Kindle 1 questions

SampleAndy · 08-08-2013, 05:38 PM

Hello,
I just got a Kindle 1st Generation a couple days ago. Why? Because I can!

Seriously... How could they sell enough of these beasts for there to be a second generation? It's like the whole thing was designed by committee.

I've got a couple questions for the old timers who remember something about these things.
1) There is a separate power adapter which plugs into one of those round connectors. There is a power light that shines amber when the power is plugged in, but it never seems to change colors. IS there an indicator that shows when the battery is fully charged?

2) I just hooked it up to my USB cable for the first time today and the power light came on. Does it also charge from USB like the newer ones? That would mean I don't really need the power adapter.

Thanks,
Andy

poohbear_nc · 08-08-2013, 05:55 PM

If I remember arightly:

1. The light changes to green when fully charged.
2. Yes it will - but VERY slowly, and not if the PC is off.

pidgeon92 · 08-08-2013, 06:52 PM

... and if the PC is off or asleep, it may actually drain the battery.

I'm pretty sure the light did change from amber to green when charged, but as old as your unit is, that may no longer be functioning properly. I'd go with whatever the on screen battery indicator says about the charge.

On the plus side, if there are battery problems on the K1, it is very easy to replace the battery.

susan_cassidy · 08-08-2013, 07:23 PM

USB charging never worked well with the K1s.

SampleAndy · 08-09-2013, 10:04 AM

With the separate charger connection, I was surprised to see it at all. If I can find the charger, I'll leave it hooked up all night and see whether the light changes.

If the battery was getting weak, it would still show a full charge, but it wouldn't last as long. Is that correct?

Thanks to all for your input.
Andy

pidgeon92 · 08-09-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

If the battery was getting weak, it would still show a full charge, but it wouldn't last as long. Is that correct?

I would think so, but there could be something wrong with the indicator light.

jquest · 08-09-2013, 09:04 PM

Still using and reading on my K1, goes to Mexico with me every year to read on the beach!

Dr. Drib · 08-10-2013, 12:32 PM

Aren't you looking at a 5-year old battery on these things?

Have you changed the battery?

Don

Dlewczyk · 08-11-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

Hello,
I just got a Kindle 1st Generation a couple days ago. Why? Because I can!

Seriously... How could they sell enough of these beasts for there to be a second generation? It's like the whole thing was designed by committee.

I've got a couple questions for the old timers who remember something about these things.
1) There is a separate power adapter which plugs into one of those round connectors. There is a power light that shines amber when the power is plugged in, but it never seems to change colors. IS there an indicator that shows when the battery is fully charged?

2) I just hooked it up to my USB cable for the first time today and the power light came on. Does it also charge from USB like the newer ones? That would mean I don't really need the power adapter.

Thanks,
Andy

The amber light on mine goes out when it is charged. Still use it for bathroom reading material.

ixtab · 08-11-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dlewczyk

The amber light on mine goes out when it is charged. Still use it for bathroom reading material.

Hehe... I audaciously use the Paperwhite when reading in the bathtub

rfog · 08-13-2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixtab

Hehe... I audaciously use the Paperwhite when reading in the bathtub

Very smart. You avoid to power on bath light.

ProfCrash · 08-13-2013, 09:04 AM

I recharged my K1 recently when I was expecting a power outage. I also recharged the DX and the K3 and the iPad and the Sony PSP. We didn't lose power but it never hurts to pull out the old toys and get them ready to go incase of emergency.

KTamas · 08-15-2013, 06:09 AM

I have a K1 that I use for reading regularly. For me, the amber light simply goes out when it's charged.

ProfCrash · 08-15-2013, 07:12 AM

I still kind of miss the little scroll wheel and the silver bar....

SampleAndy · 08-15-2013, 10:22 AM

Thanks to all for the information. After charging overnight, the only indication was that the charge light had gone out, same as KTamas and Dlewczyk.

