Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Tech Center Labs is now taking orders for the Emergency Charger kit for the Prism. Don't know if the product is actually shipping yet. See http://www.talestuff.com

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

I just posted a review of it. Very cool. Will be in my briefcase from now on.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

Any problems with using rechargeable AA batteries in the battery kit? I have a good supply of them for my Nikon coolpix camera, and figured they could get some good use!

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 247

Hey, how come I can't just buy the US$20 adaptor to plug in my AC adaptor into? It seems that Tech Centre Labs is seeling it as a bundle together with the battery pack.

...and I don't want the battery pack since the AC adaptor for the Prism is multi-voltage anyway.

__________________
Tan Kit Hoong,
Star Publications (M) Ltd
<img src="http://thestar.com.my/tech/images/thestar_140x45.gif">

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

I'm glad to see TCL making this product but I have to say that the price is outrageous! The battery pack is $2 RadioShack part, the hotsync connector is $3. Figure another $5 for the DC power connectors and we're up to a whopping $10. And that doesn't include bulk discounts. Labor is a couple dollars tops, so TCL is raking in something like $20 profit on these things.

There's no magic here ... if you have a soldering iron and can rustle up a hotsync connector, you can build the exact same thing yourself and save $20. Details are in this thread: http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...p?threadid=8976

And FYI, using Energizer E^2 alkaline AA batteries, you can just about double your Prism's battery life. But if you want some serious runtime, build one that uses C or D cells and you'll be able to get 10x or more

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

quote:

---

Originally posted by dkessler
I'm glad to see TCL making this product but I have to say that the price is outrageous! The battery pack is $2 RadioShack part, the hotsync connector is $3. Figure another $5 for the DC power connectors and we're up to a whopping $10. And that doesn't include bulk discounts. Labor is a couple dollars tops, so TCL is raking in something like $20 profit on these things.

---

Of course you can make your own, you're making the CF module.

Well I think it's a good price considering that you can sync with either A/C or AAA batteries. TCL is a small company that can't afford high volume purchasing. Compared to the Handspring charger it's a good deal.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:

---

Originally posted by JHromadka
Of course you can make your own, you're making the CF module.

---

Rats! My evil plot to turn a few more people to the "dark side" of homebrew Visor accessories has been exposed!

quote:

---

Compared to the Handspring charger it's a good deal.

---

No argument there ... Handspring should be ashamed of what they're charging for that item.

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: brooklyn, ny, usa
Posts: 190

Holy Crap!

I ordered my emergency charger on Monday the 27th and got it in the mail today! So much for please allow for a week to process.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 76

How many charges can you get from a set of AA batteries? Just wondering.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

Emergency charging

Am I looking for something Different in an emergency I have no power but plenty of 12volt DC Can anyone advise if there is a cigar lighter kit so that I may recharge my Prism from the car or more essential from the boat. I am concerned that most of the UK 6volt kits are vey cheap and the measured voltage on my prism charger is less than 6volt (5.8) Any advice welcome
Best Regards
Mike Ayland

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: brooklyn, ny, usa
Posts: 190

Re: Emergency charging

quote:

---

Originally posted by michaelayland
Am I looking for something Different in an emergency I have no power but plenty of 12volt DC Can anyone advise if there is a cigar lighter kit so that I may recharge my Prism from the car or more essential from the boat. I am concerned that most of the UK 6volt kits are vey cheap and the measured voltage on my prism charger is less than 6volt (5.8) Any advice welcome
Best Regards
Mike Ayland

---

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 247

Is it possible to just get the $20 adapter?

__________________
Tan Kit Hoong,
Star Publications (M) Ltd
<img src="http://thestar.com.my/tech/images/thestar_140x45.gif">

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: brooklyn, ny, usa
Posts: 190

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tan Kit Hoong
Is it possible to just get the $20 adapter?

---

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Interests: Women, Drums, Visors, Computers, Home Theater and any cool gadgets.
Posts: 138

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tan Kit Hoong
Is it possible to just get the $20 adapter?

---

Yes it is listed as $20 sold by itself. I am thinking of this as well as I have no idea where to get the $3 hotsync connector that dkessler mentioned above

If I could find a cheap hotsync connetor it would be way eaiser and cheaper to just build it.

Dave, you may not know as you may not have played with one, but do you think this connector already has the diode set up in the connector so we can just slap our own battery case together? Or would we still need the diode inline with the battery case.

I also want to make the diode whithin its own inline connector so I can remove it once the batteries get too low to charge per what you said before in the other thread.

Just wondering. Another project to do

__________________
I don't NEED color, I crave it!
<BR>Just a fan! <A HREF=" http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/ "><IMG SRC=" http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/nav/foot-station.gif "></A><BR>

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:

---

Originally posted by Babylon5
Dave, you may not know as you may not have played with one, but do you think this connector already has the diode set up in the connector so we can just slap our own battery case together? Or would we still need the diode inline with the battery case.

---

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Clarksville, VA, USA
Posts: 74

Airport Friendly?

Do you guys think you might be hassled at an airport with this Emergency Charger?

The reason I'm asking, on my last trip to Austin, on a connecting flight at the RDU airport, after my carryon passed through the xray machine, security asked to look through my bag. I had my Toshiba Libretto mininotebook, Canon BJC-80 printer, round containters holding ink cartridge and scanner cartridge, Visor Dlx, and Stowaway keyboard. They were particularly interested in inspecting the Stowaway and the scanner cartridge for the BJC-80. They wanted me to demonstrate the Stowaway. They said they had never seen anything like that before.

Anyway... I'm glad I wasn't my usual late self for this flight.

David

[Edited by dtgillis on 12-07-2000 at 11:59 PM]

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

Re: Airport Friendly?

quote:

---

Originally posted by dtgillis
Do you guys think you might be hassled at an airport with this Emergency Charger?

---

__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: Re: Airport Friendly?

quote:

---

Originally posted by dkessler
I do expect my "C" cell battery pack to raise some eyebrows though (especially when traveling internationally)...

---

Just imagine what it will be like when we all need to start lugging around a DieHard!

__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

When I went to Dallas, I expected the worst as I took a bunch of modules with me. The only thing they were interested in was the earphones for my MiniJam.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

quote:

---

Originally posted by dkessler
I've found that charging puts enough load on the batteries that a fresh pack of AA's will pull down below 6V almost immediately. With a C or D cell battery pack, the diode is probably still a good idea, but a AA pack really doesn't need it.

---

Have you been consistently using a AA battery back with no diode with no problems? I don't want to seem like I'm questioning your expertise - I'm just being paranoid about my precious Prism; I'd hate to somehow render it inoperable right before the trip I'm taking in a few weeks I was set to buy the Tech Center Labs charger in anticipation of my trip, but they're currently backorded... They are, however, going to sell me a couple of hotsync connectors and I'm going to build my own. I like Babylon5's idea of giving the diode its own connector, too... maybe I'll get fancy & build it with diode on/off switch.

Thanks for all the great tips & info, dkessler - yours are some of the most informative posts I see on VC.

-Andy

__________________
<br>"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union" -Frank Lloyd Wright