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Operational Tests
Transmitter Battery Tests
¾ The design of the windows/slots in a housing can greatly affect the transmitter’s battery life, especially
on the red long-range DX Transmitters. The windows must be a minimum of 8 inches (20 cm) long
and line up longitudinally along the drill housing, directly above the center of the transmitter.
(Drawings are available upon request.) A minimum of five slots, equally spaced around the diameter
of the housing, are required. Ensure the slots are not filled with any material containing metal par-
ticles, e.g., liquid steel.
¾ The batteries used with DigiTrak Transmitters must be alkaline. Check the manufacturing date to
ensure freshness when purchasing or using any batteries. Ray-O-Vac and Kodak brand alkaline bat-
teries are not suggested for use in DigiTrak equipment. Consumer Reports has shown that these
batteries do not have as long a life as the others. Alkaline batteries normally have a 5-year shelf life.
Rechargeable batteries should not be used because of limited capacity, and the remaining battery life
readings will not be accurate.
¾ Batteries can be tested on a load-inducing battery tester, e.g., Radio Shack Model 22-096A. A
voltmeter will not provide an accurate measure of the life remaining.
¾ Make sure the battery connections in the transmitter are kept clean, ensuring good contacts with the
batteries. Check that the springs inside the battery compartment and the battery cap are fully
extended and not permanently compressed.
¾ When removing old batteries, check the battery tips for blackening. These oxidation deposits are
caused by arcing, and some batteries tend to be worse than others. The arcing is caused by inter-
mittent separation between the batteries and/or contact points.
¾ Taping the batteries together can reduce arcing potential. If using a 4-cell transmitter, it is recom-
mended that the batteries be soldered together to avoid arcing or compression of contacts.
¾ If concerned that battery life in the transmitter is shorter than noted in the specifications provided in
the Transmitter Section, please refer to the “Current Draw Test” above under “Transmitter Tests.”
DigiTrak
®
Mark III Operator’s Manual 41