It was kinda weird. When I first got it, the battery was DEAD, no response at all, until it had been on the charger for 5-10 minutes. I charged it for about 4 hours, registered it, and everything seemed to be fine. Installed a 16G SD card, downloaded some books and tested all the keys and buttons, and everything was working. Turned wifi OFF, and set it aside. After two days, it was deader than dead again.

I charged it again, and to diagnose some strange behaviors, I pulled the SD card and downloaded a couple books. Even with the wifi ON, it seems to be holding at full charge. My first thought was that it was struggling to index the books, but since I seem to have ... uh... lost the SD, I don't remember if I really loaded it down or not. (sigh) Any other thoughts on the weird battery behavior?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Aren't you looking at a 5-year old battery on these things?

Have you changed the battery?

Don

Don, I believe it IS an original battery, or at least an Amazon replacement. It does have the original A00100 model number instead of some of the other ones. It's odd that on the sticker inside the cover, the Kindle has an input of 5VDC, but the battery is only 3.7.

Still, at the moment, it seems to be fine.

Do the K1 and K2 index in similar fashion to the current devices? i.e. to check the status of indexing by searching for "x9gi2wtg" and see if there are items yet to be indexed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I still kind of miss the little scroll wheel and the silver bar....

yer just weird.

08-08-2013, 05:38 PM	#1
SampleAndy Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 644344 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Device: KPW, KFire HD, KFire, KTD 3g, KT, K4B, K4S, K3g, K3g SO, K2, K1	Kindle 1 questions Hello, I just got a Kindle 1st Generation a couple days ago. Why? Because I can! Seriously... How could they sell enough of these beasts for there to be a second generation? It's like the whole thing was designed by committee. I've got a couple questions for the old timers who remember something about these things. 1) There is a separate power adapter which plugs into one of those round connectors. There is a power light that shines amber when the power is plugged in, but it never seems to change colors. IS there an indicator that shows when the battery is fully charged? 2) I just hooked it up to my USB cable for the first time today and the power light came on. Does it also charge from USB like the newer ones? That would mean I don't really need the power adapter. Thanks, Andy

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08-08-2013, 05:55 PM	#2
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,398 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	If I remember arightly: 1. The light changes to green when fully charged. 2. Yes it will - but VERY slowly, and not if the PC is off.

08-08-2013, 06:52 PM	#3
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	... and if the PC is off or asleep, it may actually drain the battery. I'm pretty sure the light did change from amber to green when charged, but as old as your unit is, that may no longer be functioning properly. I'd go with whatever the on screen battery indicator says about the charge. On the plus side, if there are battery problems on the K1, it is very easy to replace the battery.

08-08-2013, 07:23 PM	#4
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	USB charging never worked well with the K1s.

08-09-2013, 10:04 AM	#5
SampleAndy Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 644344 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Device: KPW, KFire HD, KFire, KTD 3g, KT, K4B, K4S, K3g, K3g SO, K2, K1	With the separate charger connection, I was surprised to see it at all. If I can find the charger, I'll leave it hooked up all night and see whether the light changes. If the battery was getting weak, it would still show a full charge, but it wouldn't last as long. Is that correct? Thanks to all for your input. Andy

08-09-2013, 09:04 PM	#7
jquest Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: kindle	Still using and reading on my K1, goes to Mexico with me every year to read on the beach!

08-10-2013, 12:32 PM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Aren't you looking at a 5-year old battery on these things? Have you changed the battery? Don

08-13-2013, 09:04 AM	#12
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	I recharged my K1 recently when I was expecting a power outage. I also recharged the DX and the K3 and the iPad and the Sony PSP. We didn't lose power but it never hurts to pull out the old toys and get them ready to go incase of emergency.

08-15-2013, 06:09 AM	#13
KTamas Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 2558 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle 1	I have a K1 that I use for reading regularly. For me, the amber light simply goes out when it's charged.

08-15-2013, 07:12 AM	#14
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	I still kind of miss the little scroll wheel and the silver bar....