Hands on Flux Capacitor from Factory Entertainment

[CureMode]

This was the response, and unfortunately it looks like its expected which is just a very poor design. I replied back that this could be avoided with a simple On/Off switch, for them to recommend that I add a insulation tab to the battery compartment is simply ridiculous.

Has anyone who has one tested battery life while not in use?

From Factory:

Thanks for reaching out, our warehouse did receive the unit and has gone through the process of testing. Your unit is operating as expected and we have found no issues with the battery. Battery life itself will depend on use, but in standby (off) the batteries will still be active once installed due to the nature of the design, specifically the RF remote.

In summary, the Flux Capacitor is waiting for a command from the remote and is never truly in standby once a power source (AC or battery) is connected. On battery, the average life should be around 15 days, but that largely depends on operational frequency.

In this situation your best bet would be to use the included AC power supply or, while not in use, adding an insulation tab to extend the battery life.

 

[ghostryder]

Would something like this be helpful with the battery issue?

Amazon.com

 

[CureMode]

Yes if the other 5 were dummies that could work, but at that rate I can just use the plug as well - I have a huge battery back with an AC outlet.

Has anyone who has one tested battery life while not in use besides me?

 

[ElectroDFW]

This was the response, and unfortunately it looks like its expected which is just a very poor design. I replied back that this could be avoided with a simple On/Off switch, for them to recommend that I add a insulation tab to the battery compartment is simply ridiculous.

Has anyone who has one tested battery life while not in use?

From Factory:

Thanks for reaching out, our warehouse did receive the unit and has gone through the process of testing. Your unit is operating as expected and we have found no issues with the battery. Battery life itself will depend on use, but in standby (off) the batteries will still be active once installed due to the nature of the design, specifically the RF remote.

In summary, the Flux Capacitor is waiting for a command from the remote and is never truly in standby once a power source (AC or battery) is connected. On battery, the average life should be around 15 days, but that largely depends on operational frequency.

In this situation your best bet would be to use the included AC power supply or, while not in use, adding an insulation tab to extend the battery life.

So it looks like they're basically saying if you have a problem with the batteries draining, you can install your own on/off switch. Which is just them passing the buck. <disgusted>

But yes, it seems like yours are draining faster than they expect them to. But even *15 days*?!?! That's a ridiculously short time for 6 batteries to only be good for.

Their choice of 9V operation, in this day and age, is very odd. I'm wondering if it actually runs off 5V, with the 2 AAs that keep draining being specifically used for sensing the remote, and the other 4 provide 6V which is overpowering the 5V circuit, which is why the limit the "on" time to three minutes per activation.

Does the AC/DC supply provide the unit 9V, or 12V? and is it actually outputting AC, or are they just calling the socket that?
Also another thing to find out, is does the insertion of the adapter plug cut off the power provided by the batteries? If it does, that can help save the AA batteries lives, but you'd still have draining from the adapter supply, if it were from a cigarette lighter, say.

All in all, I'd say it's best if you get someone into that unit, to install a master on/off switch, as well as look into adding an automatic reboot circuit that kicks it back on just before the three minute cycle is done. And *if* you don't really need the remote function, they can likely disable that too, to save battery life and increase longevity.

My two cents,
McFlyDallas