Re: [NTLK] MP2k not 'charging': just 'waiting' ?

From: Adam Goddard <pashosh_at_tpg.com.au>
Date: Thu Aug 03 2006 - 02:28:56 EDT

On 03/08/2006, at 10:13 AM, BobR wrote:
> If I put the Newton in the fridge for an hour (at 5
> degrees C) and then remove it and connect the power adaptor it will
> charge
> just fine. It will continue charging, and then revert to 'waiting' at
> some
> point. Another session in the fridge, and then it will charge up
> again. I've
> done this 3 times, but now I'm wondering if there's a better fix. Do I
> need
> to rebuild the battery pack ? Or maybe some temperature sensor has
> failed ?
> Meanwhile, in the cause of science, I will continue chilling the Newt.
> But if anyone can shed light on this problem I would be most grateful.

This sounds like a dying battery pack. How long does a charge from full
usually last? You don't have to freeze the whole Newt, just the battery
pack, and some find giving it a whack on a table or something solid is
enough to agitate the weakened cells' inner chemistry to start charging
and give you a bit more time, but it's only temporary. Look into
replacing your cells with some high capacity AA NiMH batteries. The
original cells were 1200mAh, IIRC, so 2400mAh would take twice as long
to charge, but give you twice as long runtime. There are AA's at 2500,
2600, 2700 and supposedly even 2800mAh on the market. These cells are a
tiny bit "fatter" than the normal size AA, so it will be a very tight
squeeze inside the battery pack. I'm looking into making a 7.2V Lithium
Ion/ Lithium Polymer pack with an LDO 5V regulator, but this will have
to be charged separately, so like a DC socket out the bottom part which
sticks out of the newt? Dunno, just want to try beefing up the battery
in this great PDA. :)

Regards,
   - Adam Goddard

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Received on Thu Aug 3 02:29:21 2006

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