Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Posts: 34

Hi,

I have a Visor Deluxe with a Thinmodem. Lately I have been using the heck out of my Thinmodem and due to this have been going through about a set of batteries per day. I need some good rechargables. I have not done much research into them but figured you guys would know best. I need a charger capable of holding at least 4 AAAs and afforable. Thanks alot for your help!

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

I got the NiMh charger from Radio Shack (like $20?).
I'd seen posts warning not to use their NiMh batts (like $7/pair?) due to their lack of steady power, but I tried them anyway; while advertisted to charge like 1,000 times (or more?), they seem to by dying out already after about 40-50 charges.
I have 2 Maxell AAs (for a camcorder) I've worked into the mix, but it's too hard to tell how they're doing among the many others.
Wish I had better info -- hope others do.

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Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

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Originally posted by joshmcgown
Hi,

I have a Visor Deluxe with a Thinmodem. Lately I have been using the heck out of my Thinmodem and due to this have been going through about a set of batteries per day. I need some good rechargables. I have not done much research into them but figured you guys would know best. I need a charger capable of holding at least 4 AAAs and afforable. Thanks alot for your help!

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Have you looked into the solutions from Extend or I.C.U?
These are rechargables that don't come out of the Visor. You replace the AAA batteries with one these one-piece units then recharge thru a specially made battery cover. I have the Extend unit and it works great. It came with a charger for the office and the car so I'm always charged.

Do a search in VC discussion groups and you can find may threads regarding these products.

Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

I have some Rayovac (Nickel Metal Hydride) rechargables. They don't last very long in my VPL (like about 4 days). Maybe they would be better if you got the new 1 hour charger. But I have the regular charger, so I'm not spending the extra $$ on the new charger. You may want to stay away from these Rayovacs.

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Chicago
Posts: 31

I've been using Maha AAA's in my vpl for several months now and love them, typically lasting 7-10 days between charging. I do not find the NiMh batteries to be unstable with there output actually very stable. If you have questions feel free to post again or email. Good luck.


Jim

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Posts: 13

The rechargeable battery system from eXtend computer is really great. It's a bit tricky to sync and charge at the same time with a cradle.

As mentioned, it's not really designed to be removed.

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

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Originally posted by briareus
The rechargeable battery system from eXtend computer is really great. It's a bit tricky to sync and charge at the same time with a cradle.

As mentioned, it's not really designed to be removed.

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I spoke with customer Service regarding your point. On the website it used to say you could recharge and sync at the same time. So I emailed them about this and asked how.

Well, there's suppose to be "clip" that was to be shipped out with the units but the clips weren't ready at the time the units were ready. This clip made it possible to hotsync and sharge at the same time. According to CS they are suppose to ship out the clips once they are no longer backordered with orders.....

Well, it's been 4 months since I first spoke to them about this issue and they claim they are still backlogged with orders and haven't shipped the clips yet. But as soon as they are out of the backordered status they will ship the clips to everyone who ordered. Sounds like BS to me but I thought you might like to know.....

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

According to a Rech. battery mfg. that I spoke to, the best rechargeables are the Sanyo and Panasonic NIMH ones. Do not buyrechargeable alkalines, they don't last in a PDA. Get NiMh's with at least 600mAh.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

I love the POWEREX NiMH batteries (premium label of MAHA). I have 4 POWEREX NiMH batteries as well as 4 Energizer NiMH batteries. POWEREX batteries are much more consistent. Sometimes the Energizer lasts almost as long, but too often they last only about half as long as the POWEREX (even though the Energizer is a 700 mAh and the POWEREX is a 650 mAh).

Last edited by namja on 06-17-2001 at 03:53 AM

Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

Correction

This is a correction to my previous post to this thread.

I am using Rayovac NiMH batteries that didn't seem to work so well. But since I changed my battery setting to NiMH by using the . . 7 command, these batteries are lasting really long. I've had a pair in for a week and they still have 90% life left. So I'm retracting my above statement.

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Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Posts: 17

Best Battery Source

Go to www.thomas-distributing.com and look at their batteries page. Best selection and prices I've found! They have a great selection of chargers as well and 'combo packs' of charger/batteries. Here is a good deal:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/...4f-4aa160dc.htm

This charger can do two sets at a time and has a conditioner cycle. It can also run from a 12v source like your lighter adapter. Powerex batteries have high ah rating. I highly recommend this e-tailer.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

Pasta Grrrl,

What's that command mean? (swirl . . 7) I tried it on my VDX just to see, and my battery power jumped up! Where can I read up on what this all does?

Thanks for the tip.

Michael

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

It was posted somewhere in a thread here on VisorCentral. What it does is "toggle" your battery setting to exactly what kind of battery you are using, ie: NiMH, Rechargeable Alkalines, Alkalines, NiCad. So if you have switched from regular alkalines to some kind of rechargeable, you should probably tell your handheld what kind of battery it's using, right?

You shouldn't do this if you have a Palm V or a Prism or anything else with a "built-in" battery. This is for those who use AAAs.

Here's how you do it:

1. Enter your Memo app and tap on new memo.
2. Tap: . . 7 (that's shortcut, 2 taps, and then number 7)
3. You will see a battery name popup.
4. Repeat this until the right battery you are using pops up.
5. Then exit and delete the memo.

Before I did this, my Rayovac NiMHs were only lasting like 4 days! Since I've done this, I've had in one pair for a week and my battery monitor shows that I have 90% left of my batteries.

If you are using some kind of rechargeable, you'll begin to notice that they aren't withering as quickly as before. At least I did.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

Wow! This is great!

I'm using rechargeable alkalines (Renewal system...it's ok for me)

Anyway, I noticed that when I toggle between the choices the battery level changes. If I just use the choice that gives me the highest bettery level (disregarding what kind of battery it says it is), is that ok?

Thanks.
Mike

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 216

quote:

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Originally posted by chungmike
Wow! This is great!

I'm using rechargeable alkalines (Renewal system...it's ok for me)

Anyway, I noticed that when I toggle between the choices the battery level changes. If I just use the choice that gives me the highest bettery level (disregarding what kind of battery it says it is), is that ok?

Thanks.
Mike

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No, this is not okay!!! This command doesn't change the life of the batteries but rather how the Visor reads the voltage from the batteries and at what voltage the low warning and critical warning messages appear. If you change it to the incorrect battery type, you may not receive the low or critical warning until it is too late and you run out of juice and lose everything in RAM!

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

I concur with Pathdoc. This is to tell your Visor what kind of battery you're using so that you can get the most out of your Visor and your battery. Not to "trick" your Visor.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

quote:

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Originally posted by chungmike
If I just use the choice that gives me the highest bettery level (disregarding what kind of battery it says it is), is that ok?

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