VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Accessories (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=3)
-- Let's Talk Batteries. (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=3680)

I just wanted to recommend using NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries in your Visor. These are the best rechargable batteries that come in AAA size. They go for about 4.50 a piece and a small charger that can handle NiMH batteries is about 10 to 12 dollars.
These batteries really last and in the long run they really save money in powering your Visor.
I purchased mine from Radio Shack. I actually bought 4 so I can recharge a second pair when the first pair dies.

for anyone that doesn't know. www.nimhbattery.com sells these batteries as well. 2.50 a piece, and they have a variety of chargers to choose from.

Minh

If you use the NiMH AAA batteries with your Visor, have you noticed that the battery meter is never 100%? I just noticed that the NiMH are 1.2v compared to normal AAA that are 1.5v.

When I changed my batteries for the first time I noticed the meter didn't move much and that the most charge it holds is at 80%. At first I thought something was wrong with the Visor or I had a bad set of batteries.

Is this normal with NiMH? How long do they last before you have to change them?

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MXgian,
Thankyou for the link!

Mich,
80% is about the norm for fully charged NiMH batteries. Don't worry, they don't max out like Lithium Ion theoretically could, but there are no Lithium Ion AAA batteries.
The batteries do last though. I use mine every day and even use the backlight frequently. I usually get 2 weeks out of a pair of fully charged cells. My charger has a 13 hour timer. Oh! Also I believe that NiMH batteries don't have a problem with memory, but I usually only charge them after my Visor can't stay on for the set time limit I give it.
That's all for now.

Because the NiMH batteries actually top out at a lower voltage level than its alkaline counterparts, you'll never get a 100% reading on your visor because your visor was set to read alkaline batteries.

Don't worry though, this doesn't mean that the NiMH won't last as long. I have 4 (2 in the visor and 2 on charge/standby) and I've been very happy with the results. They're not expensive (they're actually cheaper than the alkaline ones in the long run) and you end up producing less waste (from tossing away a pair of alkaline batteries every week or so). Rayovac, I believe, do have rechargeable alkaline batteries, but they can't charge as many times as the NiMH or NiCd (Nickel Cadmiums).

I installed battery-level hack on my visor and it allows you to change the battery type, giving you the correct battery level reading.

Yes Nhatman,
I forgot to mention that to Mich. I have FPSUtility 4 on my computer. If you go into it there is a battery level reset which cures your slow response to the increased battery level when putting freshly charged batteries in.
Good Catch!

I have a question though, the 2nd time around, I noticed the battery meter was at 80%, but like 2 days later, it dropped to 60, and like practically the next day, my Visor was telling me to change my NiMH batts. (Okay, I may have compressed the time a little, but it was nothing like the first original charge I got out of my NiMH, where it lasted a full 2 weeks..)

This is even after with all the battery hacks installed, and changed to NiCAD/NiMH setting.

Anyone have any ideas? (I've temporarily stoped using them, and intend on recharging them soon, they've been sitting on my shelf for a week.)

--Jonathan Lin

Jonathan,
It sounds like your batteries are no good or your charger is no good. That doesn't sound right. Also Like I said before, my charger charges the batteries for 13 hours before I use them. It would probably be cheaper to just pick up a new pair of batteries first as a process of elimination. Maybe try the website in the above message for a new set.

Yeah, I did get the charger and batteries from that website you mentioned earlier. I'll recharge the batts tonight and give it another run. (Because both of my sets were doing the same thing..) I also do use the 'slow charger'.

If all else fails, I suppose I could email them about it and ask them.

I do use the Nexcell NiMH's if that makes any difference

I'll keep posting about my results.

Here's an older thread with some good info about NiMHs and different ways to set the voltage threshold levels
http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...TML/001072.html

Well i put my batteries in on sunday, and after a week of heavy use they're down to 2.37v. I think they started at 2.65v, which isn't too bad considering how much i use it. It's on quite a bit (especially this week). I also have a co-worker that plays tiger woods golf on it (I play every now and then also . I plan on rotating batteries every week give or take a day, i just feel safer that way. Well at least until I can get a hold of a backup module.

Minh

To Make the Battery monitor show a more correct voltage level, you can go into the memo pad, and write [shortcut] [period] [7] twice I think, and that will cycle the battery type to NiCad (Which is the same voltage as NiMH I believe)

I just wanted to thank all of you for your help, especially Rkrumm & Nhatman. I download Battery Level hack and it works great!

THANKS!!!

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Good to hear Mich!

Hey, check it out! I helped somebody! Woo hoo! Who da thought?

Thanks for your friendly words, Mich!

Is there a difference between nicad and nimh? If not, what's the preference of this forum?

Vertigo:

That's an interesting tidbit of info about setting the internap battery meter in the Palm to recognize different battery types. Where did you find that info? Are there other ways to tweek the actuall OS by entering shortcuts?

Christopher,

The NiMH seem to be better for longer lasting power and they sustain a steady flow of energy unlike the NiCAD that seem to die all of the sudden after some use.

Hope that helps.

Richard

Homer, go to Memopad, write the shortcut symbol, do a double-tap, and a number 7 (in the numeric graffiti area). Repeat as necessary to scroll through the battery types, then rinse. Use a conditioner for a better shine and volume.

So, I've got regular alakaline batteries, so when I 'scroll' through the list, I want the last one that shows up to be alkaline, right?

I may be a little slow, but i don't want to mess up my battery meter.

Thx!