Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 22

I had a thought based on the FullCharge system. Surely their battery is simply two rechargables with a plug built in and flat wiring to connect the two cells as one. Which spawned this thought:

Why not connect two regargables with a flat wire. Then extend the flat terminals through the battery cover. You could then glue two more flat wires to the cradle in the proper location (with a spring-fold to make good contact) then just wire the AC adapter to it, and Voila! A recharging cradle.

I might actually atempt this, so I'd appreciate any commentary. I am planning on using NiMH (already have these) and measuring the voltage and current off my charger. Then I'll have to rig an adapter to match those specs. Any comments, help? Thanks!

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 42

Hi there,

I assume you mean a DC charger, not an AC one, unless you want to blow up your batteries (and your visor).

A part from that I can see one problem:

First of all you have to get the right voltage and current (*) out of your charger so the batteries will charge quickly enough without bursting (more realisticly being damaged).

Once you get these, don't forget that when the batteries will be charging, your visor will be supplied with the charging voltage (even when switched off, because really it's only asleep), which it might not appreciate.

(*): Of course the calculation has to be done taking into consideration the visor consumption when off/on, with/without a springboard, etc.....

Not as easy, I'm afraid.

BobRus.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 22

I meant an AC / DC converter, not an AC charger. I suppose you're right about the voltage, I hadn't thought of that. You'd need two pathways from the battery with one filtered somehow to the Palm device. Otherwise, it would be like having 4 batteries instead of 2. Hmm.

Maybe someone can talk the FullCharge developers into making a cradle mounted version? For $35 that would be money well spent, IMO.

Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 209

Don't forget you'll also need a "smart charge" circuit to prevent abusing your NiMH batteries.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

You will also need a way to protect the exposed wires when the unit is not in the cradle. A direct short can cause considerable damage to the batteries and possibly the Visor itself.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 42

Folks,

I suggest you have a look
at this site: http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/

The page is in english and pictures show what to do.

I haven't tried it yet myself but I may when I get a bit of time.

BobRus

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 151

FullCharge with cradle

So has anybody been able to get the FullCharge to work with the cradle--through cutting a notch in the cradle or any other means? I would love to combine the two somehow. Would cutting a notch in the cradle keep the cradle from working?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 22

Got it!

This is more along the lines of what I was thinking:

http://www.maksystems.com/visor

I've emailed her a couple of times and am quite convinced this will work. I'm going to try it this weekend. BTW - The power source to charge the batteries is in PARALLEL, which is how you avoid cooking the Visor's circuit board.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 42

Hi there,

I would suggest that you have a look at the following thread: "Work Visor Charging Cradle!!! ". As I've answered in there, I also think that Stephanie's way is a good one but I would slightly modified it.

Bobrus

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Ohio State
Posts: 41

I had a different approach to this. My FullCharge finally arrived about a week ago, and I'm happy with it (I just wish it was easier to install/uninstall for emergency alkaline usage...)

To answer your original post, I just used a Dremel tool and cut a notch out of my cradle so the fullcharge adaptor fits now. There's nothing in the cradle as long as you stay away from the usb pins down on the bottom (I took out the screw on the bottom to check, of course). This way, I plug in my visor, then set it in the cradle and I can sync and charge all I want. The reason I did this instead of transforming my cradle into a charging cradle is because this way I can pick up my visor off the cradle and use it while it's still plugged in and charging. It's a two minute modification to the cradle and it works. I don't have a digital camera or eyemodule to take a picture of my cradle, but hopefully you understand what I did.

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