Kenster

I bought the BT338 (came with 3.1.1 firmware and an external AC adapter thrown in the big box, but not in the BT338 box - so I know where they are putting the adapters they take from the lone BT338 purchases!) with iGuidance. On the whole happy, but routing can be quirky.

The bundle came with a 12v adapter that has a Y-splitter so I can simultaneously charge my Axim x50v and the BT338.

Being gullible, I just tried it. Both devices reported that they were charging, and the x50v ran while charging with full screen brightness, as if plugged into wall AC adapter.

So far, so good.

After a very few minutes (?8), however, I noticed that BOTH the Dell and BT338 batteries were VERY hot. Both were nearly charged at the beginning of my trip. I unplugged them and ran on battery power for the rest of the trip. I'm frankly afraid to do real experiments (ie run battery down to 50% and see how long it takes to charge with AC vs. DC adapter, repeat charging and measure surface temperature, repeat with different levels of discharge).

I've seen other threads going back to March concerning hot x50v's and car chargers, but not an actual consensus on whether this is dangerous, or at least detrimental to the batteries. I don't THINK it's just a lack of airflow (as suggested in another thread) - they both get VERY hot, and I don't really notice any significant temperature increase when either charges from its respective AC adaptor (for others who've asked - the AC adapters are interchangable). Also, I did not actually have the Axim in its mount, but rather sitting in the passenger seat (voice navigation only), as the mount did not seat correctly at first.

I'm not sophisticated enough to have electrical tools to measure amperage / voltage.

On the plus side, I did not see a threat describing a fried battery in this situation. Nor have I seen on that goes "yeah, it gets real hot, but I just leave it there and 6 months later all is well".

Thoughts, comments? I posted here rather than x50 hardware as this pertains to the buyGPSnow bundle charger and might be of interest to people in the GPS talk forum.

bandd

I just ordered a similar bundle. I'll report back when I get it.