Battery life in BT keyboard?

how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?
Mark wrote on :

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

Cheers ... Mark

Andy Hewitt replied on :

Mark captain.black@redacted.invalid wrote:

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

Cheers ... Mark

I leave mine on all day, and switch off overnight, and they last at least 3 months. I do use NiMH bateries though, two sets used in rotation.

Richard Tobin replied on :

In article 0001HW.C5E43CB700B172FDF0386530@redacted.invalid, Mark captain.black@redacted.invalid wrote:

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

A few months. They are much better than mice, since they don't have to do anything except when you press a key.

I tried using rechargeables, but after a few cycles they didn't work reliably even when just charged.

-- Richard

Mark replied on :

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:35:57 +0000, Andy Hewitt wrote (in article 1iwom5w.tzcqb912zc5u0N%thewildrover@redacted.invalid):

Mark captain.black@redacted.invalid wrote:

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

Cheers ... Mark

I leave mine on all day, and switch off overnight, and they last at least 3 months. I do use NiMH bateries though, two sets used in rotation.

Thanks for the replies. You and Richard have differing opinions about rechargeables! I've just bout an 8-pack from Tesco for £1.40 ('Value' batteries). I'll see how long they last, then consider NiMHs.

Cheers ... Mark

Stewart Smith replied on :

Mark wrote:

Thanks for the replies. You and Richard have differing opinions about rechargeables! I've just bout an 8-pack from Tesco for £1.40 ('Value' batteries). I'll see how long they last, then consider NiMHs.

Cheap batteries can be pretty terrible in terms of peak power output and energy storage. I've got a Samsung digital camera that works great with expensive primaries or high Amp-Hour recargeables but won't even turn on if you put cheapo cells in it.

Stewart

Andy Hewitt replied on :

Stewart Smith nospam@redacted.invalid wrote:

Mark wrote:

Thanks for the replies. You and Richard have differing opinions about rechargeables! I've just bout an 8-pack from Tesco for £1.40 ('Value' batteries). I'll see how long they last, then consider NiMHs.

Cheap batteries can be pretty terrible in terms of peak power output and energy storage. I've got a Samsung digital camera that works great with expensive primaries or high Amp-Hour recargeables but won't even turn on if you put cheapo cells in it.

The keyboard is very low pwered compared to a camera for sure. I have 7dayshop, 2500mA own brand ones, and they've been working fine over about 8 months (only had a couple of cycles so far), and last almost as long as the original Alkalines.

I use them in the mouse as well, but that lasts about half as long.

In any case, using two sets of rechargeables in rotation means you don't have continuing costs, and there is always a fresh set ready.

Jaimie Vandenbergh replied on :

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:28:34 GMT, Mark captain.black@redacted.invalid wrote:

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

I got about 5 months out of 2600mAH NiMH rechargables - which coincidentally is about the same time as they'd drop most of their charge sat on the shelf! The power draw is tiny.

Cheers - Jaimie
whisky-dave replied on :

"Mark" captain.black@redacted.invalid wrote in message news:0001HW.C5E43CB700B172FDF0386530@redacted.invalid

Just found an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard (the white, non-metallic one) in a charity shop for £2. I see they take AAs, but how long will a set last if the keyboard is left switched on all the time?

Cheers ... Mark

Mine last between 5-7 months using standard duracells. Sometime's it gives me a warning of low battery, which can be check in the bluetooth setup panel. Barttereis seem to be OK for up to a couple of weeks after the messages, I just switch the keyboard off an on and it finds it again.