Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 114

I am using Rayovac alkalines. In a recent cycle, the voltage dropped to 2.10v when the accumulated runtime reached 33.5 hours. At this point Launch III reported the remaining battery capacity was 10% and the low battery warning started to show now and then. For the purpose of test, I continued to use this set of batteries. The voltage dropped below 1.80v with another 3 hours of runtime. At this point the reported remainning battery life was 0%. It's somewhat accurate because since then the device may turn off automatically if I switched from one screen to another (especially in AvantGo). Then I changed the batteries. There were about 16 days in this cycle. I think Handspring's statement of 2 month's battery life is based on a kind of "pure organizer usage", i.e., neither play games nor read ebooks nor digging into various fancy third-party program. I am not a heavy user, but using for 2 hours a day requires no special effort.

Here is a summary:

Battery type: alkaline
Brand: Rayovac Maximum

Voltage ------- Runtime ------- Remaining
3.2v ---------- 0 ------------- 100%
2.1v ---------- 33.5hours ----- 10%
1.8v ---------- 36.5hours ----- 0%

It is still pretty safe to change battery when the voltage is bellow 1.8v.


[This message has been edited by xjx (edited 02-05-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

As another data point, I've been averaging about 14 days per set of Duracell Ultra AAA.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 46

Energizers have run about 21 days for me...FYI

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 21

I'm wondering how some of these programs determine the amount of "run time." People seem to average around 2-3 weeks of "use" of their visor, but the actual "run time" seems to vary quite a bit. I normally get around 12 hours of runtime (as reported by runtime v.1.4.1 Over 30 hours sounds like quite a bit. Anyone else have any ideas? I bet that overclocking programs will mess up run times. Is this true?

[This message has been edited by crypie (edited 02-04-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

I have read that graphic intensive applications (specifically: Palm Video Games) eat batteries like crazy (i.e., the battery drain per unit of time is increased)

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Provo, UT
Posts: 64

I don't know if overclocking will mess up usage-tracking programs, but it will reduce your battery life.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 114

Supplement to my initial post:

The program I used to measure the runtime is Runtime 1.4. I use backlight very little and sync 1-2 times a day. I've installed a lot appications (including AvantGo with 18 channels) and databases, the free memory is less than 1M. I don't overclock my Visor, nor underclock.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 195

I'm getting increasingly concerned about this issue of battery life. When I got my IVX I installed AfterBurner, but got a whopping 3 - 4 days out of my first two sets of batteries! I've since uninstalled AfterBurner, turned off IRBeam but can only eek out about 5 - 7 days/set (granted, this is before the low battery alert goes off - it sounds like there's still useable life left in them at that point, though.) I sync 4 - 6 times/day and often use the backlight for.

Any ideas what I can do to improve the battery life? Is it simply that things like syncing and using the backlight suck out the power and we're really not intended to do that very much? I think that when I install the next set (in the next day or two) I'll probably try only syncing once or twice a day and not using the backlight if I can help it.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Monroe, Michigan, USA
Posts: 244

Yep, backlight use and HotSync do suck batteries. So does frequent use of graphics-intensive apps. (18 AvantGo channels--HotSync really inhales the volts!) I think they figure 1 HotSync/day, infrequent backlight use, and mostly organizer function use. Then too, I've read that battery life is shorter than they claim anyway...For the older Palm devices it was really 2 months, but HS did some fiddling w/the OS to make the device faster, and that may add to the drain.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

I'm really asking a question here but is is related to battery life so I am posting here.

I have never owned a Handheld and am reseaching them now.

Does the Visor not have a AC adapter? Can one be bought as an accessory to use when Syncing?

I also have my own question in the General section I hope people will reply to.

Thanks.

Ben

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

There is no AC adaptor, though I personally do not see a need for one. I am using Energizer AccuRechargable (NiHM 1.2v 650mHa) batteries. The first time I used them I got 14:11 hours of Power On runtime out of them. I am three hours into the second set at showing 2.44v. I have two sets so one set is always in the charger under my desk at work.

I have 4554K left free, beam receive off, and hardly ever use back light. I hot sync two to three times a day. Though that goes up if I am trying out programs.

Henry

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

I view the battery life issue as a double edged sword. It's a length of service from the batteries vs. a cost of the batteries issue. My batteries tend to last about 2-3 weeks. My Visor is constantly on during the work day, logging phone messages and making appointments.

How many hours is it on between batterey changes? I don't know and frankly have more important things to worry about.

What I did do though was find a local source for AAA alkaline batteries from a reputable company. I bought a reasonable quantity that broke down to $.40 per battery rather than the nearly $.80 -$1.00 per battery at regular retail. So I have an easliy accessable supply when my Visor runs out of juice at 11:00 at night, and battery costs are inconsequential. I keep one extra pair in my briefcase, and I'm always in business.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Cary,NC,USA
Posts: 5

I noticed my battery life diminish much quicker once I started using AvantGo. I'm pretty sure it has to do with the HotSync time, but also just more time on reading what I download.

Still absolutely love my IVDx, can't imagine life without it.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

I too am curious about the impact of HotSyncing, and am tracking battery usage. To this point, it certainly appears that HotSyncs are doing the damage. Over the last week I've been consuming about 0.05 volts per day (with 2 HotSyncs per day on average). On the two days when I did not do a HotSync, I only consumed 0.01 volts. Wow!

I'll keep tracking, and report back.

For the record, I use AvantGo (but only once a day); and I'm using a serial cradle (which makes me wonder what is going on with USB).

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Sorry, folks! The interpretation of my data is flawed (the following from a Palm miniFAQ - http://www.nicholson.com/rhn/palm/ )
_________________________________________
According to one Rayovac battery graph, the voltage of a pair of alkaline primary cells will drop rapidly to 2.7 Volts during the first 10% to 15% of life, drop more gradually from 2.7 to 2.2 Volts during the middle 75-80% of life, and drop like a rock from 2.2 Volts to unusable during the last 10% or so of life. NiCD's drop from 2.0 V to almost nothing much faster than alkalines.
_________________________________________

As you can see. My results are just due to the first the non-linear portion of the battery discharge graph.

[This message has been edited by yucca (edited 02-07-2000).]