Screen Flicker when using Battery Extender

**ksong12** · 06-10-06, 08:19 AM

Hi, I just bought a new battery extender from eBay! When I hook it up, the screen flickers repeatedly. Any ideas?

**ksong12** · 06-10-06, 08:20 AM

Never mind, I reduced the brightness, and at the 2nd from right notch, it works fine. But obviously, if I'm using the battery extender, I will turn it down to like 2nd from left. Any way to like click a button and it switches brightness?

Gigi · 06-10-06, 08:30 AM

The flickering indicates that you are not getting enough power from the battery extender and that the power source is alternating between battery extender and battery. By lowering the brightness, you are not really fixing the problem but rather masking it. Try charging with the device OFF.

**ksong12** · 06-11-06, 07:44 PM

If I turn the brightness level the same for internal and external, would that prevent the screen flicker?

Gigi · 06-12-06, 05:30 AM

Sure, but as I said, the fact that you need to do that indicates a problem charging with the battery extender.

jamin100 · 06-12-06, 05:53 AM

If you are using the battery extender whilst using your axim try and only use it when the battery is 90%+ charged. You will then charge up the lost 10% and when its done it will use the power from your extender instead of the oem battery.

You wont get any screen flicker then either.

Gigi · 06-12-06, 06:00 AM

The actual percentage you're able to charge/use at the same time will vary according to the charger, but that's the idea.

jamin100 · 06-12-06, 06:30 AM

yeh i brought a cheap one off ebay and some 2500nmah batteries and i think i can go as low as about 80% ish then i start to get the flicker

Pocketbrain · 06-12-06, 12:47 PM

Build your own.
You are using only the top few percent of your external battery's power with a 4xAA extender. My external pack uses 6xAA's and a regulator, and has been/is being extensively tested. Works also with alkaline cells, but don't try to recharge them.
Also, you might be able to fit a 6xAA flat clip in an Altoids box (google "altoids project box"), with regulator.
Next generation will have a switching regulator.

(X)
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**ksong12** · 06-13-06, 04:48 PM

I think the problem lies with my batteries. I'm using 1400 ma batteries, which isnt that bad, but the problem is this: They are about 5 years old. They used to power my dad's old Archos mp3, but they can't even power that either. I'm obviously not going to test the ma, but I think it can't be much higher than 700 ma.

randwolfe · 06-28-06, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by PocketBrain

Build your own.
You are using only the top few percent of your external battery's power with a 4xAA extender. My external pack uses 6xAA's and a regulator, and has been/is being extensively tested. Works also with alkaline cells, but don't try to recharge them.
Also, you might be able to fit a 6xAA flat clip in an Altoids box (google "altoids project box"), with regulator.
Next generation will have a switching regulator.

(X)
.

A slight meander from the topic...the Altoids Box Battery extender that PocketBrain highlighted looked interesting, but over the last couple of days, it has disappeared from Instructables (host website). Does anyone have a copy of the instructions, or recommendations for something similar?

Thanks.

Pocketbrain · 06-28-06, 10:33 AM

I never saw the solar external USB battery Altoids box you are talking about, but you can visit the link in my post to see what I did. I haven't built a solar cell into my external battery box yet (I have inherited some broken solar garden lights, though), but the basic external box is there. I'm going to build a USB charging port in next to the cable for my Ax, so it can supply power to my GPS receiver for long treks.

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