Topic: How to tell how much battery juice left with Rechargeables
Jaybrams
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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 11
I recently purchased NIMH batteries to go with my Visor. I use FPS Util 4.0 and Launch'em, both of which have battery indicators. Both show wildly girating battery charge levels. I have used the .7 command to change to [nicad] but still have no idea if I have a lot of juice left or very little. How do others deal with this? My guess is to ignore the indicators and just change the batteries on a once a week basis. Any ideas would be welcome. TIA.
09-26-2000 01:00 AM
hkyslif
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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 121
I use NiMH also, and I usually change the batteries at about 40-50% on the indicator (I use Launch'em, too.) I'm sure they would last longer, but I'm paranoid and I don't trust it that much. One day I may make a backup and see how far down it'll go before the batteries really die....just not today.
__________________ If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice...
09-26-2000 03:03 AM
bjornsen
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Registered: Feb 2000
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Posts: 27
quote:Originally posted by Jaybrams I recently purchased NIMH batteries to go with my Visor. I use FPS Util 4.0 and Launch'em, both of which have battery indicators. Both show wildly girating battery charge levels. I have used the .7 command to change to [nicad] but still have no idea if I have a lot of juice left or very little. How do others deal with this? TIA.
My indicator is set for NiCad (I'm using NiMH) I can attest to the fluctuating charge levels. During a read of Avantgo articles, I have seen it drop 20% and come back to the original charge level before I shut it down. This usually happens when I'm at 50% or lower when I start. It seems to be the nature of how the batteries discharge. How do I deal with it? I have a repeating untimed appointment that prompts me to change to a fresh set of batteries every 9 days. YMMV
09-26-2000 04:16 PM
ashraya
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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 3
How do you set the Battery type with the Visor
Hello:
I see in your posts that you guys are setting the battery type somewhere. How do you do that? I cannot seem to find that in the general preferences of the Visor.
Gani
10-09-2000 10:04 PM
Jaybrams
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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 11
Go to memo pad. write the stroke for a shortcut, then .7 Keep doing this until you reach the batttery type you want, alkaline, rechargeable alkaline, NICAD. For Palm OS 3.3 and higher, NIMH is also listed.
10-10-2000 01:58 AM
ashraya
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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 3
Ni Metal Hydride..
Jaybrams:
I tried what you said, and it does show the battery types, but I have put rechargeable NiMH batteries, and the visor does not have OS 3.3, so I should be selecting NICAD right?
quote:Originally posted by Jaybrams Go to memo pad. write the stroke for a shortcut, then .7 Keep doing this until you reach the batttery type you want, alkaline, rechargeable alkaline, NICAD. For Palm OS 3.3 and higher, NIMH is also listed.
For Palm OS 3.3, does it simply use the same profile for NiCd and NiMH, or does it track the NiHM usage more accurately than the Visor with NiCd selected?
__________________ Belzebutt
10-10-2000 11:05 PM
Jaybrams
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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 11
From all that I've read, if you don't have the NIMH option, use NICAD. I assume that NIMH would be more accurate. I believe that NICADS and NIMHs are supposed to follow similar curves for power usage. I've been using NIMHs for about a month and I track the voltage more than any other statistic (such as % remaining). I pay more attention to battery usage now than when I just used alkalines, but its a small price to pay for the savings over disposables.
Does anyone know what the environmental impact of NiMH vs NiCd vs Alkalines is? For example, is throwing out an NiMH battery 10 times worse than throwing out an Alkaline, therefore reducing the environmental advantage of rechargables? Or are Alkalines still more dangerous?
__________________ Belzebutt
10-11-2000 01:43 AM
John Nowak
Member
Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472
quote:Originally posted by Belzebutt Does anyone know what the environmental impact of NiMH vs NiCd vs Alkalines is?
NiMHs are safer than NiCADs, which are considered "hazardous" some places because of the cadmium. I'd guess that one set of NIMHs would be less dangerous that the 100 or so sets of single-use Alkalines it would replace over its lifetime.
09-26-2000 01:00 AM
How do you set the Battery type with the Visor
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