The battery in a set of digital calipers is only there to power an invisibility field. This explains why you can only ever find calipers that have a dead battery. #engineering
Batteries in calipers are the worst idea ever. I have run across multiple of these. I have one on my desk right now, which I use manually because the electronics were permanently fried by the prior owner (corroded battery).
@nazokiyoubinbou @ai6yr Some years ago, I measured the current drain of a cheap Harbor Freight digital caliper, and although I don't remember the numbers, there was no significant difference between the power-on and power-off state. That led me to believe that even though the LCD is blanked in the off state, it is probably still being driven, and the microcontroller or ASIC is probably not being put into any low power state at all.
@nazokiyoubinbou @ai6yr I assume, but have not verified, that digital calipers from respectable brands are better designed, and really do have a low-power off state. I'd like to get a real Mitutoyo some day.
AI6YR Ben
in reply to Dr David Mills • • •Richard Hendricks
in reply to AI6YR Ben • • •Nazo
in reply to AI6YR Ben • • •🇺🇦 haxadecimal
in reply to Nazo • • •Some years ago, I measured the current drain of a cheap Harbor Freight digital caliper, and although I don't remember the numbers, there was no significant difference between the power-on and power-off state. That led me to believe that even though the LCD is blanked in the off state, it is probably still being driven, and the microcontroller or ASIC is probably not being put into any low power state at all.
🇺🇦 haxadecimal
in reply to 🇺🇦 haxadecimal • • •I assume, but have not verified, that digital calipers from respectable brands are better designed, and really do have a low-power off state.
I'd like to get a real Mitutoyo some day.
AI6YR Ben
in reply to 🇺🇦 haxadecimal • • •Jonathan Lamothe
in reply to Dr David Mills • •Anton Piatek likes this.
ROTOPE~1
in reply to Dr David Mills • • •@brouhaha Chip Vendor a: Our controllers can do nanoamp standby.
Chip Vendor b: Our controllers can do pico-amp standby!
Every caliper ASIC vendor: