k000

I just got my Axim x3i on Tuesday. And I've noticed with my normal use, the main battery as well as the backup battery keep going down.

Is that right - should the backup battery also go down with normal use ? I thought backup battery just sits there, and is used only when main battery is totally or almost drained. Ok, I agree that as any physical baody which traps enery it should have entropy and some energy loss - but that drop is quite visible in the bar.

Does it happen normally or is my backup batter yfreaking out ?

Thanks,
Vikas

jpmarth

that's correct. your backup should only be draining when your main battery is dead or not in the unit. did you charge it for the required time when you first got it?

k000

I think I did charge it. Or probably I charged it for like 2 hours, and then started using it - looking around with charg ecable still in the Axim

s0nn46a13

An Axim X3 system may prompt a message indicating that the backup battery is low or very low during the system start up
Backup batteries on the Axim X3 PDAs are rechargeable. This is different from Axim X5 PDAs which use coin cell batteries (NOT rechargeable) as backup power. When a rechargeable backup battery on an Axim X3 discharges to a specific low level of power, the Axim X3 system may prompt a message of "Backup Battery Low" or "Backup Battery Very Low". This is working as designed and as a result the user must charge the system immediately when the message pops up to prevent battery drained and potential data loss.

However, a few users may notice that the message still pops up after several hours of charging. By checking the backup battery status (Start\Settings\System\Power\Battery), it's indeed in "Low" or "Very Low" status. This can be explained as follows.

When a backup battery discharges to a critical low level of power, it will be automatically disconnected from some system circuits. These circuits consume some power if the battery or other power source is connected. The battery may be over discharged if it is continuously connected to these circuits and even is already in a critical low status. To prevent this over discharge the backup battery will disconnect itself automatically when it discharges to a critical low status. However when a backup battery is disconnected, it cannot charge even though the Axim X3 system is connected to AC power.

Typical examples:

-A new Axim X3 system with main battery unattached during shipping may have the backup battery drained and in the status mentioned above.
-Leaving an Axim X3 unused or in storage for a long period of time drains the main battery and then the backup battery resulting in the above status.

The backup battery can be connected again simply by pressing Axim X3 power button to turn on the system. Once the backup battery is connected, it is able to charge again.

Connect the Axim X3 system to an AC power via the cradle or a cable, press power button to turn on the system, then the backup battery starts to charge.

-Turn the Axim X3 system on prior to charging, or
-Connect the Axim X3 system to AC power via cradle or cable, press the power button to turn on the system first (you may turn it off immediately or later).

The backup battery will now charge and could take approximately 8 hours to charge a backup battery from 0% to 100%.
The next time the backup battery is charged it will not be necessary to turn on the system before charging if the backup battery still has power remaining.

Note: The Axim X3 Placemat shipping with Axim X3 units indicates to charge the battery (main battery) for at least 4 hours. This does not mean that charging the battery for 4 hours will charge the backup battery to 100%. It will take approximately 8 hours to charge a backup battery from 0% to 100%.

k000

Very cool. thanks. I think you are so right about it needing 8 hours to get the backup charged, actually those messages were comin only on first day... now they don't show up.

thanks again

Quote:

