Recommendation for 'easy to replace' battery e-ink e-reader

patientvalue · 10-02-2011, 05:56 PM

I will be going 'bush' in South East Asia (tropical climate too) and will have limited and infrequent opportunity to recharge the battery. I imagine the best solution is to have multiple batteries in addition to frugal battery consumption . My use is to read pdfs, epub and occasionally listen to mp3 files to learn the local language. (I am aware that mp3 will consume power rapidly so will limit this as much as possible).

There may be an issue with battery deterioration in a hot humid climate too.

All suggestions greatly appreciated.

Harry_Y · 10-02-2011, 07:52 PM

Solar charger?

patientvalue · 10-02-2011, 08:35 PM

good idea, how did i not think of that...duh

any recommedations on solar charges that are lightweight...

ProfCrash · 10-03-2011, 01:16 PM

Check at REI or other backpacking stores. They will have the weights and like listed there.

patientvalue · 10-03-2011, 04:21 PM

cheers ProfCrash

cHex · 10-05-2011, 04:06 AM

There are also those crank-powered emergency radios...get one with a USB charging socket. Example

Billi · 10-05-2011, 06:02 AM

Readers of companies like Pocketbook, Bookeen, Onyx/Bebook, Hanlin have a battery that can be changed/replaced by the user.

kacir · 10-05-2011, 06:38 AM

When I go camping with my reader I use small light powered from a 6V lead acid battery like this http://www.batteryprice.com/bp12-66v...battery_1.aspx

You can have a small circuit that would convert 6V from the Lead Acid battery to 5.2V needed to charge the reader (*). With 12Ah 6V battery you can power your reader and s small LED light for quite a few evenings.

12Ah 6V battery weighs about 2kg (3.4lbs)

Led flash light (torch) that you can charge by turning a crank is also a very good idea. But the locals will have some solution for light, such as candles, kerosene lamps, ...

(*) For the simplest solution you can connect one or more diodes in series (an ordinary diode drops tension by 0.7V). When the battery gets depleted, you bypass diodes one by one using dip switches. Remember, that fully charged "6V" battery has in fact 7.24V ;-)
Or you can get 12 volt battery and use Buck step-down DC-DC converter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter). The simplest versions of such converters are chargers powered from car lighter charger. Make sure to pick up electronic charger. Electronic chargers (step-down DC-DC buck converters) have relatively large range of input voltages, such as 6 - 24V.

mbovenka · 10-05-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Readers of companies like Pocketbook, Bookeen, Onyx/Bebook, Hanlin have a battery that can be changed/replaced by the user.

And the Hanlins (the V3 at least) can use standard Nokia BL-4C or BL-5C phone batteries, so they're easy to get.

patientvalue · 10-05-2011, 04:17 PM

Thanks everyone for some excellent ideas, it is greatly appreciated!

Noah98 · 10-08-2011, 09:03 AM

The Nook Classic has a replaceable battery, MP3 playback, and epub support. I'm sure you could get one pretty cheap now. The battery life isn't great though compared with the newer readers.

pendragginp · 10-08-2011, 09:53 AM

Jetbook Lite uses regular batteries. =)

http://https://www.mobileread.com/for...ad.php?t=47377

shinew · 10-08-2011, 02:27 PM

I wouldn't worry about ereader's battery life, but if really want one, I would suggest something like this http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Insta...8097847&sr=8-2

Most of the newer generation of eInk reader with pearl display with faster processors don't have user accesible replaceable battery to save weight, compact size and probably save manufacturing cost at the same time. You'll most likely be sacrificing the overall quality of the ereader for a one with replaceable battery. IMO it's not worth it.

If i were you I would also use something like an ipod nano(i use a 16GB one), creative zen, or sandisk sansa to listen to mp3s, they barely weight anything and you don't have to log around a giant ebook reader(comparably speaking) for just listening to mp3s.

patientvalue · 10-08-2011, 05:43 PM

Thanks shinew. I like that idea that could work. I had not thought of that or seen one before. ta

10-02-2011, 05:56 PM	#1
patientvalue Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	Recommendation for 'easy to replace' battery e-ink e-reader I will be going 'bush' in South East Asia (tropical climate too) and will have limited and infrequent opportunity to recharge the battery. I imagine the best solution is to have multiple batteries in addition to frugal battery consumption . My use is to read pdfs, epub and occasionally listen to mp3 files to learn the local language. (I am aware that mp3 will consume power rapidly so will limit this as much as possible). There may be an issue with battery deterioration in a hot humid climate too. All suggestions greatly appreciated.

