Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Bike computer battery life

I wrote a while back about my bike computer not receiving it's signal once it got wet. I fixed it by wrapping it with plastic held in place with a zip-tie.

This isn't a wireless computer, it's wired. I had to extend the length of the wire to put it on my recumbent. I did it properly with soldering, and everything is sealed up tight. It worked fine until it got wet. The plastic seemed to fix it, until today.

I was on a cold, slushy ride today, but the computer wasn't getting wet, when it no longer received a signal. I checked the magnet placement, but nothing seemed wrong.

On a whim, I stopped by a store and bought a package of the CR2032 batteries, and replaced the battery. It seems to have fixed it.

I'm not sure what the battery life is on those things. I've only had it since July. However, I have put over 1400 miles on it. My other bike is still working fine (same kind of computer), and I've had it longer, but put fewer miles on it.

Thoughts?

usually battery life is years. but if you have a cheap one that can't handle the water it may have a shorted battery that cut it's life or it could have been a old or really cheap battery.

When I put my bikes up after a ride I try to make sure the sensor magnet is not right next to the sending unit. I found that on some of them it can cause a very slight current drain even while the bike is not moving. I don't know why but it does. I also have found on some wireless models getting near them with a cell phone also "wakes" them up. NEXTEL especially.

When I put my bikes up after a ride I try to make sure the sensor magnet is not right next to the sending unit. I found that on some of them it can cause a very slight current drain even while the bike is not moving. I don't know why but it does. I also have found on some wireless models getting near them with a cell phone also "wakes" them up. NEXTEL especially.

I wouldn't think the placement of the magnet matters... it's the movement of the magnet past the sensor. However, in case I'm wrong, I'll watch that from now on.

The computer is a low-end Cateye wired model. The battery that was in it was a Sony. It may have sat in a warehouse for a long time before I bought it.

I'm preparing for a 30 mile ride in the cold, with some slush, snow, and possibly ice on the road. Basically the same conditions as yesterday that lead to computer not working. If it works throughout the ride, I'll consider it solved.

Battery voltage output is probably dropping due to the lower temperatures. When the unit is warmed back up does it start working again?

BTW I have a Cateye Strada Wirless with 10 months and 3500 miles with no battery change. But it's warm hear.

Batteries can stop working in the cold. They are OK when they get warm again.

Well, I rode 35 miles in mid-20s temperature today with the new battery, and everything worked fine. I'll chalk it up to a low battery.

I'll keep spares around from now on. I'm a little OCD about tracking my mileage.