Originally posted by s0nn46a13 An Axim X3 system may prompt a message indicating that the backup battery is low or very low during the system start up Backup batteries on the Axim X3 PDAs are rechargeable. This is different from Axim X5 PDAs which use coin cell batteries (NOT rechargeable) as backup power. When a rechargeable backup battery on an Axim X3 discharges to a specific low level of power, the Axim X3 system may prompt a message of "Backup Battery Low" or "Backup Battery Very Low". This is working as designed and as a result the user must charge the system immediately when the message pops up to prevent battery drained and potential data loss. However, a few users may notice that the message still pops up after several hours of charging. By checking the backup battery status (Start\Settings\System\Power\Battery), it's indeed in "Low" or "Very Low" status. This can be explained as follows. When a backup battery discharges to a critical low level of power, it will be automatically disconnected from some system circuits. These circuits consume some power if the battery or other power source is connected. The battery may be over discharged if it is continuously connected to these circuits and even is already in a critical low status. To prevent this over discharge the backup battery will disconnect itself automatically when it discharges to a critical low status. However when a backup battery is disconnected, it cannot charge even though the Axim X3 system is connected to AC power. Typical examples: -A new Axim X3 system with main battery unattached during shipping may have the backup battery drained and in the status mentioned above. -Leaving an Axim X3 unused or in storage for a long period of time drains the main battery and then the backup battery resulting in the above status. The backup battery can be connected again simply by pressing Axim X3 power button to turn on the system. Once the backup battery is connected, it is able to charge again. Connect the Axim X3 system to an AC power via the cradle or a cable, press power button to turn on the system, then the backup battery starts to charge. -Turn the Axim X3 system on prior to charging, or -Connect the Axim X3 system to AC power via cradle or cable, press the power button to turn on the system first (you may turn it off immediately or later). The backup battery will now charge and could take approximately 8 hours to charge a backup battery from 0% to 100%. The next time the backup battery is charged it will not be necessary to turn on the system before charging if the backup battery still has power remaining. Note: The Axim X3 Placemat shipping with Axim X3 units indicates to charge the battery (main battery) for at least 4 hours. This does not mean that charging the battery for 4 hours will charge the backup battery to 100%. It will take approximately 8 hours to charge a backup battery from 0% to 100%.

Anarquista

I've already wrote about this on another thread, but at least 4 or 5 of us X3i users (any others?) have noticed that the backup battery drops to 80% with minutes of taking it off the cradle. It may even drop to 60% in a couple of hours, all while the MAIN battery is still in 90% range.

I don't get anymore "low battery" messages, but the backup still drops, or at least it's reporting that it is. Either way, it is a bit disconcerting.

This appears to be independent or not related to a couple of things:

1) Fully charging the Ax till everything is 100% for "X" amount of
hours
2) The latest ROM/Driver updates

Or at least I have not noticed a difference with the above. Who knows, this appears to be a bug of some sort.

satteldog

Dell offers a fix for this:

http://support.dell.com/filelib/Form...5289&Type=DRVR

Anarquista

As far as I can tell, that driver only "fixes" the issue with the backup battery taking too long to charge.

This has nothing to do with the backup battery draining (or reporting that it is) even while the MAIN battery is still nearly fully charged.

Furthermore, I've installed it and noticed no difference in this regard.

aviationwiz

I just put the Battery Pack software on my Axim and my backup battery is at 80%.

Magicmonger

Quote:

Originally posted by aviationwiz I just put the Battery Pack software on my Axim and my backup battery is at 80%.

How do you like that battery pack from Omega One? They make some good products don't they?

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Magicmonger

aviationwiz

It's pretty nice. I like getting percentages for my backup battery and timings for my main battery.

Markaruckus

Quote:

Originally posted by satteldog Dell offers a fix for this: http://support.dell.com/filelib/Form...5289&Type=DRVR

You're right!! I remember the symptoms of the backup battery draining almost instantaneously after the X3i was unplugged from the cradle. I installed the ROM update last week and upon checking my battery levels now my main battery is at 20% and my backup battery is still at 100%.

aviationwiz

My backup battery is still draining with the ROM update. Also, I thought ROM updates didn't have to be installed every time you do a hard reset? I have to install it every time I hard reset it.

chaz

Same here. My backup battery will drain after a full night charge. Usually it goes to 80% in 2 hours then 60% in 4 hours without being pluged into the charger. But it stops at 60% afterwards and hasn't dropped below that. Very strange indeed. I have the latest 2 ROM update on my system as well.
Aviationwiz:
Dell 3Xi ROM updates are on the system memory which will be erased whe you do a hard reset. I think it is a good feature that you PPC will not die permently because of a faulty ROM update.

larrysabo

Just thought I'd share an embarrassing back-up battery event. Today, I started getting back-up battery warnings and the display showed 0%. Put in a new battery, after checking it with a voltmeter, and still got a dead battery reading. Resets didn't help.

After checking the user's guide, I realized that I put the replacement in upside down! (The + should be visible to the user.) I wonder how many of those who posted above made the same mistake.

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Axim X51V 624MHz A12 ROM, Innopocket Magnum, Haicom 303III SiRF GPS, OCN6, Gomadic mount