Mod Idea for the TX, make the charge last longer

[hroldan]

http://www.1src.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5292&stc=1

The picture speaks for itself. There are some thin solar panels part of toys and cheap electronics just like the solar lights for gardens. Now you can work on lighted places and make your battery last longer! What do you think? There must be a diode connected between the solar panel and the TX for the panel protection. :eek:

* At least you could leave the panel exposed to direct sunlight when not using the palm. :D

I'm too lazy to try it myself but I think I will try...

[ftwitty]

I have the habit of letting my Tx battery charge run down until I get a message telling me to recharge. So I would not be inclined to keep it attached to your solar panel all the time. How would it be connected? This would require making your case a bit longer than shown. How would a Tx recharge when the case is closed? What about a case with the cells on the exterior that has a lithium battery (or two) built into the case that could recharge the Tx when a Tx is inserted in the case. This would require a bit of circuit design perhaps.

[phreakonaleash]

If they could manage to generate 5V of power, yeah, you could do this very easily, imo. I'm toying with sth that charges with a couple of AAA or AA batteries ;)

[Palmisok]

Dunno, how possible that is. I know that they do make solar chargers that you can connect to PDAs, phones, mp3 players, etc., but even in their compact design it would not fit on a case like that. Not sure what keeps the design bulky, but if I'm right you would need more than a couple of mini solar panels and then I don't think you could even use your device while it's charging. It's a good idea, but I think it need more research.

[ftwitty]

There is at least one commercial charger powered by AA batteries. I've got one and before that I made a couple. Pretty easy. Just buy a AC adapter, cut the cord off and connect that to a battery case. Use 4 AA batteries.

The solar panels I've seen are 12 volt and a LOT bigger than a Tx case. My guess is that one can't get enough milliamps to charge a Tx, except for trickle charge.

Myself, I'm wondering when someone will invent a way to "mine" all the radio frequency waves floating about.......... :D

[phreakonaleash]

There is at least one commercial charger powered by AA batteries. I've got one and before that I made a couple. Pretty easy. Just buy a AC adapter, cut the cord off and connect that to a battery case. Use 4 AA batteries.
Really Really? No circuit protection or anything? scary.

[crazyman]

The solar panel I have right now (Malibu light for garden) is 5V, but only 60mha. Is small enough to put two of them together. I guess is 60mha, it would mean 120mha.

[phreakonaleash]

Was just talking to a friend and he said you'll need a full amp.

[ftwitty]

Really Really? No circuit protection or anything? scary.
The commercial AND my custom version don't have anything. We are talking LOW voltage DC............

[ftwitty]

Was just talking to a friend and he said you'll need a full amp.
Yep, trickle charge.

[phreakonaleash]

hm, k :) Doesn't seem too safe, but w/e (maybe I'm paranoid after three fried T|Xen)

[Greek]

I don't think the Palm would "like" to be exposed to the sun for such a long time...:D But maybe just a case that you could then attach to the TX once it gets charged. :)

Sorry to go off topic: @ftwitty: it is not good to let the battery totally drain always, not with lithium batteries as Palms have.
Check this: _http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm


Regards,

[phreakonaleash]

Hrholden, if you do decide on doing this, please send pictures of the construction and final product to me! I'm writing a bit on hardware hacking a Palm T|X and this is perfect for it :-)

Thanks,

[ftwitty]

hm, k :) Doesn't seem too safe, but w/e (maybe I'm paranoid after three fried T|Xen)
Put a volt meter on a AA battery and you'll see that 4 of them isn't even 6 volts. Any good circuit design on a Tx would have some protection. Anyway, it has worked fine for me.

[ftwitty]

I don't think the Palm would "like" to be exposed to the sun for such a long time...:D But maybe just a case that you could then attach to the TX once it gets charged. :)

Sorry to go off topic: @ftwitty: it is not good to let the battery totally drain always, not with lithium batteries as Palms have.
Check this: _http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm


Regards,
Sunburned Tx....... :D

Thanks, I'm not totally draining them. Just down to 20% or so.

[cms]

Batteries for the TX are kinda cheap to begin with, I would just drill through the back of the tx and make the battery removable...

[ftwitty]

Batteries for the TX are kinda cheap to begin with, I would just drill through the back of the tx and make the battery removable...
I've not even opened my Tx. I do have a replacement battery. Drill through the case? Seems like much more serious than drilling. Probably could use a couple of them to recharge a Tx if they were connected to the power socket.