see the "before" pictures, with the replacement AA battery there in the background... but how do you plan to fit it into the case?

<back to reality>

Thanks for the pics, sweetmarie

sweetmarie

The AA battery in the background is just clutter on my desk. Those are the batteries needed (4) to run the GPS. The smaller circle battery (coin cell) is shown pointed with black arrow. I uploaded those 3 pics again with thin black arrow. This is the battery I'm wondering if it's possible to change without wrecking the setup . Thanks

Attached Thumbnails

     

Andy

I don't think changing that battery would cause any problem. After all even if that battery dead the device still works with AA's in it. That was the case with my 76S. The internal battery was dead and it worked just fine. The reason I had it changed was once it lost power from the AA's it lost the clock and other data from the sats, making restarting a much longer process.

sweetmarie

So even if the internal battery goes dead, I won't lose my waypoints or routes in the gps? That was one of my concernsthat I'd have to reload all the data if the internal battery went dead.

Ellis

I have a Garmin C 330.. Anyone know how to open this unit.. I need to put in a new battery

Andy

I would make sure I had them backed up just in case. I don't recall.

fishinglinder

I am losing my internal battery now and Garmin says they don't make this battery anymore so I will have to buy a new unit.

If I don't use it for"2" weeks, when I power up all my waypoints are gone. Also the time has to be readjusted. So I believe when the battery finally goes dead, I will have to reenter all the data every time I power up. Did you ever get that coin battery put in and did it work.

sweetmarie

I'm still running with the same battery that Garmin installed in 2008 so I really can't say if the process would work. As the price of the units have pretty well leveled off, I'm not sure if I would bother, especially now that the newer ones have built in real-time compasses (they show actual north without having to physically move the gps).
Just for conversation sake, how long have you owned your gps?

fishinglinder

I purchased mine in 2001. So it had given me almost 10 years. I just can't seem to find anything compatible to the one I have. I only use it on my boat so I don't need all those maps. I just want to be able to put in some waypoints.

Andy

An Etrex H might be an inexpensive option for you. Similar features and no map. Little over $80 on Amazon today.
Amazon.com: Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator: Electronics

sweetmarie

That's exactly what I use my Garmin 12 for also , I don't need any maps on the lake or in the bush . I have a garmin Nuivi for the road .

jerryi

I have a GPS 12Map that is nearly 10 years old. The internal battery died a couple years ago. I soldered in a new battery and it worked for a year or two. Now I have to replace it again. A BR2032 or equivalent battery (3v, 20mm dia) appears to be the right choice. Last time I bought one with solder ears on both sides, but I see I can buy 4 or 5 BR2032s on Ebay for about 3 bucks, including shipping, so I am going to solder wires directly to each side of the battery (red on the plus side, black on the minus side). Then I will encase the whole battery in scotch double-sided foam tape and 'glue, the case back together with silicone so I can get it back apart in another three years. I figure I have nothing to lose. By today's standards, this GPS unit is primitive, but I only need it as a fallback, in case my chartplotter fails. This unit has been with me on many sailboat trips all over the world. We like to have all the backup we can: cell phones, satellite phones, EPIRBs, mounted VHFs, handheld VHFs, chartplotters, handheld GPS units, AIS, radar, access to satellite weather maps, compasses, charts, etc.