Extended battery questions homebrew kind

[verbalkint73]

I have been parusing this site a while. Very informative. I have been reading up on custom extended battery packs, and have a few questions for the more seasoned vets.

Is it not possible, to take 2 regular ux batts in a JC cradle, and it run the ux, and then charge it via the standard power adapter?

Meaning, not go through the steps inside the UX to make it charge the ux(bypassing clipping wires).

I mean make a battery that just powers my ux. I don't need to leave it attached to the ux, while charging? If that makes sense?

If I remember, most comments were related to both powering and being able to charge the ux as well. I can use my power adapter to charge my ux with my spare cradle.

Does that make sense and if so, can it work?

[JAmerican]

First thing first, if your going to do a battery mod, make sure that the only way you are going to charge your homebrew batt mod with the UX attached. Sending 5.2v to Li-Poly batteries is not a good idea. This will also require a mod to the UX's pin layout. Meaning you will have to cut pins in order to get your mod to work. Look at my mod layout here...

http://jamerican.net/1src/UX50/EB40BattMod/CableLayout.PNG

JAmerican

[MM MD]

I have been parusing this site a while. Very informative. I have been reading up on custom extended battery packs, and have a few questions for the more seasoned vets.

Is it not possible, to take 2 regular ux batts in a JC cradle, and it run the ux, and then charge it via the standard power adapter?

Meaning, not go through the steps inside the UX to make it charge the ux(bypassing clipping wires).

I mean make a battery that just powers my ux. I don't need to leave it attached to the ux, while charging? If that makes sense?

If I remember, most comments were related to both powering and being able to charge the ux as well. I can use my power adapter to charge my ux with my spare cradle.

Does that make sense and if so, can it work?The UX needs a 5v charging voltage to pins 1 and 4. If you can deliver that voltage by any means you can charge the UX.
Now, in order to use an external battery to power the UX directly you have 2 options:
1.use a 3.7v LiPoly battery as the one that the UX have (of any capacity you wish, i.e. mAh, the higher the better, but also the bulkier) and do the internal UX pin reassignment and wiring, it is not as complicated as it sounds, yet somewhat delicate. There have been many ways to accomplish this exact goal and JA's is one of them.
2.Use any battery you want to generate a voltage of ~5v, this will not require any change to the UX itself, and you will be practically charging the UX battery.

I hope this helps.

MM

[m0nkeyb0y]

The reason for cutting pins inside the UX is to use the internal charging circuitry to prevent overcharging of the additional batteries. By choosing to charge your homebrew battery aside from your UX, you run the risk of overcharging the batteries which can have serious consequences (there's a video somewhere showing just how great that risk is!).

I put off cutting the wires inside my UX for a long, long time looking for other options, but in the end, the modification was relatively quick and painless. Check all of Hippo and JAmerican's pictures and ask any questions before doing anything, but you will find that the clammy hands and churning stomach of fear were misplaced once the mod is complete :)

[JAmerican]

m0nkeyb0y, I've never seen a picture of your mod, could you create a new thread with pictures. I want to see how you did yours. I've remodified my UX mod and connected the pins 2 and 3 (while they were cut from system) to power my UX without the EB and have the EB as an external. One thing is that, I'm going to modify the EB so that its current is sent to pin 3 (while connected to system) where then I can see the level of power in each battery. Not definate on how I might do it yet but when I do it, I'll show you guys :) But when I took of the mod, I was amazed at how small the UX was all over again (and how quickly the battery decreased while just playing music with the screen on at 50% brightness.)

JAmerican

[verbalkint73]

Thanks for the great replies, sorta puts things into better perspective.

However, I am still thinking back to my radio control days and how guys would put li-poly batts in everything from 1/18th scale to 1/28th x-mods, mini-z's and the like. They used a charger(which I am currently dipping back to the old rc forums to find out about) that would charge their li-poly batts for the cars. I seen guys stack batteries that look just like UX cells in small enough rc cars. When you consider the possibility of using a charger strictly for proper regulated charging of li-poly batts, it seems to me as if it would work, (in theory) just like the guys would do on the rc cars.