10-05-2011, 06:38 AM	#8
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	When I go camping with my reader I use small light powered from a 6V lead acid battery like this http://www.batteryprice.com/bp12-66v...battery_1.aspx You can have a small circuit that would convert 6V from the Lead Acid battery to 5.2V needed to charge the reader (). With 12Ah 6V battery you can power your reader and s small LED light for quite a few evenings. 12Ah 6V battery weighs about 2kg (3.4lbs) Led flash light (torch) that you can charge by turning a crank is also a very good idea. But the locals will have some solution for light, such as candles, kerosene lamps, ... () For the simplest solution you can connect one or more diodes in series (an ordinary diode drops tension by 0.7V). When the battery gets depleted, you bypass diodes one by one using dip switches. Remember, that fully charged "6V" battery has in fact 7.24V ;-) Or you can get 12 volt battery and use Buck step-down DC-DC converter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter). The simplest versions of such converters are chargers powered from car lighter charger. Make sure to pick up electronic charger. Electronic chargers (step-down DC-DC buck converters) have relatively large range of input voltages, such as 6 - 24V. Last edited by kacir; 10-05-2011 at 06:40 AM.

10-08-2011, 09:53 AM	#12
pendragginp Guru Posts: 985 Karma: 4567263 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The End Of The Earth Device: Several	Jetbook Lite uses regular batteries. =) http://https://www.mobileread.com/for...ad.php?t=47377 Last edited by pendragginp; 10-08-2011 at 09:55 AM.

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10-02-2011, 07:52 PM	#2
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	Solar charger?

10-02-2011, 08:35 PM	#3
patientvalue Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	good idea, how did i not think of that...duh any recommedations on solar charges that are lightweight...

10-03-2011, 01:16 PM	#4
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Check at REI or other backpacking stores. They will have the weights and like listed there.

10-03-2011, 04:21 PM	#5
patientvalue Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	cheers ProfCrash

10-05-2011, 04:06 AM	#6
cHex Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 2843950 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard (K3)	There are also those crank-powered emergency radios...get one with a USB charging socket. Example

10-05-2011, 06:02 AM	#7
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Readers of companies like Pocketbook, Bookeen, Onyx/Bebook, Hanlin have a battery that can be changed/replaced by the user.

10-05-2011, 04:17 PM	#10
patientvalue Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	Thanks everyone for some excellent ideas, it is greatly appreciated!

10-08-2011, 09:03 AM	#11
Noah98 Eccentric Posts: 510 Karma: 342150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Device: The nook, ipad 3, Kindle Fire HD (8.9), Kindle Paperwhite	The Nook Classic has a replaceable battery, MP3 playback, and epub support. I'm sure you could get one pretty cheap now. The battery life isn't great though compared with the newer readers.

10-08-2011, 02:27 PM	#13
shinew Addict Posts: 309 Karma: 1008082 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Device: Kindle PW, K4 Touch, iPad2, Samsung Galaxy S II	I wouldn't worry about ereader's battery life, but if really want one, I would suggest something like this http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Insta...8097847&sr=8-2 Most of the newer generation of eInk reader with pearl display with faster processors don't have user accesible replaceable battery to save weight, compact size and probably save manufacturing cost at the same time. You'll most likely be sacrificing the overall quality of the ereader for a one with replaceable battery. IMO it's not worth it. If i were you I would also use something like an ipod nano(i use a 16GB one), creative zen, or sandisk sansa to listen to mp3s, they barely weight anything and you don't have to log around a giant ebook reader(comparably speaking) for just listening to mp3s.

10-08-2011, 05:43 PM	#14
patientvalue Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	Thanks shinew. I like that idea that could work. I had not thought of that or seen one before. ta