Tracker Battery and Power Usage FAQ
The following are Frequently Asked Questions about the battery life and power usage of our trackers:
- How long will my tracker's battery last?
- Does my tracker drain my asset's battery?
- How much power does my tracker use?
- Where does my tracker draw the power?
- Does this have impact on my asset's battery life?
In this article:
How long will my tracker's battery last?
Tracker Power Usage: TennaBLE Beacon
Tracker Power Usage: TennaCANbus
Tracker Power Usage: TennaFLEET
How long will my tracker's battery last?
Many variables may affect a tracker’s battery life, like battery size, temperature, battery type/chemistry, GPS signal quality, cellular signal quality, and reporting rate/usage mode.
Due to these variables, it is best to use the number of “pings” a tracker supports from a fully-charged battery as a figure of merit to determine battery life:
| Tracker Type | Total # of Pings on Full Charge |
|---|---|
| TennaCANbus | 1 ping (to report an unplug event) |
| TennaFLEET | 1 ping (to report an unplug event) |
| TennaMINI Battery | 2,100 pings |
| TennaMINI Plug-In | 1,200 pings |
| TennaMINI Plug-In Solar | 1,200 pings |
| TennaMINI Solar | 1,200 pings |
| TennaMINI 2.0 Plug-In Solar | 3,500 pings |
| TennaMINI 2.0 Solar | 3,500 pings |
How long will a TennaBLE Beacon battery last?
A TennaBLE Beacon battery will last about 2-3 years.
Tracker Power Usage FAQ
TennaBLE Beacon
Does a TennaBLE Beacon draw power from my asset?
TennaBLE Beacons do not draw battery from the asset, but they do draw minimal battery from your mobile devices or tablets. Learn more at TennaBLE Beacon Overview.
TennaCANbus
How long will the battery last in the CANbus tracker?
It is a Lithium-Ion cell (not battery) which is typically good for 500-750 full discharge/recharge cycles. In a typical installation, the tracker remains connected to constant power, so the cell is good for several years.
What size battery is included?
TennaCANbus has a 1000 mAh Lithium-Ion cell (which is not a battery).
How much power is being used?
When TennaCANbus is operating in full data collection and transmit mode, it draws an average active current of 30 mA, transmitting once per minute. This is only when the asset's ignition is on and the engine is running.
Where does the TennaCANbus draw power from?
TennaCANbus operates from the asset's electrical system when the ignition is on.
Does this draw power when the asset is off?
When the ignition is off, the TennaCANbus draws an average of 2 mA to maintain a standby cellular network connection, which includes a periodic check-in "heartbeat" sent every 3 hours to keep map location in Tenna updated.
Does this have impact on the battery life?
The impact of the TennaCANbus tracker to the battery is less than that of the battery’s own inherent self-discharge, so installing the tracker does not materially affect the lifespan of an asset’s battery. This can be verified by measuring the current drawn through the installation harness with an ammeter, dividing the battery capacity by the measured current to yield hours to discharge.
Also, the TennaCANbus tracker draws the most power when in full data collection and transmit mode, which only occurs when the asset’s engine is running and the asset’s battery is being charged by the alternator simultaneously. Therefore, the TennaCANbus tracker has no net impact on the battery’s State of Charge while the engine is running.
TennaFLEET
How much power is being used by the TennaFLEET?
When TennaFLEET is operating in full data collection and transmit mode, it draws an average active current of 30 mA, transmitting once per minute. This is only when the asset’s ignition is on and engine is running.
NOTE: The device will not charge at temperatures below 32°F or above 113°F to protect the cell. This needs to be considered in the use-case scenario.
Where does the TennaFLEET draw power from?
Operating current is supplied by the asset battery via the diagnostic port connection used to install TennaFLEET, which is charged by the asset’s alternator while the ignition is on and the engine is running.
Does the TennaFLEET draw power when the asset is off?
When ignition is off, the TennaFLEET continuously draws an average of 2 mA to maintain a standby cellular network connection, which includes a periodic check-in “heartbeat” sent every 3 hours to keep the map location in Tenna updated.
Can the TennaFLEET tracker draw down my battery completely?
At such a rate of current draw, the TennaFLEET will draw down a typical 80 AH 12V lead-acid starter battery in ~40,000 hours, or 1,666 days if the asset is not driven, not considering the effects of lead acid battery self-discharge.
