M515 battery problem

[Crash]

The battery in my M515 will no longer hold a charge. If the unit is in the cradle it's fine. As soon as I remove it from the cradle it dies. Any suggestions for a replacement?

Luckily this isn't my main PDA. It only serves as my GPS now.

[hucsman]

I read somewhere about hard resetting while on the cradle, but don't do it! Research a little more in PIC (www.palminfocenter.com) (I think that was the place).

[w4mch]

If you have allowed the battery level to drop below 50% as a usual condition before recharging, Li-ion batteries only have a capacity for a few hundred recharge cycles. (Think the exact opposite of ni-cad batteries, which will develop a memory if not fully discharged prior to recharcing.) You may need a new battery if this is the case. Try this link:
http://www.palmbattery.com/

I have never used them so I cannot recommend them, but the price seems reasonable to me.

Good luck, w4mch

[GypsyJon]

I just replaced the battery in my m505..cost about 50 bucks...company was Apple battery or something like that...I appear to have deleted the link....

Anyway, they included the tools that you need to get the case loose, which was that hardest part of the deal....

It was easy and now the 505 is just like new.....

[GypsyJon]

m4mch, are you saying that it is BAD to let the battery go below 50% before charging, or that one SHOULD let it get low before charging since it has only so many charges in its life???

I am curious, since I am considering going to a TE which appears to have a non-replaceable bat and I want to maximize its life.
thanks

[ricleo]

I think the general idea is to top up the battery whenever you can, and not let the charge get low for a li-on rechargable battery.

[w4mch]

GypsyJon,
Sorry for my poor post, but to clarify, Li-on batteries will last longer if they are kept toped off. I have several cell phones, my 515, and even a ham radio handheld transceiver that have Li-on batteries that are up to three years old, with no charging or capacity problems. Li-on batteries have a finite amount of "full recharge" cycles due to their chemical nature (200-300), so the more you avoid dropping the charge, the longer they last. Li-on batteries will NOT develop a memory like older ni-cad batteries, so it is safe to let them live on the charger as much as you want. Save money on your cell phone batteries by letting them live on the charger when you can! 'Guess I was "english challenged" the other day ;-)

w4mch

[GypsyJon]

w4mch
Thanks a bunch...that is the info I need!

Regards,

Gypsy Jon