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Posted: 12/30/2009 7:56:57 AM EDT
| I bought an Eo Tech to use for my Patrol Rifle. I placed new batteries in it about a month ago and used it for 5 minutes on one occasion (yes I turned it off when I was done) and when I did a function test yesterday the rectical was flashing (I've been told that shows that the batteries are alsmots dead) Wtf??? why are my batteries dying just sitting there?? Am I going to have to change the batteries every month?? Any SERIOUS imput would be appreciated!! Thx in advance! |
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I bought an Eo Tech to use for my Patrol Rifle. I placed new batteries in it about a month ago and used it for 5 minutes on one occasion (yes I turned it off when I was done) and when I did a function test yesterday the rectical was flashing (I've been told that shows that the batteries are alsmots dead) Wtf??? why are my batteries dying just sitting there?? Am I going to have to change the batteries every month?? Any SERIOUS imput would be appreciated!! Thx in advance! From reading the boards, and from my own first hand experiences in LEO training, this is an issue with SOME EoTechs that seems to happen pretty often. Batteries drain for no reason and the reticles decide to go away during fire. I have seen more than one officer open his trunk to find dead EoTech batteries (512s) that should have had hundreds of hours left on them. Yes, many Agencies issue them (and DPMS rifles) because cost is a HUGE factor and EoTechs are cheaper (short term) than the alternatives. Having said that many thousands of people are happy with theirs and report having no problems. Your options: 1. Send it back and hope for the best. 2. Change batteries at the the start of every shift/week/month whatever you feel better about and have fixed BUIS with a lower 1/3 co-witness. 3. Get an Aimpoint that you can leave on for years at a time and not worry about the optic working when you respond to an Active Shooter and pull your weapon out of the rack/trunk where it's been sitting in 100/0 degree temperatures for the last 10 hours. I know, the EoTech has a "Better field of view" and "faster reticle" than the Aimpoints. I like the concept of the EoTech reticle, but IN MY OPINION the optics are NOT RELIABLE enough for use on a Patrol/Duty rifle where you are responding to a rapidly deteriorating S#!T has hit the fan scenario and you need to be able to react quickly to stop the threat. I tell everyone I work with that Aimpoints, x1.5 ACOGS, and/or Iron Sights are better options on a working gun than the EoTechs. Some listen, some don't. I will now climb into my flame suit for the inevitable EoTech Fan Hate Fest, but the fact is remains that the EoTech has proven itself to be less reliable than the Aimpoint. Stay Safe, Rob |
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This does happen occasionally with EOTechs. Its more "common" with the N-cell battery versions, but it can still happen in the AA battery models.
You can do 3 things.... 1: Keep the batteries out and put them in when you start the day, or when you're going to go out with your rifle 2: Send it back to EOTech and HOPE that they will fix it (the battery drain problem is hit or miss for them actually finding and fixing it) 3: Get an Aimpoint and stop worrying 
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Quoted: no corosion on the terminals, and I've been using energizer batteries. They are the only type N batteries I've found What you've got there with the type N batteries is the least desirable, lowest performance model they ever released. I mean no offense, I'm just saying most folks with the AA battery models running lithium batteries and the new XPS models aren't having trouble. It's my belief that L3 Eotech should accept all type N battery models back in a recall and replace them with XPS models. |
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no corosion on the terminals, and I've been using energizer batteries. They are the only type N batteries I've found What you've got there with the type N batteries is the least desirable, lowest performance model they ever released. I mean no offense, I'm just saying most folks with the AA battery models running lithium batteries and the new XPS models aren't having trouble. It's my belief that L3 Eotech should accept all type N battery models back in a recall and replace them with XPS models. Exactly. Especially the older ones that take the N battery. They are unacceptable for LE use. Most will eat the battery as they sit. For my patrol rifle I've been using a Rev F 512 with lithium batteries and have had no issues. |
| Hey man, real quick question. I'm LEO as well. I work in the Midwest (Chicago-Land area) and we keep our rifles in our trunk. I had to deploy my rifle at one point, and found my flashlight was dead, as was my optic. I then realized, it gets pretty damn cold in the midwest, and pretty damn cold in the trunk. Batteries moving from one extreme temperature to another extreme temperature compromises their integrity. Have you considered that? Cold is the enemy of all things mechanical and electrical! I started keeping my rifle in the patrol car, and I also keep spare batteries in my duty bag in case of another scenario where they go dead. Since I started monitoring the temperature, however, I have had no issues. Been on the same batteries for over a year and a half now, and everything is functioning properly. Also, it's never a bad habit to make sure all of your equipment is functioning before and after a shift. Just a thought. Any questions let me know. |
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I too was given a 511 and before that a 512..