I guess my next question is this. Hypothetically, I put 2 ux cells in the jc40. Wire them up etc. I pick up the li-poly battery charger in question(selectable voltages etc. if I remember), modify the power cord going into the jc40 to wire into the charger(so I can use existing plug) and charge the li poly batts correctly with a li-poly charger, can that charged, albiet, hacked jc40 cradle snap on to the bottom of the ux and give me additional useage time? Again, this is merely based on finding that charger the guys used to always talk about.

Then, when the internal cell drains, the hacked jc40 drains, I can use my spare cradle, charge the ux50, and charge the hacked jc40 at the same time with the li-poly charger?

I understand clipping the pins, and that it is said to be much easier than it seems, but there is still probably alot of us out there who might not want to jump inside the ux. A turn key (so to speak) cheaper way, slimmer than the eb40 also, to accomplish the same end result, without cracking open and risking bumming your ux.

If I remember right, the charger in question was somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 bucks or so. Plus the cost of 2 batts and a spare cradle(cheaper for those who have them already) can add up to much cheaper than an eb40.

I have a ux40 & a ux50(with 512 card, sony case, box, etc), 3 cradles and 2 adaptors I was able to obtain for right around 350 total. The 50 was to my eyes brand new. The 40 was slightly used. The both suffer from batteries that could stand replaced. Just looking for a solution instead of replacing them inside, and living with use time, do something all at once to end up with greater use time.

Soon as I find out about the stand alone li-poly charger, I'll post about it.

[m0nkeyb0y]

Replacing the internal battery is really, really easy. Have a look at the instructions here (http://www.cliebattery.com/up5530install.htm).

[verbalkint73]

I should stated that differently. Instead of just replacing the internal battery, replace it and do everything at once, IE, buy all cells at once etc.

[verbalkint73]

So it makes sense now. It requires 5.2 v to run/charge the ux from an external source.

IE, my thoughts technically won't work.

Can you regulate? the voltage up to make it work?

[palo1]

Question that has been in my mind for a while:

If I was to use one of those cases having a mini usb connection which allow for charging the ux50 via a pc usb port, could I not charge the ux50 via an external battery pack delivering 4.8 volts (4 AA batteries in series)? and in effect run it off that battery pack as well using that case? If not why not?

I should have said questions...

Which pins on the usb female connector (pc side) deliver power?

I thought the batteries in the ux were Lithium-ion, not sure what Li-poly are?

p

[MM MD]

So it makes sense now. It requires 5.2 v to run/charge the ux from an external source.

IE, my thoughts technically won't work.

Can you regulate? the voltage up to make it work?
You can using a switch regulator.
do you want to refer to a recent thread here (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107077)?
t discussed many of the questions that were brought up here. :)

[MM MD]

Question that has been in my mind for a while:

If I was to use one of those cases having a mini usb connection which allow for charging the ux50 via a pc usb port, could I not charge the ux50 via an external battery pack delivering 4.8 volts (4 AA batteries in series)? and in effect run it off that battery pack as well using that case? If not why not?

I should have said questions...

Which pins on the usb female connector (pc side) deliver power?

I thought the batteries in the ux were Lithium-ion, not sure what Li-poly are?

pYou will probably be able to do that, BUT...
The cells are not going to provide a regulated 1.2 volts as assumed, it will vary with the level of charge, so it may be more (?possible, but not highly probable harm to the UX, I wouldn't take the chance) or less (charging to a less-than-full level, if any) than 1.2v.

Li polymer are newer generation of the Li ion that are easier to handle and more flexible/less dangerous. Recently brought up here. (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107077)

[MM MD]

Soon as I find out about the stand alone li-poly charger, I'll post about it.Do you want to check here:) (http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=713)