My mouse is a battery hog!

[CBMatt]

I'm using a wireless Gateway MR-0350T and it's a great mouse, but it sucks the life out of batteries like there's no tomorrow.  I swear that this thing goes through batteries faster than my digital camera does.  I'm currently using 1.2V Duracell rechargeable 2650mAh AA batteries, but my mouse's power rating is 3V/50mA, so I'm guessing I need to find myself some 3V batteries.  But do they even come in AA?  I can't find any at the stores around here.  I suppose I could cut open a CRV-3 battery, but they're a bit pricey, and once you do that, I don't think they're rechargeable anymore.  At least, that's what happened the last time I tried doing it.  Am I just going to have to put up with a mouse that dies every week (even though I take the batteries out at night when I'm not using it)?

[GX1_Man]

I have a mouse that uses NO batteries, just a PS/2 cord.

It is probably the wireless that is the problem, rather than the mouse itself, but you could save a lot of cash with a more conventional model.  

[CBMatt]

Yeah, I know I could do that, but it's so hard trying to imagine myself going back to a PS/2 mouse when I've been having so much fun with this one.  Ha.  I wish there was some way to hook up a tiny generator to the scroll wheel.  Whenever I needed more power, I could just scroll for a few seconds and I'd be set.  Ha.

[Calum]

That'd be a great idea.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to reduce the power consumption of your mouse.
You can't undervolt it, you see.
Wireless mice tend to use a fair amount of power, but my old one just needed new ones maybe once a month or so, then I'd recharge them and I'd be all set.
When I moved to my laptop I just decided on a USB mouse though, as wireless causes lag in games and it was too expensive at the time.
As for 3V AA batteries, I'm really not sure.
But, I think the 3V rating means it wants 2x1.5V AA batteries - 2 normal batteries.
Rechargables have a lower voltage, but sometimes a higher mAh rating.
So they would probably be right for it.
I think you're stuck with the battery eating beastie.

[CBMatt]

Darn.  Well, thanks anyway.

It normally isn't that big of a deal; I have two sets of rechargeable batteries and when I'm using one set, I keep the other set fully charged.  It's just that my mom somehow managed to lose my battery charger, and her charger (although a Duracell brand, like my batteries) won't work with my batteries, so I have a very limited supply of power until I can find my charger.  Or buy a new one, of course.  So, basically, I didn't bother with looking into this issue until it finally became a potential threat.  Heh.

Sometime tomorrow, I'll go into town and see if I have better luck finding batteries now that I know I don't need 3V.  I mean, there's got to be some rechargeable 1.5V batteries out there, right?  Eh, I guess I'll find out soon enough.  I've been needing to pick up a few things from the store anyway.

Other than the whole power issue, I love this mouse.  Of course, it is my first wireless mouse and first optical mouse, so I guess I'm bound to love it, eh?  I haven't experienced any lag in games...but it might also help that my receiver is only a foot away.

[2k_dummy]

I mean, there's got to be some rechargeable 1.5V batteries out there, right?

No. Rechargeables don't do 1.5V.

[skyblue]

CBMatt
The mouse i use is wireless and it has its own recharging dock when it is not in use
so i never have to change batteries
Skyblue

[Joe_Flanagan]

I've got the MS Intellimouse, change batts every 6 months or so.
2x1.5v AA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826105151
I see that it brags on 3x battery life...
Logitech has got some nice ones, too. Huge selection at Newegg.

Donate the old mouse to a needy cat.

[soybean]

Hmmm, I have a Logitech cordless mouse but was not aware of the voltage issues discussed here.  I just looked and see that it says 3V on bottom.  But, I've used two rechargeable 1.2V batteries in it ever since I acquired it in Dec 2004.  So, I think you can use the 1.2V batteries and not worry about it.

I, too, was surprised, and annoyed, at how fast it drained batteries when I first started using it.  At most, I've never gone more than 3 weeks on a set of batteries, as I recall, and it's ususally closer to two weeks, maybe a little less.

I have 8 rechargeable AA batteries and rotate them among three devices (mouse, camera, and a small hair trimmer); that leaves two available at any given time.

My mouse came with a cordless keyboard.  The difference in battery consumption between the two devices is amazing.  The keyboard will go on a set of batteries for over a year.

[donsor]

I've had a cordless Logitech mouse and keyboard which use 2 AA batteries each. I've had problems with rechargeable batteries although I was using 3K MAh metal halide. Rechargeables are known to slowly self discharge on the shelf so you will have to use a freshly charged batteries. I now use the standard Duracell AA batteries. Because the mouse is on all the time, the batteries last a little over a month. The keyboard on the other hand is only on while the PC is on so the batteries last a lot longer. This is my experience.

[CBMatt]

Ooh, so many responses all of a sudden...

2k_dummy,
Well, good thing I didn't have a chance to waste my time looking for any today.

skyblue,
I could definitely use something like that.  Are there any universal docks by any chance?

jflan,
I could get a new mouse, but...
1. The one I have now basically is new.
2. The one I have now is also free because it came with my computer.  I don't have the $20+ to shell out for a decent mouse, especially when I have one that works well (it just doesn't have a long life).
3. My mouse and keyboard share a USB port and receiver.  Another mouse would need another port and receiver, and it just seems excessive to me.

soybean,
I've noticed the same thing.  My keyboard is in constant use (I swear my fingers rarely ever leave the keys), but I've never had to replace the batteries and they're just regular ol' alkalines.

donsor,
I don't really have anything to add, but I didn't want you to feel left out.  Ha.

[Calum]

Are there any universal docks by any chance?

No.  Not as far as I know anyway.  They usually come with certain mice, and will only fit those mice.

I've noticed the same thing.  My keyboard is in constant use (I swear my fingers rarely ever leave the keys), but I've never had to replace the batteries and they're just regular ol' alkalines.

Same here with my old Logitech wireless KB/mouse.  I think I had to replace them once in about 18 months, and the mouse batteries every month or so.
Just adding my thoughts.