The 512 was worlds better than the 511 I have now.. I just carry 4 extra batteries with the rifle If I need it Aimpoint definately beats the shit out of eotech for battery life, id still carry an extra aimpoint battery though |
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Quoted:
Hey man, real quick question. I'm LEO as well. I work in the Midwest (Chicago-Land area) and we keep our rifles in our trunk. I had to deploy my rifle at one point, and found my flashlight was dead, as was my optic. I then realized, it gets pretty damn cold in the midwest, and pretty damn cold in the trunk. Batteries moving from one extreme temperature to another extreme temperature compromises their integrity. Have you considered that? Cold is the enemy of all things mechanical and electrical! I started keeping my rifle in the patrol car, and I also keep spare batteries in my duty bag in case of another scenario where they go dead. Since I started monitoring the temperature, however, I have had no issues. Been on the same batteries for over a year and a half now, and everything is functioning properly. Also, it's never a bad habit to make sure all of your equipment is functioning before and after a shift. Just a thought. Any questions let me know. I usually check my rifle once a week since we are now on 12 hr shifts. If it does go dead between then, I have iron sites as a back up.... Being in Fl, I don't get the extreme weather change. My rifle and shotgun is kept in a rack that is between the front seats on the cage. I still think it is just the model of EO Tech that I have.... I think I am going to spend the extra $$ and get an aimpoint.... If my Dept issued the equipment I would deal but since the rifle is MINE i'll spend the money for the feeling of security..... Thx all!! |
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Quoted:
I bought an Eo Tech to use for my Patrol Rifle. I placed new batteries in it about a month ago and used it for 5 minutes on one occasion (yes I turned it off when I was done) and when I did a function test yesterday the rectical was flashing (I've been told that shows that the batteries are alsmots dead) Wtf??? why are my batteries dying just sitting there?? Am I going to have to change the batteries every month?? Any SERIOUS imput would be appreciated!! Thx in advance! Not normal. I'd look at getting some warranty service on it. |
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I had this exact thing happen with my 512 (AA batteries model). I'm not sure what caused it as it was only a few months old. Mine is the Rev.F version. Someone suggested "resetting" the unit by taking the batteries out and leaving them out for more than two minutes before putting them back in. This worked for me and I haven't had any battery drain problems since then. I would suggest doing this every time you pull the batteries. I think there is a bug in the firmware or electronics somehow that causes this. Perhaps this happens by replacing batteries AND NOT waiting two minutes before you do so?
Also check the troubleshooting checklist from EOTech below: The sight will not power up: 1. Ensure the batteries are inserted properly according to the diagram on the bottom of the battery cap. 2. Replace the batteries with new, unused batteries that contain a full charge. 3. Inspect the battery contact points in both the battery cap and on the sight itself. These contact points are spring loaded and surrounded by a rubber gasket that may catch the spring. Move the contact points around and ensure they are at or above the surface of the rubber gasket. 4. Reset the electronics by removing any source of power for approximately two minutes. This will allow a capacitor in the electronics housing to drain of power, resetting the electronics. Reconnect the batteries and operate the sight as normal. 5. Check the battery contacts for corrosion or wear. Clean the contacts. 6. Contact Repair & Service. Good luck. |
| I never had but one problem. A lot of the battery issues are that, battery issues. You can buy a brand new set of batteries and they can be out of date. In date batteries can be bad as well. Cold is bad for them. The Russians used a battery pack that went in the soldiers jacket to keep it warm that had wires that ran up to the scope at one time to light the reticle. Only use Energizer, which is what they tell you to do in the instructions, preferably lithium ones or the Surefire ones, and you shouldn't have an issue. I suppose Duracells are o.k., but that is the only brand that I had an issue with once. I live near the Duracell plant and can get them for free, but I still like the Energizers for this application. I have other electronics that Duracells last longer, go figure. |
| I have a 552.A65 that was on my Beowulf. The recoil would kill batteries pretty quick - not talking about low voltage from the battery - 0 volts. Lithium batteries, I think, stand up better to that punishment. I put it on my M4 like 6 months ago, and I'm still on the same set of AA's. |
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