Power options
Internal rechargeable battery
Used in personal and portable trackers. Battery life ranges from days to weeks depending on settings.
Long-life primary battery
Asset trackers that report a few times a day can run for long periods before the battery needs replacing.
Hardwired
Powered by the vehicle, with a small backup battery that keeps reporting if the power is cut.
Solar assisted
Useful for trailers and containers stored outdoors, topping up the battery in daylight.
What drains a battery
- Frequent location updates
- Poor mobile signal, which makes the modem work harder
- Very cold or very hot conditions
- Extra sensors and features left switched on
Getting the balance right
Use movement-triggered reporting: the tracker sleeps while still and reports more often when it moves. That gives you useful data without draining the battery.