PM5 Parts

[Roger Ramjet]

I had a battery issue that caused some corrosion on the circuit board. I attempted to clean it and it worked for a bit, than it didn't. Long story short, the board is likely fried and I have a new PM5 on the way. If anyone needs some parts other than the board let me know. They can be yours for the cost of shipping.

[Carl Watts]

Must have been a bad leak, usually you can just replace the whole back cover on the PM5 and your all good.

The newer versions have changed the rear case design, its more acid leakage resistant and stops it getting to the board.

The moral of the story is you only ever run quality Alkaline batteries in these which do not leak to start with. Duracell would be my number 1 choice followed by Energizer.

[Roger Ramjet]

Yes they were Energizer batteries. My mistake was not taking it fully apart in the beginning. I cleaned the back cover throughly when it happened and everything was great for about two years. I then started having issues with battery life and replaced the back cover (6 months ago) because the seemed to be some residual damage on the bottom contact. Seemed to fix it. At that time I didn't see any signs on the board. Problems resurfaced and when I opened it up the left contact was completely corroded. I tried to clean it but, no go. Called C2 this morning and spoke to a great customer service rep. She confirmed my self diagnosis. They shipped the PM5 today and I will have it Wednesday. Can't beat that.

[Carl Watts]

Interesting re the Energizer batteries.

The quality of these really seems to have gone down the toilet. I have had a couple that have gone flat for no reason, way before the other battery or not even in use in the cupboard. Made in China now.

Just went back to Duracell, these all but disappeared from our market but they are making a comeback. More expensive and they are not selling because of it. Still made in the USA. Not sure they are as good as a test set made in Canada that I still use, these had a best installed date of 2005 and they are still going.

[jackarabit]

In CONUS, RayOVac is as good as any and cheaper.

[Nomath]

I was in battery research at the start of my professional career, so I know a bit about their chemistry and design. I find the Duracell alkalines good quality but highly overpriced. I recommend the Panasonic alkaline batteries. I have never found any leaking Panasonic battery and the charge is almost fully retained even after 5 years storage. As far as I know the Panasonic batteries available in the EU are made in Belgium and Poland. They are sold, amongst others, in the rapidly expanding Action stores at less than half the price of Duracell. No personal interest.

By the way, Panasonic is the main partner and the manufacturing brain behind the Tesla car battery operation.

[Carl Watts]

I have had Panasonic that leaked. Duracell are probably top of the heap. Not really expensive over a lifetime when you consider a leak can write off your monitor.

The problem is those cheap Carbon Zinc batteries on the market, these are monitor killers.

The best technology is Lithium. Available in AA and AAA but little else so ideal for the PM2. Not sure why they are not available in D, probably cost and most D battery applications are not low current like the C2 monitors.

If your rowing running something on a PC, you can simply use one of the front USB ports that have permeant power now so the batteries pretty much serve only in the event of a mains power cut so your set of Duracell should last 15-20 years.