Bolo Grubb

So what is the best one out there? Are most people using the "energizer to go" set up or is there some thing better now?

My edge 305's battery is starting to show shorter life span and I figure I can keep using it for a long time with a good battery extender. Still only need the extender for the longer weekend type rides.

JayC

Mintyboost would be my choice. The Energizer setup doesnt provide USB standard current from my understanding.

umd

I made my own... can't find the link now but I found instructions on the internet. Basically just need a votage regulator from radio shack.

Bolo Grubb

I do not have the skills or tools to make a minty boost. I see I can buy a minty boost kit for about $20 but then I still have no way of putting it together.

umd

The Energizer thing works ok but comes with a maddeningly short cord.

valygrl

You can buy a pre-assembled Mintyboost, if you don't want to mess around with building it. I have one... doesn't really seem to work all that well, though.

https://forums.ladyada.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3591

umd

The best thing to do is buy a 605/705. The battery lasts MUCH longer.

Bolo Grubb

um no thanks. the edge 305 does everything I need it too and my only problem is the battery is simply wearing out. Eventually I will send it to Garmin for a "repair" for $99 dollars and they will replace the battery.

umd

Suit yourself... seems like a waste of $100 to me when you can get a new better unit for only 3x more.

Bolo Grubb

The only thing the 705 offers to me is better battery life. After 2 to 3 years a 705's battery will need to be replaced as well. Spending 3x more for features I don't need, want or would use (other then battery life), would be a waste





PS I am currently testing the overall battery life of my 305 by leaving it on after my commute home. So far 45 minutes into work, then 1 hour home, and 3 hours sitting on my desk at home. Maybe the battery gauge is just off???

fskywalker

The 705 will give you a pretty good battery life, I did a 9 hr 21 minute ride (including stops, at which I never shut it down) and still had around 25% of battery life left. I think the battery on the 605 and 705 is Li-ion. As for the energizer, I have it and it does work with the 305 as well as the 705, but the cable is indeed short. Yoy may perhaps built a longer cable to suit your needs.

Regards,

cedricbosch

Uh... the 305 isn't going to be using much power just sitting on your desk . It's going to use up the battery 50x quicker when it's tracking satellites and getting data from your cadence/speed and heart rate sensors.

Ritterview

1+

The 705 has a lot of advantages. One is visibility. On my ride home in the dark, the bright backlight was such that I could see all the numbers. Not so with the 305, where the numbers are smaller, the backlight not as bright, and the battery life feeble so that you can't leave the light on. I can always see my 705 display, whereas the 305 was often difficult to read.

With the 705 there is no crisis if you forgot to leave it plugged in overnight. It will still have plenty of juice. All these little things add up to a lot more usability.

Flatballer

I hate all of you. Arguing over which GPS unit to buy. Meanwhile I use a $35 computer...

tjspahr

This might be what you were looking for.

https://www.bradculberson.com/blog/page/2/?s=garmin

umd

That's it, thanks. I didn't use the film can though, I taped the battery to my seat stays.

aham23

100% correct.

later.

socalrider

I think one of the best mobile power sources is the apc mobile power pack.. This will charge anything that has a usb connection.. I can keep my Garmin 305, Ipod and Samsung phone all charged up when on the road.. You sometimes have to buy a charging usb cable for your phone but most phones have this option and the power pack lasts a long time.. It is the size of a credit card but a little thicker, both standard and mini usb connection. These can be found on ebay for around 40.00-60.00..

here is more info: https://www.amazon.com/APC-Mobile-Pow.../dp/B000GBN42E

barlows

Is this like the "Energizer to go" you were talking about? LINKY I've been using an older model of this for about 18 months now. It works great, and I just use the USB cable supplied with the 305. I've done some distance riding including a 600K with this setup without issue.

Steve

aikigreg

it'd be nice to find a smaller round one to strap onto the top tube...

aham23

mintyboost

how much smaller do you need it to be?

later.

umd

No

Psimet2001 

Based on this reccomendation I bought one of these before the RAIN ride last year and found out mid ride that it did NOT work. Plugging it in caused my Garming to shut down hard after a few seconds. Multiple attempts resulted in the same shutdown.

Now the energizer unit won't even power up or work at all. Total fail.

I wired up aham's Minty Boost and it works great. Easy to solder up.

BTW - I routinely get over 9-10 hours of riding off of one charge. The battery gauge is not linear in it's response and is a rough guide at best.

ALSO - when you send your unit back to Garmin...even if you pay...you only get a rebuilt unit back. Not YOUR unit after being fixed. FYI.

Bolo Grubb

THat one looks much easier to make then the minty boost one. Might give that a try if I can find someone who owns a soldering iron

umd

Yeah, I wouldn't really recommend the Energizer unit, I just wanted to be clear that's what we were referring to. I didn't have any trouble with mine except for the cord length. I only used it once.