TIP: Aimpoint Comp ML battery

[Charles L. Cotton]

Here's a tip that probably only a few folks will find useful, but it may save some time and frustration.

I have an Aimpoint Comp ML that I haven't used in a few years. The battery was removed and long forgotten. I ordered new ones from Amazon, but they would not fit. They almost fit, but not quite. I was not happy, since they were of the correct type, but they weren't going in far enough to close the battery compartment.

Now for the tip. I removed the green plastic outer covering that has the product number and it fits perfectly. I can't imagine that's what the battery manufacturer intends, but the Comp ML has a plastic insert in the battery compartment that makes it impossible to install it with the plastic cover.

Chas.

[ELB]

I suspect a tiny change in battery specs and an Aimpoint that was engineered and produced to very close tolerances.

When GPS was new, I had one of the first really small commercial GPS units, a Garmin, I believe it was Garmin 40. Used it a lot in Saudi Arabia. It took two AA batteries. I went through a lt of batteries.

Several years after I got it I went to replace the AA batteries, but the new ones would not go all the way in. The batteries had to be loaded lengthwise, like putting a round in a chamber. They got stuck halfway down. I bought several different brands of batteries and none of them would go all the way in. I called Garmin and they were aware of the problem, but basically their answer was "buy our newest model."

I thunk on it for awhile, then lightbulb. I peeled the wrapper off of the battery, which was basically just advertising. Bingo, now the batteries fit. I kept doing that until I did upgrade to a more modern GPS handheld.