Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New Palestine, Indiana
Posts: 70

I had a curious tonight as I began to change my batteries. I really don't understand squat about batteries and I tend to assume that when my battery indicator drops on my visor that what its showing is a pretty good indication of what the actual battery power is. At what point do you change your batteries? 10, 15, 20%? What is the best time to change. Can I safely let the power leel drop below say 10% or am I risking it? I always cary an extra set just in case. Is it better to go by the voltage or the percentage? Can anyone enlighten me?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

I normally change batteries when I get the low battery warning or the day after (if I don't have a new set of batteries..)

No need to panic if you have the backupmodule...
A cheaper way is using BackUpAll... but you need a hotsync incase your batteries run out... with the backup module you can do it on the fly, great for trips!

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Registered: May 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 87

I never change my batteries before they drop below 10%, and have often kept them in for days after this point, with my VDx still enjoying constant usage.

I use 'Runtime' to monitor my battery changes and my average time between battery changes is 25d 15h 51m, with average runtime being 7h 56m

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

at about 5%

I change my battery when the battery meter reads 3%-5%. I took a rish (I got the backup module) and waited until it say 1% to change the batteries the last time.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 195

Thy batt'ry query i'st ponderous indeed...

I have let mine get down to the <5% level but always find that the performance of my IVX take a BIG hit. When I go to backup before changing, it takes A LONG time and often times out before the backup is even finished!

I now make sure I change between 5 & 10% just to be safe. I track my battery life with RunTime and usually go about 7 - 9 days with anywhere from 10 - 15 hours of use.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 211

I change my batteries When the Eymodule won't let me take anymore pictures because the voltage is too low.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 47

Jim Nurombe - RunTime?? Where ??

I looked all over PalmGear - where I normally find any software I want or need for my Visor - and couldn't find a program called "Run Time".
- Did I miss it? Or can you point me to a download site? Thanks. Chuck.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472

Re: Jim Nurombe - RunTime?? Where ??

quote:

---

Originally posted by chucm
I looked all over PalmGear - where I normally find any software I want or need for my Visor - and couldn't find a program called "Run Time".
- Did I miss it? Or can you point me to a download site? Thanks. Chuck.

---

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

i bought a 16 pack of Duracells from Costco awhile back and i found it interesting that (using runtime) i've had one set go for 16:31 runtime and another set go for 23:34 runtime (i change as soon as i get the 'low battery warning'). The REALLY interesting stat? The energizers i had in before buying the 16 pack? 5:45 runtime and 11:27 runtime!!!

strange eh?

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Reston VA
Posts: 22

I have waited until I could not turn the Visor on before changing batteries. Since the unit is always "on" - always keeping the memory alive - the on button really just turns on the display. There is still enough power left to keep your data, just not enough to show it to you.

I always change RIGHT after I can't turn on the display, tho. Longest I have gone is about 10 minutes...

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 211

The energizer E� titaniums come with a neat snap case that you can trim and carry around extra battries just in case you need fresh power.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

On the subject of battery changing...

In my mad rush to beat that sixty second time limit while changing my batteries this morning, I noticed that I'd bent the coils on the battery connectors a bit (upwards). The compartment is pretty tight, and it happened to both of them while I was prying the old batteries out with my keys (in the centre, not by the connectors). Has anyone else had this problem, and is it a cause for concern? I'm a little worried, and managed to bend them mostly back into their old positions. It seems to me, though, that this could get worse with each successive battery change. Has anyone else noticed this?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Here
Posts: 213

When to change the battery

To me, my data is one of the most valuable things that I own. And ALWAYS have a complete backup is "unrealistic", it is only as up to date as the last sync.

I change my batteries when it looks like there is abou 10% remaining from the battery icon. To me, why risk all of your data trying to save an extra 25 cents?

Food for thought............, if the visor, feeds a few hundred milli-amps of current to the springboard interface, couldn't a battery springboard battery pack back-feed to the visor, to supply trickle and increase life. I have not looked at the springboard interface specs, but perhaps it is possible.

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

I generally replace the batteries as soon as I get the low battery warning... I'm not sure what percentage of the meter that tends to be at, but it's usually pretty darn low. I do keep an eye on the meter and if I see that it's running low I always make sure to bring an extra set with me... and anyway, I always keep a couple of sets in the case I keep my Visor/Stowaway/modem in.

I usually get about 2 weeks' worth of usage from one set of batteries.

-Andy

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