diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | docs/BATTERY-FAQ | 205 |
1 files changed, 101 insertions, 104 deletions
diff --git a/docs/BATTERY-FAQ b/docs/BATTERY-FAQ index 2be97c0833..2adc89eea3 100644 --- a/docs/BATTERY-FAQ +++ b/docs/BATTERY-FAQ @@ -1,8 +1,7 @@ Q1: Are my batteries charged all the time when connected to my Player/Recorder? -A1: Player: the charging is all done by hardware and the exact - functionality is hard to determine. It is however not recommended to keep - the charger connected for more than 10-15 hours if you're not using the - unit. +A1: Player: the charging is all done by hardware and the exact functionality + is hard to determine. It is however not recommended to keep the charger + connected for more than 10-15 hours if you're not using the unit. Recorder: no. The charging algorithm is carefully crafted in to not wear out the batteries any more than necessary. If you're using your unit @@ -11,60 +10,62 @@ A1: Player: the charging is all done by hardware and the exact Q2: Will keeping my charger connected a long time damage my batteries? Can I leave it over night? -A2: There's a deep discharge mode and you can switch trickle charge on and off. - If you use your AJB connected to the power supply the whole time, select - "deep discharge on" and "trickle charge off". If you want to charge your - AJB over night and take it with you the next day, select "deep discharge - off" (that it starts charging immediately) and "trickle charge on" - (that the batteries remain full). - - Trickle charge is needed to keep the batteries full. That's necessary because - the device will stay powered on and continue to consume some power from - the batteries (the hardware does not allow running from the charger +A2: There's a deep discharge mode and you can switch trickle charge on and + off. If you use your AJB connected to the power supply the whole time, + select "deep discharge on" and "trickle charge off". If you want to charge + your AJB over night and take it with you the next day, select "deep + discharge off" (that it starts charging immediately) and "trickle charge + on" (that the batteries remain full). + + Trickle charge is needed to keep the batteries full. That's necessary + because the device will stay powered on and continue to consume some power + from the batteries (the hardware does not allow running from the charger without charging batteries, or powering off with the charger connected). - The trickle charge time is 12 hours. It should be enough for you to disconnect - your AJB in this time and turn it off / use it. - However, after 12 hours of trickle charge, it will turn it off, the batteries - are discharged and another charge cycle is started. + The trickle charge time is 12 hours. It should be enough for you to + disconnect your AJB in this time and turn it off / use it. However, after + 12 hours of trickle charge, it will turn it off, the batteries are + discharged and another charge cycle is started. As the Battery FAQ at http://www.greenbatteries.com/ puts it: - "A NiMH battery can be charged and discharged hundreds of times, - but whether that means 200 times or 800 times has a lot to do - with how (you use it)". + + "A NiMH battery can be charged and discharged hundreds of times, but + whether that means 200 times or 800 times has a lot to do with how (you + use it)". Q3: Does Rockbox charge the batteries more/less/worse/better than the Archos firmware? A3: Player: Rockbox doesn't affect the charging on Players, it is all done by hardware logic out of software control. - Recorder: The whole algorithm is made to carefully charge the batteries full - and keep them full after that with a trickle charge option. Many documents - about charge ICs were considered. If you want to know details, then look - into docs/CHARGING_ALGORITHM. If you have comments, write to + Recorder: The whole algorithm is made to carefully charge the batteries + full and keep them full after that with a trickle charge option. Many + documents about charge ICs were considered. If you want to know details, + then look into docs/CHARGING_ALGORITHM. If you have comments, write to mail@uwe-freese.de or the Rockbox mailinglist. Test results with trickle charge (battery capacities measured with an - external charger, Model "Conrad Electronic Charge Manager 2010", ~100 EUR): + external charger, Model "Conrad Electronic Charge Manager 2010", ~100 + EUR): - after normal charge and top off time: 1798, 1834, 1819, 1815 mAh - after normal + top off + trickle charge (12h): 1784, 1748, 1738, 1752 mAh - charged with external charger: 1786, 1819, 1802, 1802 mAh - You can see, whenever you take your AJB with you in the 12h trickle charge - period, the batteries are at least 97% full. :) + You can see, whenever you take your AJB with you in the 12h trickle charge + period, the batteries are at least 97% full. :) Q4: What kind of batteries are there in my factory default Player/Recorder? A4: Both ship with 1500 mAh NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. Q5: Is it hard to change the batteries? Does it void my warranty? A5: It is not very hard - the Archos manual and the FAQ on their web site - describe how to do it. Their technical support confirmed that - replacing the batteries with NiMH cells (of different capacities) - will not void the warranty. Just don't remove the screws. + describe how to do it. Their technical support confirmed that replacing + the batteries with NiMH cells (of different capacities) will not void the + warranty. Just don't remove the screws. Some units have been shipped with two sets of batteries, my Recorder 20 - only had one set. Someone actually had Archos send him new batteries - free of charge after they had weared out, under the warranty. + only had one set. Someone actually had Archos send him new batteries free + of charge after they had weared out, under the warranty. Q6: How much do replacement batteries cost? Where can I buy them? A6: http://www.greenbatteries.com sells 1800 mAh NiMH cells at $3.25USD each, @@ -73,67 +74,63 @@ A6: http://www.greenbatteries.com sells 1800 mAh NiMH cells at $3.25USD each, sold in almost all shops that sell consumer electronics, and in many online shops. Browse around. There's a pretty good comparison between different battery makes and models at the digital imaging resource site: - http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM - In Germany, www.reichelt.de sells GP 2000 batteries for 2,75 EUR (12/2002). + http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM In Germany, + www.reichelt.de sells GP 2000 batteries for 2,75 EUR (12/2002). Q7: What kind of run-time can I expect on a set of fully-charged batteries when running Rockbox? -A7: For the stock 1500 mAh cells, from 6 hours to 8 hours, depending on - which charger was used (see Q3) and the bitrate you use (higher bitrate - means more harddisk runtime). It depends a lot on the condition of the - batteries. With 2000 mAh batteries, you should reach about 10 hours or more. - We are looking into implementing more battery-saving techniques in rockbox - to make it rock longer. - If you have a modified AJB with 8 MB, you can reach playing times of up to - 16 hours with 2100 mAh batteries. +A7: For the stock 1500 mAh cells, from 6 hours to 8 hours, depending on which + charger was used (see Q3) and the bitrate you use (higher bitrate means + more harddisk runtime). It depends a lot on the condition of the + batteries. With 2000 mAh batteries, you should reach about 10 hours or + more. We are looking into implementing more battery-saving techniques in + rockbox to make it rock longer. If you have a modified AJB with 8 MB, you + can reach playing times of up to 16 hours with 2100 mAh batteries. Q8: Can I use different batteries in my Archos? How much playtime would I gain by using 1800 mAh batteries instead of the 1500 mAh ones? -A8: Only use NiMH-type rechargeable batteries. It is considered to be safe - to use NiMH batteries of different capacities though, a lot of people - have purchaced 1700 or 1800 mAh batteries to replace the stock 1500 mAh - cells and have the device run a bit longer. 2000 mAh batteries are - just appearing in shops are equally good to use. +A8: Only use NiMH-type rechargeable batteries. It is considered to be safe to + use NiMH batteries of different capacities though, a lot of people have + purchaced 1700 or 1800 mAh batteries to replace the stock 1500 mAh cells + and have the device run a bit longer. 2000 mAh batteries are just + appearing in shops are equally good to use. In theory, running time = capacity of batteries / current drawn by device, so running time should increase linearly by the capacity, and 2000 mAh - over 1500 mAh should give 33% longer running time. In practice, the - mAh ratings are more or less tuned up by the marketing department - (think of watts on the back of "hi-fi" speakers and amplifiers) and - what you actually get out of the cells is something else than what is - printed on them. Check the excellent imaging-resource link above for - details! + over 1500 mAh should give 33% longer running time. In practice, the mAh + ratings are more or less tuned up by the marketing department (think of + watts on the back of "hi-fi" speakers and amplifiers) and what you + actually get out of the cells is something else than what is printed on + them. Check the excellent imaging-resource link above for details! Q9: Can I use non-chargeable batteries in my Archos? -A9: This is not recommended. The unit has been designed to operate with - four 1.2V batteries producing about 4.8V at most, and using 1.5V - alkaline/zinc carbon batteries will produce around 6.0V, which will - heat up the unit a lot more and might even damage it. The Archos - manual explicitly tells you not to do so. - Also, if you connect the charger, it may even destroy both the batteries - and the unit. +A9: This is not recommended. The unit has been designed to operate with four + 1.2V batteries producing about 4.8V at most, and using 1.5V alkaline/zinc + carbon batteries will produce around 6.0V, which will heat up the unit a + lot more and might even damage it. The Archos manual explicitly tells you + not to do so. Also, if you connect the charger, it may even destroy both + the batteries and the unit. Q10: Can I use a different charger? A10: The short answer is: Using a different charger will void your warranty and can be dangerous to your unit, so we can not recommend it. - On the other hand, people have successfully used different chargers - with similar specifications as the stock charger. The charger must - have the same kind of connector with same polarity (center positive/+). - The charger should supply at least 7-8 volts, and if it provides - more than 10V, it probably should be regulated to 10V (do not - directly plug it in your 12V car battery or it's charger!). - The universal travel charger sold by Archos is specified at - 12V, 1.2A so that's probably the maximum rating you should use. - A good circuit for powering from a car battery or other source - with a higher voltage would be a 600 mA fuse and a 10V regulator like - a 7810 of your favourite manufacturer in series. + On the other hand, people have successfully used different chargers with + similar specifications as the stock charger. The charger must have the + same kind of connector with same polarity (center positive/+). The + charger should supply at least 7-8 volts, and if it provides more than + 10V, it probably should be regulated to 10V (do not directly plug it in + your 12V car battery or it's charger!). The universal travel charger + sold by Archos is specified at 12V, 1.2A so that's probably the maximum + rating you should use. A good circuit for powering from a car battery or + other source with a higher voltage would be a 600 mA fuse and a 10V + regulator like a 7810 of your favourite manufacturer in series. - Inside the Jukebox there is a regulator which limits the charging - current applied to the batteries. The higher the input voltage, the hotter - this IC gets. Don't use an input