2040 Lithium batteries for Altitron altimeter?

[377 22]

My ParaSport Italia Altitron LCD altimeter got a low battery warning so I pulled em. Has two Maxell 2040 lithium coin cells. Checked and the 2040 is permenantly out of production and there are no drop in substitutes listed. A few online stores have old stock 2040s left , but dates are pretty stale and they want $7.95 per cell!!!

Anyone have an easy solution? If all else fails I guess I can build an adapter for smaller cells, but that's a hassle I'd like to avoid.

Thanks for any advice you might have. And yes, I know, Parasport gear has few friends here.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[dragon2 2]

You want to use 3 batteries, don't have my altitron handy right now but the idea is to stack 2 same batteries and one smaller to get the same thickness and volts as 2x2040 batteries. I'm thinking you want 2x2030+1x2020. These are easy to get and cheaper too.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[phoenixlpr 0]

Quote

You want to use 3 batteries, don't have my altitron handy right now but the idea is to stack 2 same batteries and one smaller to get the same thickness and volts as 2x2040 batteries. I'm thinking you want 2x2030+1x2020. These are easy to get and cheaper too.

Negative. Do no do that! You will break your instrument with over voltage.

The difference between 2020, 2030, 2040 is the capacity and thickness.

If you stack 2 pcs, the voltage is 6V. If you stack 9V !!!

I'd rather use some metal foil between 2 2030 to pad the tickness.

[377 22]

Will the extra voltage from three batts in series as opposed to two damage the altimeter? Thats a 50% voltage increase.

Thanks very much for your help.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[377 22]

Good idea on bridging the gap with a conductor rather than another voltage souce.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[darkwing 5]

I think you could also use any two that the last two numbers add up to 80, although I have no idea what is available.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[377 22]

are the last two digits thickness numbers?

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[PhreeZone 20]

Yep, last ones are thickness. I used to use 2 2020's and a piece of metal folded up to get me the thickness needed. Then I got smart and got a better altimeter.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[377 22]

I agree, the Altitron is never going to win any industrial design awards. I collect old and unusual skydiving altimeters, but I always jump with two altimeters so if my classics fail I have a modern backup. If the two disagree which one is right? THE LOW ONE.

You gotta love those Italians though. They start with a piezo strain guage baro sensor, digitize the output, convert it to energize the pie wedge LCD segments to represent feet all to make a digital altimeter look analog, with an Italian twist. So much engineering for so little advantage over an old SSE Altimaster II. Well, at least it had a programmable pie flash altitude alert. Your pie is blinking, PULL PULL.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

are the last two digits thickness numbers?

CR2040 = 20mm diameter, 4.0mm thick

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[dragon2 2]

This is was parasport italia told my dealer to do, been working so far. I don't use the altitron much it's on my camera glove, but it still works

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[377 22]

two common 2032 cells topped with some scrunched up aluminum foil between the top cell and the metal screw-on cover seems to work OK. Thanks to everyone for advice on this. I have my stylish Italian pie section graphical altimeter back in action. CIAO!

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.