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Ron46 · 12-13-2010, 08:27 PM

I use rechargeable NIMH batteries, and when my reader froze as described in the last post, it happened after the unit died while reading a book.

The battery meter is calibrated for alkalines (unlike some MP3 players or Palm Pilots where you can TELL the unit what type of battery you have in it). I have found that when the battery meter reaches 1/2 with NIMHs, the batteries are just about dead and should be immediately replaced. Apparently a reader that suddenly dies can shut off in the middle of a software routine that causes problems when you go to restart it, unless it was just a coincidence.

When my NIMH batteries were new, the reader would run about an hour after the meter got to 1/2- now it will only go 5-10 minutes, so I watch it and replace them right away.

BTY- This could be an easy fix for Ectaco. All battery meters, including the one in the JBL, operate on a detected voltage or current reading. A few lines of code in the firmware could set the threshold levels according to what type of battery the user selects in User Settings. I should think it would be a lot cheaper to do this than to be replacing units that go bad due to uncontrolled shutdowns.

12-13-2010, 08:27 PM	#13
Ron46 Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 110 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Massachusetts Device: JetbookLite, EB-1150, PalmIIIXE	caution with rechargeables I use rechargeable NIMH batteries, and when my reader froze as described in the last post, it happened after the unit died while reading a book. The battery meter is calibrated for alkalines (unlike some MP3 players or Palm Pilots where you can TELL the unit what type of battery you have in it). I have found that when the battery meter reaches 1/2 with NIMHs, the batteries are just about dead and should be immediately replaced. Apparently a reader that suddenly dies can shut off in the middle of a software routine that causes problems when you go to restart it, unless it was just a coincidence. When my NIMH batteries were new, the reader would run about an hour after the meter got to 1/2- now it will only go 5-10 minutes, so I watch it and replace them right away. BTY- This could be an easy fix for Ectaco. All battery meters, including the one in the JBL, operate on a detected voltage or current reading. A few lines of code in the firmware could set the threshold levels according to what type of battery the user selects in User Settings. I should think it would be a lot cheaper to do this than to be replacing units that go bad due to uncontrolled shutdowns.