Poor Battery Life & A Homemade External Battery Solution!

mphayvanh · 08-22-05, 12:22 PM

After reading a few posts on poor battery life, I decided to make my own flicker free emergency battery--all weighing only 9.8 oz. If I had to guess, I think it'll last 2-3 days of non-stop use.

All you need is:
1. A Pelican PSP car charge (same voltage as the Axim charger and cheap)
2. Some battery holders (Radioshack or Fry's $3.00)
3. Axim adapter that came with the cradle
4. (3) 9 volt batteries
5. A case (a spare digital camera case will do)
6. Some soldering know-how would be helpful.

LET'S GET TO IT!
1. Crack open the car charger to expose the red and blue wires.
2. Solder the battery holder wires to the charger.
3. Use electrical tape or heat shrink to cover the solder wires.
4. Insert everything into the case.

It's pretty simple. :approve: You can do it just from the pictures. Now I don't have to worry about battery life while watching a movie or playing a game!

PS- You can buy a similar product online, but it only comes with 4 AA batteries plus the flickering--besides, what's the fun in that?! Make your own!

Disclaimer: ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN SOLDERING. IMPROPER WIRING CAN CAUSE SMALL EXPLOSIONS OR WORST, DAMAGE YOUR AXIM TOO!

bigbop · 08-22-05, 01:11 PM

How are the 9V batteries wired? Do they power the PSP adapter?

pedagogue · 08-22-05, 01:13 PM

You sir....rock. :)

I have 2 batteries right now, and it works....but if/when I travel across europe again, I might have to give this a whirl.

-pedagogue

mphayvanh · 08-22-05, 01:17 PM

Yes, they power the PSP charger. It's a given, but I forgot to mention it powers my PSP too!

Paul123 · 08-22-05, 03:55 PM

This is exciting. You should start selling these on ebay.

08-22-05, 04:12 PM

1. Crack open the car charger to expose the red and blue wires.
2. Solder the battery holder wires to the charger.

Could you draw a wiring diagram for step #2?It would be helpfull.Thanks

darkdestroyer · 08-22-05, 04:41 PM

Hey mphayvanh, if your willing to sell these, ill be glad to be the first in line to buy it.

mphayvanh · 08-22-05, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Tblove

1. Crack open the car charger to expose the red and blue wires.
2. Solder the battery holder wires to the charger.

Could you draw a wiring diagram for step #2?It would be helpfull.Thanks

I'm making one for Paul123--I'll include a picture by picture step next time.

But here's a look at the inside of the charger. I took a flat head and crack the long shaft of the charger with it. The rest is to cut the plastic down to the size you see here.

Paul123 · 08-22-05, 05:06 PM

MPHAYVANH = GOD. You should start a company ;). Run ppctechs and boxwave to the ground. :P BTW: how much will it cost? I'm gonna have to figure out if i would rather try making one (Budget is veeeeery low right now) Just hope to God that gas doesn't hit 3.50...... LOL. Anyway, I appreciate it a LOT. I'll probably sell my batt. extender on ebay. (Boxwave one)

--Paul

mphayvanh · 08-22-05, 05:13 PM

Pelican is selling the charger at $9.99 plus the battery holder for $.56 each. You'll have to look for a case. I got a used Samsonite Digital Camera case laying around with a little flap to hold the batteries and a small area for the cord if I don't want all that slack. They sell one at Walmart. What's good is that it comes with a way to loop it on your belt.

Paul123--I'll work on it and include a step by step picture diagram for people who want to build their own.

Paul123 · 08-22-05, 05:35 PM

Awesome, I'm looking forward to it. Are there any safety precautions that i can use to make sure this thing doesn't hurt my axim? (I found out the hard way that my warrenty has expired)

Does the charger have a way to stop surges? (Surge protector or something)

Also, how long have you tested this thing for, and what sideaffects did you see?

Thanks, I'm definitly still in, but i just wanted to know those things so i'm ready for it.

mphayvanh · 08-22-05, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Paul123

Awesome, I'm looking forward to it. Are there any safety precautions that i can use to make sure this thing doesn't hurt my axim? (I found out the hard way that my warrenty has expired)

Does the charger have a way to stop surges? (Surge protector or something)

Also, how long have you tested this thing for, and what sideaffects did you see?

Thanks, I'm definitly still in, but i just wanted to know those things so i'm ready for it.

I haven't noticed anything strange. The charger has a built-in surge protector that would only allow a 5.4v output. You're safe as long as the casing is not damage. A sturdy case would help to ensure everything is in working order. Exposed wires is another danger. Batteries tend to be small bombs if the wiring isn't done right. As for battery life---the amount of use is dependent on the frequency of times and what you're running and the charge on the 9v batteries. I intend to test it non-stop tonight running a movie loop.

cmdkeen · 08-22-05, 06:17 PM

You guys sure that this is safe for the PDA?
I mean, sure, the x50 charging adapter might have a protector built-in that only allows 5.4v, but as far as I know, even the unit itself has one like that built in, but at least that thing inside the PDA is not designed to last long and is just to avoid any damage to the PDA due to a higher voltage for a short time. I mean, the AC adapter converts the power down to 5.4 volt, don't u guys think it's a little dangerous to supply the PDA (or at least that one little plug) with 9volt all the time, about as twice as much as what it was designed for??

08-22-05, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by mphayvanh

I'm making one for Paul123--I'll include a picture by picture step next time.

But here's a look at the inside of the charger. I took a flat head and crack the long shaft of the charger with it. The rest is to cut the plastic down to the size you see here.

Thanks,helps alot.

Paul123 · 08-22-05, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by cmdkeen

You guys sure that this is safe for the PDA?
I mean, sure, the x50 charging adapter might have a protector built-in that only allows 5.4v, but as far as I know, even the unit itself has one like that built in, but at least that thing inside the PDA is not designed to last long and is just to avoid any damage to the PDA due to a higher voltage for a short time. I mean, the AC adapter converts the power down to 5.4 volt, don't u guys think it's a little dangerous to supply the PDA (or at least that one little plug) with 9volt all the time, about as twice as much as what it was designed for??

Mmmmm. yeah, that is a big jump for me..... Any ideas on safety like that mphayvanh? I don't want to lose my investment. Hmmmm. Is there a way just to put maybe say, a five volt battery in it then? That way there would be no surge....

mphayvanh: You should try taking the device AFTER it has been charged by the battery charger, and let it site, and see if it loses battery power rapidly....

Maybe tehre is a way to incoporate a way to regulate the power output...