bobpenn

I have the Seidio cradle and their USB cable, too. The cable doesn't work properly, with the Axim thinking it's on battery power in the power applet and the backlight displaying the dimmed battery setting. But with the cradle, the Axim displays full backlight brightness when plugged into the car. I haven't tested the Power applet yet, and will do so this morning, but it would appear that the cradle operates properly and supplies the needed power in the car.

UPDATE: I checked the power applet with the cradle while plugged into the car, and, yes, it reported that it was charging. This means that you can use the cradle as advertised: to power the Axim in the car without any battery drain.

tankdriver

Originally Posted by bobpenn

UPDATE: I checked the power applet with the cradle while plugged into the car, and, yes, it reported that it was charging. This means that you can use the cradle as advertised: to power the Axim in the car without any battery drain.

I just used my cradle on a 8 hour dirve with Bluetooth GPS and running Audio reader with no problems. 100% charge when I removed it at the end of the trip.

zim2dive

Anyone that has a "USB sync" cable that doesn't want it, PM me... I'd like to pick up a spare w/o the mandatory shipping charges from ebay, etc.

Mike

pcramwinckel

yes, l tried with 4 x 1.5 v regular alkaline batteries and it did not work 'cause total is then 6v and the axim circuitry-protect kicks in. When using 4 x recharchagable ni-m batteries of 1.2 v 1800mAh each, it worked fine, regardless of the Axim battery size [i.e. the 1100 or 2200 mAh battery]. I also tried a 12 car adaptor for the axim 50 v ; it worked fine for giving power to the axim and the GPS CF Card, by maintaining the axim in a constant -on- state, but did not charge the axim battery, whether in -on- or -off- position.

SolSie

Knowing the supplied Dell AC-DC transformer provides 5.4v in output (that you connect to back of the Dell Cradle). If I get a standard car cigarette lighter charger that provides also 5.4v (and appropriate Amp) and use the flat dongle that comes with the Dell to connect to the X50v. That should satisfy the charging in the car right?

JakeRich

Yes, but get one rated at 850 mA or more. That way it won't ever deplete the battery instead of charging it (standard battery). If you have the 2200 mAh battery, make sure it's rated at 1A (1000 mA) or more for the same reason.

__________________
Want to know about GPS? See GPS 101. Want to know more? See GPS 201.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

xless

So, let's say I'm travelling with my laptop, but without the Axim AC adapter. I'd like to charge my Axim exclusively via my laptop's USB port. What's the least expensive cable I can use to do this which will still allow me to sync, yet without the worry that I'll fry anything, lose charge, etc.?

Ceril

This is a really confusing thread so please forgive me.

if your power source is the car - a 12v battery then the source should be adequate for the charging

the wall (i live outside USA) is 240v 0.15A so that source should be adequate as well.

so when we are talking about the type of charger - is it the cable itself that is the source for problems? Or is it the connection from the cable to the handheld - not made correctly?

or the "head" connector from the power source to the cable?

An example - I have a cord for a different palm which has a handheld connector, USB (for charging and synch) but the heads off wall supply output of 5.0v Vdc, 1A, 5.0W (max) and the car charger head 5.4Vdc, 850mA - both of which should be fine for the power, right? So I would expect that either the cable cannot handle the power (sounds odd since it doesn't take a lot) or the connector to the handheld, which was already mentioned.

BTW I corresponded with pocketpctechs and an USB connector retractable cord is in development now and should be ready to ship in mid march.

thanks

zim2dive

A slightly different tack on this...

Does anyone know which of the 2 power connections is involved in the "discharge" people see with battery extenders and rechargeable batts.

ie. is it 5V USB power connection, or the 5.4V AC power connection that permits this reversal situation to occur.


On a different note.. does the cradle pass USB power directly, ie. ohm out to 0 (will check this when I get home I guess) or does the cradle impose any current limiting? If not, then one could disconnect the AC power connections inside the 3rd party cable and have an effective other cable source. It would also imply that the Axim itself is imposing a current limit via the USB pins, but that you would lose the ability to chrage and sync at the same time (not such a big deal IMO).

For the Dell cradle.. when you are in the cradle, WITHOUT the AC power connected, does the USB power supply the Axim? ie. is the USB power being used to power the Axim (but not charge) while the device is on?.. ie you could run forever this way?

Thanks,
Mike

Kenban

While not sure about the cradle the Dell travel sync cable does pass the USB power directly through the cable. My guess is the cradle does as well but I have not tested that. The Axim does any current limiting etc on its own. Also when the Dell cradle is not connected to the power adapter but is connected to a USB port if the axim is OFF then it will charge. If the axim is on and using a dell cable then no USB power is used in any way.

About the whole reversal thing I have no idea whats going on there. People say the power drops quicker then it would without the cable connected but I would be interested to know just how much quicker. Also would be interesting to see just how much current is actually flowing out of the axim.

