I have had my OPN1 minirites for about 10 months or so. I have been very happy with both the aids and the VA audiology department (although I have not had to re-visit them after 1 or 2 adjustments early on.)
Up until I received the TV connect I was only changing batteries (312) every 6 days. Almost like clockwork. I wear them at least 14 hours a day. When I started TV streaming, maybe 2 hours a day, my batteries would die after 3 days tops or a little less. I thought maybe the pack of batteries was bad even though the expiration date was oveer 2 years away. I put up with this for several months–opened new box of batteries, same results–and recently disconnected the TV connect from the TV and power it off just to be sure. I now get exactly 4.5 days out of the batteries.
Does this cold weather affect battery life that much? Is a trip to the audiologist necessary? Sure would like to continue with the TV connect (great sound/voice and stereo affect) but failing every 2 or 3 days or so is not good for me.
I have the ITE OPN1 with 312 batteries and I stream on the average 2.5 hours a day, and wear my aids on average 15 hours a day. I also have the connected to my iPhone when ever I am wearing my aids. I get 4 to 5 days out of my batteries and I have severe hearing loss, and I also use the batteries I get from the VA.
I wear OPN 1 minirites with 312 Batteries. I wear them 16-17 hours per day. I stream as much as I possibly can – iPad, TV adapter 3-4 hours, Live Listen iPhone and I get 3 1/2 to 4 days. I just changed from Duracell to Power One (bought from Hearing Tracker) and I am usually getting 4 days.
You have to ask yourself if streaming TV (and it’s wonderful sound directly to your ears) is worth the extra battery usage? For me–without question–streaming directly is worth the extra batteries.
I never considered the Receivers’ Power affecting battery usage/longevity. Duh! Makes sense. I’ve worn P100 receivers for the last 3 (maybe 4) Oticon versions taking battery 312. I know streaming eats batteries. So, between steaming and P100 receivers, if I get 4 days- yay!
For years, I removed the batteries at night and stuck them (holes side down) onto painters tape or replaced the tabs and I would get at least another 1/2 day. I am not doing this now - I got out of the habit.
My Audi does this – putting the batteries on tape –
I am not saying the dryer reduces battery life - tape just stops the drain.
When I change my batteries before they are dead, such as before a busy day or meeting when it would be inconvenient, I will replace the tab and put batteries back in the case I use for used batteries. Weeks - months later, I will reuse these batteries and they are fine for the rest of their life.
Left without re tabbing they go dead.
I first heard of doing this when it was a topic of conversations way back when this Forum was the original, scary out of control Forum.
I have tried it both ways and I have seen no difference. Also when I see that my batteries will die during the day the next day and I know I have a busy schedule, I change the batteries and toss them out.
I ordered a TV connect at the same time I ordered my OPN1’s. When I got the new hearing aids I found them so far superior to my old Oticon Vigo aids that I returned the TV connect - I didn’t need it.
I use my aids all the time to stream off of an iPad and have noted the same battery life issue you mentioned. I get about 4 days out of fresh 312’s where I used to get a lot more time from the older aids. I just chalk it up the superior sound quality to the cost of batteries. In my opinion it’s worth the extra cost.
Cold will negatively affect batteries, whether for a flashlight or hearing aids. However, these sit by your skull and will not really get that cold. As for lifespan, I only stream phone calls and I generally get 6 days of 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. use out of a battery.
This site’s store sells #312 for $0.28/each. Amazon is similar. Supermarket considerably higher.
At 3 days use, that’s 9 cents per ear-day, call it 20 cents a day both-ears.
Toilet paper can run 4 cents/day. Chewing gum is a dime a stick. Deodorant runs 10 to 20 cents a day. Commercial laundry costs close to $10/day, so call a Maytag and a line $1/day. A daily paper newspaper is $1.25, delivered is $130/13wks ($1.67/copy). Starbucks coffee is $3 and up. (Hmmm, TP is the bargain of the bunch.)
It is hard to complain about the price of air-cells in the overall cost of living.
Yes, the hassle of teensy batteries and fragile HA-doors. I manage, but I know my dexterity will decline in time.
My setup and use is much like the OP. I too love the TV stero, so I put up with the battery drain, and so far the VA has not pushed back on orders.
Now very recently I notified the Bluetooth on my Right unit was going out. Crackle, then on and off, and I noted the battery drain on that unit went to 2 hours.
I too turned off the TV feed, I use a dryer, yet the drain continued.
I went to the VA. They tried a few things, but mailed off to the Mfg. two week later and all I’d back to new. Oticon replaced the guts. So, something went bad.
Thanks FredTX. Is that “in the ear hours” or total hours from new install to dead? Actual wearing time (15 hour per day) I’m getting about 46 hours with about 100 hours from install to they go dead. If the specs are for actual wearing hours I guess I’m on spec. Still, I was getting a lot more than that the first 7 months I owned them, and before the cold weather hit.
Edwin, that is in the ear time, with a load on the battery. Cold weather will decrease the capacity of a battery, but in reality, when you are wearing aids, they are usually in a comfortable environment. When the aids are removed at night, open the battery doors to stop discharging; I know you probably already know that sounds obvious, but I have known folks that just take their aids out and leave them on a dresser, and then wonder why the batteries only last two days.