Registered: Sep 1999
Location: CANADA
Posts: 46

Runs on 2 AAA's.

DC

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 7

Question is, do they have a sudden power depletion toward the end of their life like NiCad batteries?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 27

I don't know how steep the power drop at the end of a NiMH's useful life is.

However it is shalow enough that the Palm III's stock voltage levels warn you before the battery dies. I can get through a normal usage day even if the battery low warning starts going off fairly early in the day, of corse I try to avoid using hte backlight when the batt warning is on.

I do change the battery before any long trip, no big deal there.

I like the NiMH's not so much because it saves money, but because I don't feel like I'm spending money whenever I turn on the backlight. It is also nice never to run out of battries, I allways know where to find a fresh charged set of AAA's when the old ones wear out.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: US Military in Germany
Posts: 46

I have been using the NiMh batteries in camera, PDA, CD Player and other uses for about 7 months now and have never lost pictures or data due to sudden drop off of voltage and my warnings also always worked. I use the kodak charger that came with my camera (also available separately) and it is great. Supports both AA and AAA battery sizes, is small, and most importantly since I am in europe it supports both 110 and 220 power sources so I can use it anywhere.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 2

Here's my two cents (from a poweruser):

I use my IIIx constantly, for about everything imaginable. My wife is extremely jealous, in fact.

I could also care less about saving money on the batteries. I use both NiMH and Duracell Ultras; mostly NiMH.

Having said that, here's my take on some of these NiMH issues:

1) I get more time out of the Ultras. About 10 days, as opposed to 6 or 7 with NiMH.
2) I use 550 mAh Radio Shack, in their Quick Charger.
3) I've just upgraded to what I believe is the best: the Maha MH-C204F charger, for about $25, and new 720 mAh AAAs from www.batteryshack.com for around $16 per 4-pack.
4) These new batteries appear to last just as long as the Ultras.
5) Despite a quick dying-out when they deplete, my IIIx consistantly has time to warn me first, though with a fresh set sitting in the charger, I usually don't have to get that far. My Palm III, however, did die sometimes without warning.
6) The best place to buy rechargable batteries and chargers seems to be www.thomas-distributing.com, with the caveat that they don't have those 720 mAh batteries.
7) The most important reason for me to use NiMH is that the batteries are always available. Saving money is nice, though not necessary, but running out of them is a big drag. With an extra set in the charger I never run out, no matter the time of night.

Hope this helps anyone!

Aaron

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 195

Secret of Nimh - that was a great flick, as far as animated flicks go.

Sorry.

Does anyone know how long the internal battery on the Visor (or Palm) lasts? I've heard that you've got something like five minutes to put new AAA batteries in, once you take the old ones out, if you don't want to lose all of your data. Then again, I also heard that someone said that you could store your Palm or Visor for a month or so without any batteries in it, and wouldn't lose your data. Which is true? And is the internal battery just the standard lithium battery like what you find on a motherboard?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hoboken, NJ, 07030
Posts: 105

A capacitor if I'm not mistaken.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Durham, NC, USA
Posts: 47

I'm new to NiMH batteries, and I've got a question. I've got a Palm V so I don't use them, but my fiance has a Palm Pro and we use them in hers. Now here's the question. Every time we switch batteries, we end up with nothing but the Palm logo flashing. The only way to stop it from flashing is to remove a battery and re-insert it, upon which the Palm logo flashes *once* (as it should) and then we get the digitizer screen - and the accompanying complete loss of information. Does anybody know what may be causing this? We'll try to swap out batteries with Alkalines and see if that's the problem... but it's frustrating. After hearing all the rave reviews about the NiMH batteries!!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Geneseo NY
Posts: 34

The Visor manual says that you have about one minute to reinstall the battries. They also suggest you Hotsync prior to avoid problems.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Posts: 36

According to the manual you only get one minute.

"When you remove the batteries, the built-in backup power of your handheld maintains memory data for a period of up to one minute. Whenever you remove the batteries, replace them immediately. If you encounter any difficulties in the course of battery replacement, reinstall the original batteries and wait a few minutes for the backup power to recharge." (page 226 of 282 in the manual)

Manual available at this site: www.lutes.org/visor.htm

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Streamwood, IL USA
Posts: 118

Jamester:

It probable has nothing to do with the type of batteries you are using. THe internal capacitor is probably fried.

If you leave "dead" batteries in a Palm device and leave it OFF, it will support the memory for about a month. I still wouldn't push it unless you have your data backed up. Remember that the capacitor is charged off of the batteries and if the batteries cannot charg the cap you will lose data.

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

From what I've seen using my Visor Dlx over the last few days, I would estimate the battery life is about the same as a IIIx.

my .02

sluggo

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Beaverton, OR USA
Posts: 87

I thought NiMH and other rechargeable AAAs (AA, C, and D, too) had a true max voltage of 1.2 - 1.3 volts instead of the standard 1.5 for an alkaline. Not sure if this matters all that much in the long run, or how that may affect the electronics.