Lead-Acid Battery Self-Discharge
There is the inherent “self-discharge” behavior of Lead-Acid batteries. A fully charged Lead-Acid battery, even if unconnected and left sitting on the shelf, will lose charge at a rate of ~5% per month. A fully-charged Lead-Acid battery will die (even with nothing connected) in about 20 months. This must be considered when using these types of batteries.
Does the TennaFLEET tracker have an impact on battery life?
The impact of the TennaFLEET tracker to the battery is less than that of the battery’s own inherent self-discharge, so installing the tracker does not materially affect the lifespan of an asset’s battery. This can be verified by measuring the current drawn through the installation harness with an ammeter, dividing the battery capacity by the measured current to yield hours to discharge.
Also, the TennaFLEET tracker draws the most power when in full data collection and transmit mode, which only occurs when the asset’s engine is running and the asset’s battery is being charged by the alternator simultaneously. Therefore, the TennaFLEET tracker has no net impact on the battery’s State of Charge while the engine is running.
TennaMINI Plug-In
What size battery is included in a TennaMINI Plug-In?
A rechargeable 2,700 mAH internal Lithium-Ion cell that comes partially charged.
NOTE: Lithium-Ion batteries will experience capacity degradation at extreme temperatures. The battery will not charge at temperatures below 32°F or above 113°F to protect the cell. This needs to be considered in the use-case scenario.
How much power is being used by the TennaMINI Plug-In?
- During Installation: Draws up to 250 mA for up to 4 hours to top off its internal cell.
- After Full Charge: Draws average of 30 mA/hour to keep the internal cell topped off during IGNITION ON cycles (when the tracker sends a report once every 2 minutes).
Where does the TennaMINI Plug-In draw power from?
Charging current is supplied by the attached asset battery, which is charged by the asset’s alternator while the ignition is on and the engine is running.
Does the TennaMINI Plug-In draw power when the asset is off?
When ignition is off, TennaMINI Plug-In goes to sleep and only transmits once every 23 hours as a location reporting heartbeat. In this mode, the average draw is less than 2 mA and only occurs when needed to keep the internal battery topped off, as the radio circuitry is switched off and draws microamps of current.
“Ping on Motion”, if triggered, can cause up to 12 transmissions per hour resulting in approximately 13 mA per hour draw from the asset battery to keep the internal cell topped off.
NOTE: If Ping on Motion is enabled on your TennaMINI tracker, it will ping when it detects motion, even if the asset’s ignition is OFF. To learn more, view Ping on Motion Overview.
How long would the TennaMINI Plug-In charge last if disconnected from an asset?
If disconnected from the asset completely, TennaMINI Plug-In will continue to ping once a day, or up to 12 times an hour if the asset is moved continuously (1,200 pings from a fully charged battery).
TennaMINI Plug-In Solar
What size battery is included in a TennaMINI Plug-In Solar?
A rechargeable 2,700 mAH internal Lithium-Ion cell that comes partially charged.
NOTE: Lithium-Ion batteries will experience capacity degradation at extreme temperatures. The device will not charge at temperatures below 32°F or above 113°F to protect the cell. This needs to be considered in the use-case scenario.
Does the TennaMINI Plug-In Solar have an impact on my asset’s battery?
The TennaMINI Plug-In Solar is installed on assets that live outdoors and charges from the sunlight. It will charge from the asset’s battery only when ignition is on, but has a net zero power draw, since the asset’s alternator is actively charging the asset battery while the asset’s engine is running. It actually draws less power than a normal battery’s self-discharge.
Where does the TennaMINI Plug-In Solar draw power from?
The TennaMINI Plug-In Solar charges via sunlight when the asset is off. When the asset is ignition-on, the tracker draws power from the asset’s battery.
How long would the TennaMINI Plug-In Solar charge last if disconnected from an asset?
If disconnected from the asset completely, the TennaMINI Plug-In Solar will maintain it’s charge indefinitely as long as it remains in the sun. Even if disconnected from the asset completely and without sunlight, TennaMINI Plug-In Solar will continue to ping once a day (1,200 pings from a fully charged battery).
Are there any circumstances in which the TennaMINI Plug-In Solar will not charge?
The TennaMINI Plug-In Solar must be installed on assets that live outdoors with regular access to sunlight. It would not charge on an asset that lives indoors. However, it will re-charge if/when the asset’s engine is running.
NOTE: Lithium-Ion batteries will experience capacity degradation at extreme temperatures. The battery will not charge at temperatures below 32°F or above 113°F to protect the cell. This needs to be considered in the use-case scenario.