# How Long Does a G5 Transmitter REALLY Last? \*\*UPDATE-Transmitter Died\*\* UPDATE-New Transmitter \*\*\*UPDATE-2nd Transmitter ðŸ˜
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307
**Category:** C/GM
**Tags:** dexcom
**Created:** [June 22, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307 "2017-06-22T16:05:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/21 "2017-06-29T18:43:27Z")
Judging by the Silver Oxide battery depletion curve, when you hit a certain point, it will fail rapidly assuming that the 1.5 volts is needed to run the system.
Just a guess, but assuming worst case storage conditions and picking a point 75-80% of the way to the drop-off is probably where they came up with the time to replace, so it makes sense you can get extra time, as long as you are fine with understanding what happens at the cliff.
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/22 "2017-06-29T18:51:07Z")
@Chris I really do not understand electrical engineering very well, but the explanation I got from the xDrip+ developer said that the key indicator of the battery life is the resistance.
I do believe that when it reaches a specific point the app warns that the transmitter is about to fail. The voltages seem to be staying fairly constant, but the resistance is what is changing.
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/23 "2017-06-29T18:56:47Z")
True, the internal resistance is a good measure of where the device is on the depletion curve. The advantage of those silver oxide batteries (if you look at the curve above) is that they give 1.5 volts or more through 95+% of their life, so the circuit gets a very consistent voltage, which is nice. The issue with this is a voltage measurement isn’t helpful to see where it is on the curve, since it is almost always above 1.5 volts and doesn’t decrease at all until the very end. So internal resistance can be measured and will be more predictive.
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### Author:  [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/24 "2017-06-30T02:06:25Z")
So as long as we had the Dexcom G5 Mobile app installed on the iPhone, we could still get readings from an old transmitter? Even though the receiver would not accept them? Or is Nightscout/XDrip required to use this functionality?
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/25 "2017-06-30T02:15:32Z")
@ClaudnDaye Unfortunately, the only way you can extend G5 transmitter use is by using xDrip. The Dexcom iPhone app is a virtual software duplicate of the receiver, including the code to stop accepting signals from a transmitter over 105 days old.
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### Author:  [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/26 "2017-06-30T02:25:25Z")
k. This is incentive for me to give xDrip another look.
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/27 "2017-07-05T21:11:52Z")
Weekly transmitter check. Now at 137 days, voltage is still great ( but voltage really only drastically decreases when the batteries die, as @Chris pointed out in his graph above).
Resistance is a bit up at 614, but it’s been fluctuating between 590 and 630 all week.
I’m up to 32 days past labeled expiration, fully one month. A G5 transmitter pair costs about $600, about $100/month. So I guess so far I’ve gotten about $100 extra value out of this sensor.
Hopefully next week it will be another good report.
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/28 "2017-07-05T23:53:02Z")
That is pretty amazing. Looks like you will get +6 weeks out of it. Which is a bunch considering they are meant to last 14.
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/29 "2017-07-13T13:20:22Z")
Time for the weekly transmitter update.
All is good at 144 days, 39 days past the105 day mark. Resistance is actually lower, but again, it has been fluctuating between 550 and 625 this week.
Voltages are still very healthy.
We should do an over/under betting pool on how long this thing will last
:cheeky:
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/30 "2017-07-13T13:27:28Z")
162 days.
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/31 "2017-07-13T13:43:16Z")
> [@Thomas](#):
>
> 162 days
@Thomas Is that a WAG or from previous experience?
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/32 "2017-07-13T13:53:48Z")
The batteries speak to me.
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/33 "2017-07-13T14:04:40Z")
Ahh, a battery whisperer.
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### Author:  [@TiaG](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TiaG)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/34 "2017-07-13T14:30:43Z")
173
What do we win if we guess right?
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/35 "2017-07-13T15:07:42Z")
> [@TiaG](#):
>
> What do we win if we guess right?
The prize is a dead Dexcom G5 transmitter 🤣
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/36 "2017-07-13T15:11:12Z")
Dude. I want a hand crafted battery replaced G5 transmitter.
Alternatively, I would settle for a video showing the attempt.
(Actually would find the video SUBSTANTIALLY more amusing…)
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/37 "2017-07-13T15:41:47Z")
@Thomas What would be really hilarious is a video of ME attempting a battery replacement.
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/38 "2017-07-13T15:43:38Z")
That is EXACTLY what I was asking for.
I don’t want Bob the Builder from YouTube. I want @docslotnick with a Dremel !!!
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### Author:  [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/39 "2017-07-13T15:46:42Z")
No Dremel needed. Just a box, a check for $79, and a trip to the post office.
I’m really quite handy in that way.
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### Author:  [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307/40 "2017-07-13T15:50:01Z")
Sure - take all the fun out of it !!!
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