Have any of you guys ever had problems with a chronograph working properly in cold weather. Yesterday it was 19 degrees when I took my .45-70 out to check a load. I have used this Shooting Chrony (Gama model) for several years, and a previous model for around 20 years with no problems at all. Yesterday though, it would not re-set after a few shots, and got off in some strange mode and would not re-set... I tried changing the batteries, cussing, turning around in circles of frustration, and even tried peeing on a nearby bush... WOW!! Talk about shrinkage... !!!! Anyway, I decided it must be the cold, finished checking the cast bullet I was using for weight retention and penetration, and headed home. Once the chrony had come back to room temperature in my den, it reset, the printer started working again, and everything seemed fine. Now... I am familiar with all the modes etc. with this chrony, and know how to set the various modes, etc... NOTHING worked in the field... Anyone else had any cold wx problems with one??? Thanks. Dave

Anything that uses batteries will operate in a degraded condition in the temps you're talking about.

I never use my Chrony in cold temperatures. Too frustrating.

Was the sky sunny or overcast? I had problems when the sun was going down and I found using the skyscreens to simulate clouds made the probs go away.

If it runs on batteries, it's only useful here a couple months each year. Also why my bullseye pistols have low-powered scopes instead of red dots.

Much of what I want to chrono is ammo I use only in the winter for big game. Damn.

Like ol' Col Cooper says, you can pretty much depend on batteries to be dead when you need them.

Redial

On cold days it's best to keep the battery in your pocket until needed. Shoot 10 rounds or whatever then pull the battery and stick it back in your pocket. Works for me. Dan

Here is what I have done to fix the problem: take a gel pack (one of those freezer packs, soft or hot, doesn't matter).

Put it in the microwave and heat it up till you can barely touch it. Put it in a shoe box, and head to the range. At the range, set everything up, and put the battery in with the gel pack.

It should keep things working for as long as most people care to stay out in that temperature. HTH, Dutch.

You could arrange it so the battery is in your pocket, connected by 10' long wires to the chrony.

Just don't forget you're attached when you walk downrange to change targets.

H. C.

What does cold mean?
(from texas)

Actually, most electronics, non-enclosed (kinda self heating) are rated from 32-100 degrees F. It just costs to much to insulated, etc..

It worked about couple shots, and then everything became too cold... Wouldnt matter if it had a 9v to 110v transformer on it, as the battery aint what's hurt. The battery (dry cell) stores it's energy and is depleted, which is less reactive in the cold, but a new battery, just like a new one freshly charged to start the car out of the garage, will have that charge.

next time, if you would, try it till it quits, then leave the battery outside, bring the chrony inside for ~45 mintutes (assuming it's 65inside) and then try it again
jefe

Take 2 batteries with you and keep one warm in a pocket for a string of shots, then switch for the next string. I tested a battery after it gave up on a cold day. 6 volts. It tested 8.something after it was warmed up. The temperature was in the 20's Farenheit, IIRC.

Bye
Jack

I checked a couple of chronograph web-sites and under specs it usually sets a lower limit of 33 degrees for use.

LCD (screens) don't work well in cold weather, and the life span is shortened in very hot weather. This is normal with all Liquid Crystal Displays, from cameras to computers.

Dutch gave you a good answer on how to solve the problem. Place the Gel pack right behind the LCD to keep it warm (or perhaps under the case right under the LCD), but don't overheat it. The problem is not the battery, but the screen instead.

[ 12-07-2002, 08:08: Message edited by: Ray, Alaska ]

It is certain the cold weather turned your Chrony to that non working mode. That is common in very cold conditions trying to use a battery operated machine. Just set your battery operated wrist watch in the cold for a while and watch the numbers disappear. After you bring it back inside for a short time all things return to normal. If you want to use your chrony in cold weather conditions use a small old cooler. Just drill a hole in the side for the wires to feed through and set it inside the cooler with a couple of small hand warmers to keep it warmer during your cold shooting sessions. A cooler works both ways keeping things cold or warm. The plastic cooler tend to sweat so be certain you set the Chrony on dry towl while doing your testing and keep that moisture from forming. The cooler also keeps the cold wind off the Chrony. If the lid is not attached to the cooler it is easier to set up.

Battery life in cold weather is cut in half and a spare set should be kept warm and on hand just in case. You could just wait until warmer weather before you do your testing.

I shoot in all temperatures, the cold requires a little thinking. Keep spare batteries in warm pockets or the truck, interchange every string if it is below 32 degrees F. For the Chrony Gamma, place a hot hands that has been activated in the area of the battery. For the Oehler, set the printer on top of a couple hot hands that have been activated, with a cloth pad between the hot hands and printer. It really helps to know what those loads do in the extreme conditions. Good shooting.

When I ran into these battery problems last year, I changed to a battery set I could start a car with.

Now I find that electronic parts are concerned as well: when you see the effects of low temperature on your peeing instrument already, you can expect electronic devices to shrink as well.

I am going to buy a peltier element or a cheap heating mat, connect it to my superduper battery thus creating an ambient temperature the electronic parts will like.
Maybe I should add another mat to sit on.

[ 12-13-2002, 06:13: Message edited by: waitaminit ]