RE: Hitec Eclipse 7 battery life
Mj Spring contact battery holders are generally a poor idea for RC aircraft and you will note they are only used in the very cheapest entry level Tx's.
The problem with them is corrosion of the contacts and it does not even have to be a damp environment. An additional failure mode is those cheap plastic holders when they are exposed to heat from the inevitable overcharges will become weak where the spring is positioned and the plastic will start to bend weakening the spring contact allowing the contact to become intermitant. Hard wired packs are far superior.
John