Backup Battery Problems

CurioCT · 04-20-04, 04:52 AM

Non rechargeable eh? thats a bit crap? anyone tried using any form of rechargeable batteries in it?

MrKlaatu · 04-20-04, 05:25 AM

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Even if you did, it wouldn't recharge in the X5, as there is no charging circuitry for, nor voltage supplied to, the BUB.

I suppose if you could find a LiIon Coin Battery StandAlone Recharger and kept a set of batteries for it...........it might work.

But at just a couple'a bucks a pop for a new battery and given that it only needs to be replaced at the most @ 6 months (though more probably @ a year), it'd probably be a bit of an expensive route to take.

CurioCT · 04-20-04, 05:26 AM

Strange I was fairly sure I had to wait for it to charge when I first put it in the axim?

MrKlaatu · 04-20-04, 05:30 AM

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Nope!

CR2032's come charged to a nominal 3V, and are not (Re)chargeable.

CurioCT · 04-20-04, 05:45 AM

Ok Thanks just been and bought another thats a bit crap though isnt it, only had mine since end of jan and its gone already :o(

MrKlaatu · 04-20-04, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CurioCT
Ok Thanks just been and bought another thats a bit crap though isnt it, only had mine since end of jan and its gone already :o(

Are you sure it's really dead?

What OS Version do you have on your X5? Did you buy it new from Dell?

OS Versions after A02 have fixes addressing BUB Meter problems (the meter is notoriously inaccurate, anyways). Also check that the battery is CLEAN of skin oils when you put it in. You could also try putting a piece of Business Card between the battery and the cover and/or gently prying the brass contacts in the battery compartment up a bit to make better contact.

CurioCT · 04-20-04, 07:20 AM

Well, the multimeter says it's at 2.5v so I'd guess so? and I believe I ran all the updates prior to this crash in fact from memory I think it came from the factory (in january) upto date? system info says A05 so I guess the battery is dead?

Also I did bend the pins as a matter of course and stuffed folded paper behind the battery door last night before I "put it on charge"

SO I am guessing not using it for a couple of weeks (since good friday) was the killer?

Still crap no recharging the backup battery though.

MrKlaatu · 04-20-04, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CurioCT
SO I am guessing not using it for a couple of weeks (since good friday) was the killer?

If it wasn't on the cradle charging while loyally awaiting your return........yes, that could well be the culprit of a dead/dying-too-soon BUB.

When not in use, it's best to leave an Axim in the cradle, charging and topped up. You can't overcharge the (main) battery and frequent deep discharges will shorten the (main) battery's overall life.

Here's some LiIon Battery Information:

All Consumer LiIon batteries (other than coin-type) have circuitry in the battery itself, to prevent overcharging under any circumstances.

LiIon batteries are actually quite dangerous commodities and the only way they were allowed into the Consumer market was to include this circuitry.

Quote:

From First Link:
The charge cannot be terminated on a voltage (Which is what the Axim's green light is indicating). The capacity reached at 4.2 Volts per cell is only 40 to 70% of full capacity. For this reason you need to continue to charge until the current drops, and to terminate on the low current. (Which is what the Battery's Sensing Circuitry is sensing, and then doing).

It is important to note that trickle charging is not acceptable for lithium batteries. The Li-ion chemistry cannot accept an overcharge without causing damage to the cell, possibly plating out lithium metal and becoming hazardous.

Lithium Ion Charging Basics

Lithium Ion Battery Storage.

How to prolong lithium-based batteries