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Charging etrex 10 via usb?

Former Member
Former Member over 12 years ago
Hello everyone,

I just got the etrex 10 for christmas, and I saw it works with double AA batteries. I put NIMH rechargeable batteries in it, and I was wondering if the etrex 10 would charge the batteries if I connected it via usb to the computer? I could not find any info on the internet.

Thank you in advance.
  • 0 over 12 years ago
    ...because you can also put non-rechargeable batteries in it. When those are charged they will be destroyed and the device will be damaged.
    The device cannot detect whether the batteries are rechargeable or not.
  • 0 over 12 years ago
    What if a user changes batteries and forgets to change that setting? It certainly will happen, causing lots of trouble for the user (and Garmin).
    The only purpose of that setting is that the device can give a (somewhat) reliable indication of the battery level.

    While you can't charge the batteries, you can power the device through USB so that it doesn't drain the batteries.
    What the manufacturer of that cable states about charging is plainly wrong.
  • 0 over 12 years ago
    There is NO way you can charge the batteries, no matter what anyone tells you
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    It is extremely annoying that the etrex cant be recharged by plugging it in ,after all its just like any other of millions of devices that can use BOTH non rechargable AND rechargable AA size batteries.Unfortunatelly the etrex is a product that is used for activities away from civilization where there is usually no mains power to use a standard AA battery charger.
    Which leaves only the option of using a seperate solar charger OR a portable power bank....both of whuch use standard usb connection and nonone makes an AA battery charger with usb connection and since the etrex cant be charged by plugging it into a usb power bank it means i have to cart around loads of spare batteries when i go bush or kayaking for 2 weeks every year.
    Unlike my camera and phone etc which i can just plug into solar power bank with usb to recharge.
    It is clearly the users resposibility to ensure the correct batteries are used if wanting to recharge via usb so why are garmin preventing the most common method of recharge : via usb?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    At the very least Garmin should sell a USB AA battery charger so we can recharge the AA batteries via usb either computer or power bank etc depending on where we are .frankly it is a major shortfall of garmin devices.
    They are designed to be used away from home but the AA type batteries cant be recharged away from mains power,becuase noone makes an AA usb battery charger.

    There are 12volt car cigarete lighter socket chargers for AA batteries but thats useless when you dont have a car nearby.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    It is extremely annoying that the etrex cant be recharged by plugging it in ,after all its just like any other of millions of devices that can use BOTH non rechargable AND rechargable AA size batteries.Unfortunatelly the etrex is a product that is used for activities away from civilization where there is usually no mains power to use a standard AA battery charger.
    Which leaves only the option of using a seperate solar charger OR a portable power bank....both of whuch use standard usb connection and nonone makes an AA battery charger with usb connection and since the etrex cant be charged by plugging it into a usb power bank it means i have to cart around loads of spare batteries when i go bush or kayaking for 2 weeks every year.
    Unlike my camera and phone etc which i can just plug into solar power bank with usb to recharge.
    It is clearly the users resposibility to ensure the correct batteries are used if wanting to recharge via usb so why are garmin preventing the most common method of recharge : via usb?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member
    the etrex is a product that is used for activities away from civilization where there is usually no mains power to use a standard AA battery charger.

    But you can always carry spare batteries. They do not take up much space, unless you want to go on a month-long trek.

    nonone makes an AA battery charger with usb connection

    Incorrect. I have one.

    It is clearly the users resposibility to ensure the correct batteries are used

    I bet a court of law would disagree once someone gets hurt by a fire.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

    firstly you have carry too many spare batteries batteries for the etrex32 for a week,they only last one day ...and thats with lithium non rechargeable. And they cost too much to buy a week or 2 weeks worth of spares ...and not very environmentally friendly either since they're single use.
    Secondly there are numerous different mains battery chargers for AA and AAA type batteries and if some idiot puts a non rechargeable battery in one of those guess whose fault it is? yep NOT the manufacturer because the instructions clearly state NOT to use nonchargeable batteries.
    As for a usb AA battery charger : id dont know what country you live in but i live in New Zealand and i have googled it and so far after weeks of searching i found ONE ...and i have to buy it from over seas which means it will take months to get here and its just such a waste of time and money since the etrex COULD be made to be recharged via its own usb port like all other devices.
    And frankly all garmin need to do is include a legal disclaimer that they take no responsibility for damage or injury resulting from attempting to recharge NON rechargeable batteries or the incorrect use of the batteries or the user using wrong settings.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Really is it too much to ask to reduce the amount of batteries that just wind up going into landfill,and just simplify how we can recharge these garmin devices?