Replies

1. 
   PeterDurand | Mar 13, 2009 06:27am | #1

   I got one for the DeWalt 735 planer. It eats batteries. And it does not matter if you turn it to "off". Apparently it always stays on, just the screen blanks out. Not recommended for that reason.

   Cheers,

   Peter

    

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 13, 2009 08:28am | #2

   Peter, have you ever contacted the Wixey guys about the problem??  They have a great reputation for customer service.  I have no such problem with my planer read-out.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   Edited 3/13/2009 1:29 am by forestgirl

1. 
   PeterDurand | Mar 13, 2009 05:46pm | #3

   I did after the second battery replacement. The answer at the time is that I could expect to replace the battery about every 4 weeks. Their reasoning was that the on/off button just shuts off the screen (which has an auto shut off anyway) because it has to remain on to remember the settings and to power the on/off button. I am not making this up. So I gave up on it.Cheers,Peter 

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

2. 
   bones | Mar 13, 2009 05:51pm | #4

   Eating battaries would be a concern for sure.  The protractor has not been like that.  I went to the wexly website and sent a note to their technical support group and asked the question point blank and sent a hyperlink to this thread.  Let's see If I get a response.  Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

1. 
   derekcohen | Mar 13, 2009 06:48pm | #5

   I have had the Wixey angle gauge (used on the tablesaw) for several months now. It is still on the original battery.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek 

2. 
   PeterDurand | Mar 13, 2009 07:10pm | #7

   I would be interested to see the response. I got that device when it first came out.Having said that, the angle device is still on its original battery. Go figure. Cheers,Peter 
   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

   Edited 3/13/2009 12:11 pm by PeterDurand

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 13, 2009 07:35pm | #8

   "I got that device when it first came out."  This may be the key.  I have a vague memory (most of my memories are vague these days) that they changed something along the line related to battery use.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   bones | Mar 13, 2009 08:56pm | #9

   The ad on the site said "NEW" maybe its a fix? (the microsoft way)Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

2. 
   PeterDurand | Mar 13, 2009 10:48pm | #10

   I agree with the "Microsoft way" of a fix. But at least they patch for free. Here I am out the $$ because the thing died every few weeks. It left me with a bad taste.Cheers,Peter 
   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

   Edited 3/13/2009 3:49 pm by PeterDurand

3. 
   bones | Mar 14, 2009 06:53am | #11

   I received a response to my question via E-mail a short time ago.  Here is the verbatum

   "Hi:

   Thanks for your order. We had a problem with the original model WR500’s that were produced in 2005 and they had a battery life of only a few months. That was corrected and now all of our products have a battery life of 6 months to 1 year. They all also have auto shut off built in. if someone has a newer one of our products and it does not shut off automatically it is defective and would be replaced under our 1 year warranty.

   It is true that all of our products use some power even when they are turned off. The power consumptions is reduced by at least 50%-75% when off, but they have to use some power to hold the calibration. This is especially important on the planer readout that takes more time to set up the calibration.

   The remote readout you just purchased will auto shut off and it’s power is reduce by 75% after it has been shut off for 6 hours.

   The battery in this should last a little longer than the ones in your protractor.

   Let me know if you have other questions

   Barry Wixey

   Wixey

   email [email protected]

   web site http://www.wixey.com"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

4. 
   PeterDurand | Mar 14, 2009 07:17am | #12

   Thanks for the update. I still remember the response at the time that I was going to have to live with the issue in question. Wonder if the corporate mind set is the same. In any event, I have said my peace on this and will now move on.Cheers,Peter 

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

5. 
   bones | Mar 14, 2009 03:29pm | #14

   Thanks for the response, and I fully understand where you are coming from.  Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

2. 
   xmike | Mar 13, 2009 07:04pm | #6

   I have the Wixley readout on my planer - had to replace the battery after about a year. About 11 months into the second battery and still going strong.

3. 
   pharmachippie | Mar 14, 2009 07:25am | #13

   I've also had a Wixey for 6 months,and it's still on original battery.

   Robin

4. 
   mapleman | Mar 14, 2009 06:40pm | #15

   Just so everyone is aware - the Beall tilt box (digital protractor) does not have the same issues with battery consumption as the wixey.

   I know that because it was discussed on another forum. My wixey eats batteries like crazy - way out of warranty before I realized it. Soon to be in the trash.

   Lee

1. 
   CaseQuarter | Mar 14, 2009 10:33pm | #16

   I understand a device using power even when off, but for anyone who has bought a digital watch in the last few years, how often do you have to change the batteries in it. And they run on a small watch battery (imagine that) and do keep their displays on continuosly. I'm not knocking the device at all, but it just seems that even a 6 month battery life is kind of short.