For a battery-powered field device, the biggest enemy is wasted energy. That is why ESTRON devices use power very carefully; once installed in the field, they run for years without needing mains electricity or frequent battery changes.

The device sleeps most of the time

ESTRON devices spend nearly all of their time in "sleep" mode, where they use almost no energy. The device only wakes for a few seconds when it is time to send data: it takes the measurement, does what is needed, transmits the data and immediately goes back to sleep. This simple discipline is the single most important factor that stretches battery life into years.

Choosing the right battery

Three things matter when choosing a battery: high energy capacity, a long shelf life (low self-discharge) and good performance in cold weather. Lithium-based batteries meet all three of these conditions best, which makes them the leading choice for field use. Alkaline batteries are cheaper and easier to find, but their capacity drops significantly in the cold.

The more often data is sent, the faster the battery drains

The factor that affects battery life the most is how often the device sends data. You can easily extend battery life by setting the reporting interval to match your needs:

  • 1 message per day — several years of battery life.
  • 1 message per hour — roughly 1–2 years.
  • 1 message every 5 minutes — a few months; for situations that need close monitoring.
Practical note: battery life depends not only on the battery's capacity but also on the air temperature. In cold weather (below 0 °C) batteries last less. ESTRON devices take this into account and continuously track the remaining battery level.

It warns you before the battery runs out

ESTRON devices continuously measure the remaining battery level. As the battery approaches a critical level, they send an alert weeks before it runs out, so you can replace the battery in a planned way without facing an unexpected outage.