Registered: Nov 1999
Location: California
Posts: 108

I recently bought some Energiser AccuRecharables and their recharger at Target (I was using a pair of alkalines every 7 days!). Well, anyway, how long will my current set last, and furthermore, does the NiMH/NiCd setting in Battery Meter Hack accuratly gauge the power? Thanks.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mililani, HI, USA
Posts: 256

You're going through alkalines every 7 days?! Have you turned off "beam receive"? That's one of the major things you can do to save some battery life.

I've never heard of AccuRechargeables. Are they nicad or nimh (or rechargeable alk.)? I've had really bad experience with rechargeable alkalines (Renewals--in my PalmPilot), and I eventually threw them away. My only other experience with rechargeables and a Palm unit has been with NiMH. Most people are getting 10-12 hours off this type of battery. (The charge cycle will vary depending on the battery's capacity. Mine are 550mAh, but I have read here that even 650s last about as long.)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

I am using the Energizer AccuRechargable also. (They are NiHM's if anyone was wondering). I am using ATool! and Runtime to montior my battery life. The first time I used the Energizer batteries I got 14:11 hours of Power On usage. The batteries were in a total of 5 days. Since I did not run the batteries that came with my VDx dry I do not know how long they would last. Some have said that how much memory you are using is a factor, I have 4554K free. I also have beam receive and the sounds turned off.

I have two sets of energizer batteries so that one set is always in the charger. The set of batteries in my VDx now have been going for 3 hours and are showing a charge of 2.44v. Since the batteries are listed at 1.2v apiece (and 650 mHa) I think they are doing ok. According to the graphs that the program generates it looks like the voltage level has remained pretty consistant since I put them in. Since my VDx is less than a month old I have been hot syncing a lot, which definetly takes a lot of juice. I also do not leave the VDx in the cradle, though I do not know if it matters.

Henry

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mililani, HI, USA
Posts: 256

CompuPika,

The NiMH/NiCD setting in Battery Meter Hack is actually taking advantage of a feature in the OS. AFAIK, this setting is actually "NiCD", not both, but the discharge levels are relatively close, so it works for NiMHs as well. I'm not able to comment critically on the accuracy of the meter, but it appears to be consistent with my voltometer. ...good enough for me.

According to Hsode, the accurechargeables are 650mAh. These should last you around 12 hours.

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