Registered: Jul 2000
Location: San Antonio, Tx, USA
Posts: 6

I came across a product from DPP Inovations that touts a recharge and travel pack for a Visor. More details here. The view is for the palm, but according to a response from the Company a Visor compatible will be available in 30 days. A little on the high $$ side. But intriguing. Anyone have any experience with this product, the company, or even the concept?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 65

check this out:
http://www.extendcomputer.com/html/rechargeable.html

OEP

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

Cool!

I had something almost like this for my original GameBoy! I never bought batteries!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

I like the first one better (exept for the price..) since it has a carplug and an international plug it is more versetile than the other model...

I seriously consider buying one of these if the are available for the visor and drop the price...

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Warren, MI<BR><IMG SRC=http://www.geocities.com/bgartn/vcp.jpg>
Posts: 56

Thats cool, but why not save some money and buy standard AAA NiMHs? I bought a pack of 4 AAs for my CD player for 10 bucks, and you can get a charger for $10 too. I guess it's just the cool factor

Peace

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 65

The second one comes in two versions. The basic battery/charger version for $35 and the battery/charger/auto-charger for $55.

OEP

P.S. Outlaw: It's the fact that you don't have to take them out to charge them and it can charge while you have it in the cradle.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: <img src="http://www.ashtech.ie/Images/irishflag.gif"> Ireland
Posts: 8

I built a charger circuit for a Palm III I used to own, based on a design on a web page by a guy called Till Harbaum. When I replaced the Palm with a VDx I wondered if the power from the USB could be used to charge the batteries instead of the wall block I had been using. IT DOES! and it looks much better with only one cable from the back of the cradle. It does involve a small modification inside the Visor though.

AlanJ

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 15

quote:

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Originally posted by AlanJ:
I built a charger circuit for a Palm III I used to own, based on a design on a web page by a guy called Till Harbaum. When I replaced the Palm with a VDx I wondered if the power from the USB could be used to charge the batteries instead of the wall block I had been using. IT DOES! and it looks much better with only one cable from the back of the cradle. It does involve a small modification inside the Visor though.

AlanJ

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 96

One of the two units mentioned in the first two post would be ideal in the car with the HandyGPS. I am really interested in this.



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Ice Owner
Corvette Enthusiast
Racecar Spelled backwards is Racecar!

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: <img src="http://www.ashtech.ie/Images/irishflag.gif"> Ireland
Posts: 8

Regarding Cradle Charger on USB

The original article is at http://www.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de/~harbaum/pilot/cradle.html . It describes the circuit and modifications for a Palm III. I used the VDOCK pin on the Visor instead, internally connecting the diode (D5) from pin 7 (VDOCK) to the battery + spring.

The 5V power from the USB comes in on the red wire inside the cradle. You connect this (I used TP1) to the power input to the charger circuit but link-out the input protection diode (D2) or there is (potentially) too little voltage to run the circuit correctly.

The problem is with the current sensing resistor (Rsense) which must be in the battery circuit. You have to unsolder the ground wire in the cradle from the USB cable (the black wire) and connect it to the ground "input" to the charger ie where the power supply ground should be. The ground "output" to the battery should then be connected to where you removed the black wire from on the cradle pcb. The battery supply can be connected to TP4 which is linked to the VDOCK pin.

The USB communication ground is therefore routed through Rsense, but as this resistor is only 2ohms it doesn't affect communication in any way. In theory, a hotsync would cause extra current (tiny) through Rsense causing charging to end sooner but I found that it doesn't make any difference.

Be warned, although this circuit is very handy and neat, it does void your warranty. Oh, there's another problem, you cannot use normal batteries or they will attempt to recharge (causing overheating/explosion) unless you also insert a (discrete) switch on the power input (red wire to charger circuit). The USB power is not used by the cradle/Visor so you can safely do this.

If anyone is interested I will write up a proper procedure with diagrams and post it somewhere on the web. I can only post to my company's web site at present and I don't think they'd appreciate it. Any offers for a home? I could also make a few charger circuits up if there is enough interest...


AlanJ