voltage above 12V. - Using lower charging voltage < 10V will slow down the charging. But the - rockbox charging algorithm should work then, too. + Inside the Jukebox there is a regulator which limits the charging current + applied to the batteries. The higher the input voltage, the hotter this + IC gets. Don't use an input voltage above 12V. Using lower charging + voltage < 10V will slow down the charging. But the rockbox charging + algorithm should work then, too. These are the output voltages of an original archos power supply: - connected to AJB Recorder, not charging: 13,7 Volt @@ -162,9 +159,9 @@ A10: The short answer is: Using a different charger will void your warranty - use a fuse of ~600mA - using a different charger voids your warrenty - Many people are happy using an external quick charger which - is specified to work with NiMH batteries. This is completely safe - and will not void your warranty. + Many people are happy using an external quick charger which is specified + to work with NiMH batteries. This is completely safe and will not void + your warranty. Q11: Can I buy a replacement charger exactly as the one Archos shipped? A11: The FAQ on the Archos web site and the top of the charger both read: @@ -172,15 +169,15 @@ A11: The FAQ on the Archos web site and the top of the charger both read: Output: 9VDC 600mA Center positive (+) polarity - The universal travel charger sold separately on the Archos web site - is specified for 12VDC, 1200mA output. + The universal travel charger sold separately on the Archos web site is + specified for 12VDC, 1200mA output. - Chargers with similar (or user-adjustable) properties are available - at shops selling consumer electronics. + Chargers with similar (or user-adjustable) properties are available at + shops selling consumer electronics. Q12: I often need to stop my player for about 15 minutes or so, and when I do it runs off it's batteries. I was wondering, which is best: shutting the - player down completely and rebooting it when I want to listen again, or + player down completely and rebooting it when I want to listen again, or leaving the unit on? Which way does it draw more power? A12: In our testing we found the following results: HDD off, backlight off, idle 94 mA @@ -215,13 +212,13 @@ A12: In our testing we found the following results: Q13: When I plug in the charger when the Recorder is turned off, it turns itself on and starts charging in the Archos software? What's up? A13: There is a switch in the DC IN jack of the Jukebox - when a charger (or - whatever) is plugged in, the unit is powered on, even if the charger - is not plugged in a mains outlet. + whatever) is plugged in, the unit is powered on, even if the charger is + not plugged in a mains outlet. If the charger is providing power at this point, the Archos firmware located on the FLASH ROM does not load a new firmware version (like - Rockbox) from the disk, but goes into charging mode instead. You can - use this feature to get to the Archos charger if you want to. + Rockbox) from the disk, but goes into charging mode instead. You can use + this feature to get to the Archos charger if you want to. Q14: When I plug the charger in my Recorder, it doesn't immediately start charging the batteries! @@ -233,29 +230,29 @@ A14: When Rockbox is running on the Recorder (the device has been booted only when the battery is almost empty. Q15: What about the memory effect? Should I be worried about it or not? -A15: That depends on who you ask. ;-) NiMH sellers say NiMHs are better and - do not have a memory effect, but the usual opinion seems to be that - they do, although it is very small. +A15: That depends on who you ask. ;-) NiMH sellers say NiMHs are better and do + not have a memory effect, but the usual opinion seems to be that they do, + although it is very small. However, if you use your AJB connected to the charger all the time, we recommend you to use the deep discharge option. -Q16: When I start my Jukebox, (dis)connect the charger and browse through the - directories, the battery level changes a little bit. Sometimes it's even +Q16: When I start my Jukebox, (dis)connect the charger and browse through the + directories, the battery level changes a little bit. Sometimes it's even going up without the charger is connected! What's wrong? -A16: Nothing's wrong. The battery level is calculated out of the voltage. - Because disk spinning, LED backlight, charger all influence the actual - battery voltage, it is usual that the battery level is going a little bit - up and down sometimes. This cannot be avoided although we tried to make the - battery level display as little confusing as we could. +A16: Nothing's wrong. The battery level is calculated out of the voltage. + Because disk spinning, LED backlight, charger all influence the actual + battery voltage, it is usual that the battery level is going a little bit + up and down sometimes. This cannot be avoided although we tried to make + the battery level display as little confusing as we could. Q17: My batteries are at 92%, the charger is connected to my recorder, deep discharge is off. But charging doesn't start. What's wrong? A17: Charging starts if the battery level is below 85%. This is because charging batteries that *are* already more or less full is not good for the batteries and the end of the charging cycle can't be detected safely. - So it's better to start at a level at least as low as 85%. - If you want to have full batteries in the morning, leave the charger - connected over night. Charging will then start some hours later. The - second possibility: Use the Archos charging algorithm. At least, - your batteries will be full one more time. ;-)
\ No newline at end of file + So it's better to start at a level at least as low as 85%. If you want + to have full batteries in the morning, leave the charger connected over + night. Charging will then start some hours later. The second possibility: + Use the Archos charging algorithm. At least, your batteries will be full + one more time. ;-) |