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Charging etrex 10 via usb?

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 trux over 4 years ago in reply to Steelb

The device simply does not have a built-in charger. And it is not possible to retrofit it with one by a software update. You need to use an external charger, or buy a device with a recharchgeable battery.

0 tmk2 over 4 years ago in reply to Steelb

Steelb said:
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?

A charger is for charging only. Placing non-rechargable batteries makes no sense, and is a clear user mistake, bordering gross negligence. On the other hand, placing non-rechargable batteries into an etrex is one of the basic use cases. And now imagine someone has non-rechargable installed, and wants to connect the device to a computer not to charge batteries, but to download some tracks. How easy it is to forget not to do that? Yes, it's a user mistake, but one easily done inadvertently, contrary to putting non-rechargable batteries into a charger.

Steelb said:
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

As judicial history shows, a disclaimer has little effect on how a court would treat the case. Look at it this way:

Garmin has two options:

1. Prevent users from charging batteries in the etrex and risk some occasional rant by unsatisfied user on a forum (in practice resulting in no loss of income).

2. Allow charging batteries in the etrex, and risk much graver consequences when loss of property and/or life occurs.

As a person working for a company that manufactures electronic appliances (not garmin, though :) ), I would not hesitate long about which option to choose.

0 Steelb over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

as an aerospace engineer i can see numerous ways it could be implemented so future etrex and other garmin devices could be recharged using the existing usb port.
you have the software options:
such as you already set what type of battery is inserted in order to accurately display remaining charge,so inserting usb cable prompts for whether you want data transfer OR recharge (much the same as any phone),
However selecting recharge results in an internal check as to what type of battery is set in the options and if a non rechargeable type is set recharge option remains disabled with an appropriate prompt to open the case and check that rechargeable batteries are inserted.
And user should then check as well as then set the options to the correct battery type to then re insert usb cable to re load the prompt to select data transfer or recharge.
Thats just one example of fail safes that could be added very simply,
A hardware method would be simply to add a tiny mechanical switch inside the battery compartment with large lettering for recharge on/off, off by default so when new user gets the device they cant recharge it without first switching to recharge,also the switch should disable data transfer so basically most of the time users would leave it set to off for data transfer, and since user has to remove the batteries to switch recharge ON they would also see immediately if the batteries are NOT rechargeable,combine that with the software option and its idiot proof ...
Add a legal disclaimer and theres no way garmin is responsible for someone who switches ON recharge while then inserting NON rechargeable batteries and then selecting recharge on screen instead of data transfer.

0 4326610 over 3 years ago

Can you power up the device using a power bank? Once the device is connected to the power bank with a cable

0 9430222 over 1 year ago

There are nowadays AA batteries that you can charge directly via a usb cable or even one with a usb within the battery itself! Check the cable type at Amazon. or Try this direct usb batteries or you could use this USB AA battery charger.

Good luck