I have a Megrez 80II with Illuminated finder and have the following issue with the finder's battery holder which could easily shorten the battery's life and was wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Here Is an exerpt of an email I sent to WO:
"The problem is this type of issue will probably go unnoticed. Symptoms will show up as shortened battery life and/or batteries going dead between uses. My batteries lasted less than 3 months of light usage before dying. This seems kind of short for me. Compare this with my EZ Finder on my Orion Dob which has been running since January with heavy usage and still going strong (and on that unit, i've even left the LED on by accident for a few days once!)."
"As i've indicated on the previous email. When I took out the batteries to change/inspect. One measured (with 1K ohm load) 2.9V which is good, whereas the other measured only 2.1V, which is more or less dead! Obviously one battery fared better than the other. With the lower battery's "+" terminal hitting (shorting to) the side wall of the battery compartment (which is NOT insulated - PROBLEM), the upper battery which is also connected to the lower battery's "+" and to the battery compartment's case and side wall is effectively shorted and will therefore drain (and finder illumination is effectively running on ONE battery). The lower battery touching the battery compartment's side wall seem very easy too.... "
"If you're still not convinced that the lower battery can short to the battery compartment's inside side wall, do the following experiment. With the battery cover off, and with only ONE battery in the compartment, turn on the finder. Look thru the finder, and use your finger to lightly push the single battery to one side: the finder's illumination will light up... "
"The problem is this type of issue will probably go unnoticed. Symptoms will show up as shortened battery life and/or batteries going dead between uses. My batteries lasted less than 3 months of light usage before dying. This seems kind of short for me. Compare this with my EZ Finder on my Orion Dob which has been running since January with heavy usage and still going strong (and on that unit, i've even left the LED on by accident for a few days once!)."
"As i've indicated on the previous email. When I took out the batteries to change/inspect. One measured (with 1K ohm load) 2.9V which is good, whereas the other measured only 2.1V, which is more or less dead! Obviously one battery fared better than the other. With the lower battery's "+" terminal hitting (shorting to) the side wall of the battery compartment (which is NOT insulated - PROBLEM), the upper battery which is also connected to the lower battery's "+" and to the battery compartment's case and side wall is effectively shorted and will therefore drain (and finder illumination is effectively running on ONE battery). The lower battery touching the battery compartment's side wall seem very easy too.... "
"If you're still not convinced that the lower battery can short to the battery compartment's inside side wall, do the following experiment. With the battery cover off, and with only ONE battery in the compartment, turn on the finder. Look thru the finder, and use your finger to lightly push the single battery to one side: the finder's illumination will light up... "
