Do I need two devices? Looks like :-/

[seidler]

Ok, here's a situation:

I have my lovely E-200, and a 512MB CF card. I love putting my WMAs (from my ignorant times :lol:) and OGGs on it to have around 14 hours of music with me. Works great, except for one thing: battery life. It holds about 8 hours, but often I find myself on my way back home with an almost empty battery because I used bluetooth so much or whatever, but still want to listen to music.

Now, I really have to consider buying something like this http://www.microboss.de/tex/main/produkte/mp3/mp3_flamenco3.htm (sorry, in german, but the point is: extremely small, CF card slot up to 1GB, USB, and plays MP3s).
I don't have a spare battery and even if I would: how charge it? How change it!?! I don't want to take the device out of its cover (let's say I almost can't ;)) and the PCMCIA sleeve with a second battery would make it just too big!

So do I have to give up "all-in-one", which I so love about the Pocket PC, or should I just try to wire up another battery to it? But still, the charging problem remains.

Any thoughts?

Anybody tried already to extend battery life with his/her Pocket PC?

[Bruno Figueiredo]

Why don't you just buy a lil'sync and charge USB cable or if you prefer the bulk an external power source to charge your PDA? You know how to switch the screen off to conserve battery power during mp3 playback, don't you?

[DimensionZero]

Yeah, i was thinking the lil' sync cable or even making a battery extender. It'd be a great weekend project! :D

[prismejon]

I recommend a battery extender - I'm very happy with mine. It's not expensive and you can use recharable batteries. We had a little discussion about it here (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13086&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=battery+extender&start=0).

Good luck!

[maximus]

I have an axim with 3400 mAH battery, and when I am travelling, I also carry a selfmade battery pack, which is basically consists of four D-sized niMH batteries rated at 8500 mAH...

[seidler]

Why don't you just buy a lil'sync and charge USB cable or if you prefer the bulk an external power source to charge your PDA? You know how to switch the screen off to conserve battery power during mp3 playback, don't you?
Compare these two:
http://www.casio.com/images/b/jk-584ca_b_138x150.jpgCasio cable
http://shop.brando.com.hk/image/casioe200synccharger_s.jpgSync&Charge
What is the problem? You see! The casio cable connects only to the device bottom, the sync charger cable has this nasty thing sticking out on the back. It's just stupid to do so. If I have to take the E-200 out of the cover, it's no use for me :-|
Also, you don't always have a USB around, like when you are in Uni e.g., what will happen to me soon again.

And I don't know how to switch the screen off, PocketMusic does it automatically for me :mrgreen: SCNR

I have an axim with 3400 mAH battery, and when I am travelling, I also carry a selfmade battery pack, which is basically consists of four D-sized niMH batteries rated at 8500 mAH...
WOW! 8O How do you do that? I have a 950mAh battery! And D-size is a lil too big for me, but i will consider AA.
I will get this baby soon: http://www.casio.com/images/b/jk-744cv_b_138x150.jpg, an USB host extender. I think it will not be a problem to open it and attach some additional wires to it, will it?

Does anybody knows about LiIon battery technology? There is this third "readout" pin, which levels between 1.5 and 3.6V for a 3.7V battery, and I just wonder if it wouldn't be cleverer to have 3.7V directly attached as a second battery (and maybe combining two of them) instead of giving 4.8V (4x1.2V, whereas the normal wall charger gives 5.4V) to the charging plug, which has to be converted down to 3.7 again :? Sounds like a waste of energy here ...

Thanks for advice,

Stefan

[seidler]

And, on a second thought: Why should I carry around a bulky battery extender if i could carry around a lightweight, small MP3 player? :roll:

[Bruno Figueiredo]

And, on a second thought: Why should I carry around a bulky battery extender if i could carry around a lightweight, small MP3 player? :roll:

Bulky Battery Extender? This one's smaller than that mp3 player:
http://www.data-nation.com/index.asp?redirect=ipowerpak.asp

And there are smaller sync and charge cables out there!

[seidler]

And, on a second thought: Why should I carry around a bulky battery extender if i could carry around a lightweight, small MP3 player? :roll:

Bulky Battery Extender? This one's smaller than that mp3 player:
http://www.data-nation.com/index.asp?redirect=ipowerpak.asp

And there are smaller sync and charge cables out there!
Ok thanks for the link. it is a bit shorter and a bit thinner than the MP3 player, you are right. Edit: Actually, this is exactly what I was looking for. Great thing! I will order one today, they have international shipping too! Reasonable price. And a extra slim version for AAA batteries Thanks again! :D

And I haven't ever seen a smaller sync cable. The E-200 is a rare device :(

Thanks,

Stefan

[ignar]

How about

http://store3.yimg.com/I/semsons-inc_1752_26481

or

http://store3.yimg.com/I/semsons-inc_1755_442914

The first one is smaller and more styllish. I have the second item and am very happy. It is basically a compact NiMH battery charger with a usb port added. You can use the unit to charge your batteries or charge your PDA.

[Steven Cedrone]

How about

How about some links??? :wink:

Steve

[ignar]

Here you go.

http://www.semsons.com/batexwitusb.html

http://www.semsons.com/pocpowban.html

[seidler]

hmm ignar, nice thought but my personal opinion: 1st one: wrong form factor, I would rather have a square one. Second one - nice idea, good functionality, but too big. And I dont have a USB charge cable. Oh, I see: it comes with it.
Maybe this one: http://www.semsons.com/pdabatexpocp.html its even cheaper than the one Bruno Figueiredo suggested.
http://store3.yimg.com/I/semsons-inc_1756_254319

Stefan

[Steven Cedrone]

http://store3.yimg.com/I/semsons-inc_1756_254319

If you want, you can build (http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/archive/casio/DennisWolfe/BatteryExtender/BatteryExtender.htm) this yourself (article is a little old, but you get the idea)...

Steve

[ignar]

hmm ignar, nice thought but my personal opinion: 1st one: wrong form factor, I would rather have a square one. Second one - nice idea, good functionality, but too big. And I dont have a USB charge cable.

No problem. I like it because I carry the battery charger anyway for my Olympus C4000 digital camera. The charger feeds my iPaq and Treo and possibly many other future PDA's as long as I get usb charge cables for them.

[Bruno Figueiredo]

This one's smaller:

http://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=JK-584CA

[Bruno Figueiredo]

:oops: That's not a charge cable...

The only one is what you have. Here's a thought: Why don't you just cut that plastic crap that does nothing and leave only the connectors?

[seidler]

:oops: That's not a charge cable...

The only one is what you have. Here's a thought: Why don't you just cut that plastic crap that does nothing and leave only the connectors?
I have the genuine Casio cable (ur link) (soon :D). The plastic crap on the other one acts as an anchor, like in the docking station. without it, the connector will not stay in its position. The Casio one has clamps to stick to the bottom, the charge one doesn't. Maybe I can mod the Casio one, but I think it will be solid.

Thanks anyway

Stefan

[seidler]

If you want, you can build (http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/archive/casio/DennisWolfe/BatteryExtender/BatteryExtender.htm) this yourself (article is a little old, but you get the idea)...

Steve
Maybe I will. I think i want to have a voltage limiter though, because even if its only 6V for a 5.4V max input without, my Casio should last a loong time still ...
And $6 is alright. If only shipping wasn't so expensive :roll:

Thanks,

Stefan