Oh and about what connection it is that is doing the reversal it has to be the 5.4v connection becuase thats the power pin that these cables run to. Although I am not trying to say the same thing will not happen on the USB power pin.

__________________
PLEASE keep the following in mind when buying x50v charging accessories.
The x50v requires 630mA to charge the 1100mAh battery and 925mA to charge the 2200mAh battery while USB specs say a USB port can provide at max 500mA.

Kenban

I am going to try to answer some of the many questions asked here.

Originally Posted by Ceril

This is a really confusing thread so please forgive me. if your power source is the car - a 12v battery then the source should be adequate for the charging

Well yes and no. Yes the original power source in the car 12v is more then enough to supply the axim (a cig lighter can normally supply 10amps). The problem is the converter that you plug into that outlet some of the just can not handle the axim when charging or when it has a high current drain.

Originally Posted by Ceril

the wall (i live outside USA) is 240v 0.15A so that source should be adequate as well.

This is a lot like the first question here. Again the wall outlet can handle the power in your case .15A at 240v is plenty of power except your looking at the wrong side here thats input power the important part is what the device changing the power from 240v to 5v can supply.

Originally Posted by Ceril

so when we are talking about the type of charger - is it the cable itself that is the source for problems? Or is it the connection from the cable to the handheld - not made correctly?

Its not the cable itself its more what the cable plugs into. Now on the whole is the connection made correctly you could argue that either way. I think its correct to a point but only when used with devices that are designed for the power requirements needed.

Originally Posted by Ceril

or the "head" connector from the power source to the cable?

I assume you are talking about what the other end of the cable is plugging into. AKA the power source for the cable. Then yes that is the source of the problems.

Originally Posted by Ceril

An example - I have a cord for a different palm which has a handheld connector, USB (for charging and synch) but the heads off wall supply output of 5.0v Vdc, 1A, 5.0W (max) and the car charger head 5.4Vdc, 850mA - both of which should be fine for the power, right? So I would expect that either the cable cannot handle the power (sounds odd since it doesn't take a lot) or the connector to the handheld, which was already mentioned.

The first one which is 5v and can supply 1A should be fine for most uses. The 1A (amps) is equal to 1000mA (milliamps). If you use the original battery you need at most around 650mA to charge the handheld if the battery is discharged more then around 33% (when the battery screen shows 67%) that leaves you with about 350mA to run the handheld which if you don't have power intensive things running or have both the screen brightness up and the processer at 624 it should be fine. If you use the extended battery I would not use the axim while charging with this power source.

The second power supply 5.4v with a current of 850mA is a little more of a problem. As above the standard battery can need as much as 650mA to just charge which does not leave the system much current to run on and could cause a problem if trying to charge and use the system at once. With the extended battery I would not even try this charger as you can need more then it can supply just to charge the battery.

On a final note most of this stuff is over built and can really supply more then it says on the package. But not always (computer power supplys are a great example of when not to assume it can supply what it says it can)

I hope this is some help. I am an EE and deal with electricty for a living while most of you guys just expect to plug stuff in and have it work. I have tried to not put anything too technical in. Thinking a new thread thats a FAQ might be in order.

__________________
PLEASE keep the following in mind when buying x50v charging accessories.
The x50v requires 630mA to charge the 1100mAh battery and 925mA to charge the 2200mAh battery while USB specs say a USB port can provide at max 500mA.

diesel

kenban, do you think a 5.6V 850mA battery extender would work? will the extra .2V cause the axim's protective circuits to "kick" in and prevent the charge from going through?

JakeRich

Kenban, on the reversal effect--I would suspect Dell somehow limits the power draw on the USB lines to the standard 500 mA, charging the battery more slowly when on USB only. Don't know if you can test that or not. The wall lines, on the other hand, pull the full amounts you have measured. So, if we take the case of someone with a 5.4v, 850 mA power supply, if they plug in with the battery well discharged, it takes 630mA just to charge. If the Ax then draws another 400 mA to run, the total is 1030mA. Assuming no losses (yeah, I know) then the deficit is 180mA, which will be drawn FROM the battery, causing it to continue to decline even while theoretically "charging." Does that sound right?

On the FAQ question, if you write it and put it in a post, I'll make it sticky and then release this one to scroll off.

__________________
Want to know about GPS? See GPS 101. Want to know more? See GPS 201.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

zim2dive

Originally Posted by diesel

kenban, do you think a 5.6V 850mA battery extender would work? will the extra .2V cause the axim's protective circuits to "kick" in and prevent the charge from going through?

My Dell AC cable produces 5.69V, so it shouldn't cause problem on the "5.4V" power pins. not as sure about the USB 5V lines in you have a sync/charge cable.

Mike