Can some devices be powered directly from a wall outlet?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Masutin

Thanks a lot for all replies! I'm sorry if I misled anyone by fallible notions of electronics.
To recap, I was curious about a tablet or similar device, with a screen of any size or type, that can
run on AC power (and bypass the battery when plugged in) and
switch to the battery only when unplugged.
The majority claim that many devices can do this, however the discussion hasn't produced complete agreement yet.

The question is:
Is it really running continuously on battery when charging (mains adapter connected)? Has the OP measured the direction of the current flow?

It is not a bad design to use the battery as a momentary load surge supply, although this does require that the battery always be in place.

Normal startup (spinup/spindown) 'Surge' devices were Disk drives (CD/HD/Floppy). Those are mostly gone from a modern handheld device.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by TechniSol

Speakingtohe,

This is pure conjecture but, after consulting my brother who lives with his wife, my two lovely nieces and their female dog -and is a survivor of similar phenomena, that because of their close proximity under one roof your e-ink reader's cycles have likely sync'd... ;-) Look for my article in "UnScientific American".

Too funny. I am still a bit paranoid and check most of them every day. They are now still in sync but it is a fully charged battery sync after a week or so, regardless of whether I have been using them or not.
It wouldn't be crazy if they all needed charging at once now because I charged all of them on the same day. But before the great battery discharge I charged them randomly and two at least were charged within the week.
Just curious, did the relatives and dog discharge as well?

Helen

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Just curious, did the relatives and dog discharge as well?

I am sure they discharge daily. Sometimes #1 and sometimes #2 business. To charge the battery again regular food intake is needed a few times a day. It is also necessary to plug them into the bed for sleep as well.

[murg]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I am sure they discharge daily. Sometimes #1 and sometimes #2 business. To charge the battery again regular food intake is needed a few times a day. It is also necessary to plug them into the bed for sleep as well.

Are they backlit or frontlit?

[burnafterreading]

Originally Posted by murg

Are they backlit or frontlit?

they're brighter than you, that's all that matters!

[TechniSol]

"Just curious, did the relatives and dog discharge as well?"

Firstly, there are some things in this life which I will be glad to simply assume based on a more than passing knowledge of biology, without need for supporting evidence, and act quite blissfully ignorant of whenever allowed the privilege as befits my public persona of typically uninformed, unthinking, unfeeling beast and foolish male.(possibly not my own words, but largely apropos for my public persona...)

I put this in the same category as the mythical absence of female flatulence, or need to eat more than the occasional salad, or as follows ever eliminate... In this same category one finds the "common knowledge" that no man ever requires directions, or female advice, and notions that "all men are created equal" -in all it's various permutations ranging from intelligence, to attitude, ability, wit, wealth and, of course, creativity, dimensions and ability concerning wedding tackle, and the possible uses thereof... (Before a certain group feels the need to point out that it should, in this day and age, be all persons that are created equal, please ask yourselves just why you'd like to downgrade just to be considered equal?)

Secondly, not to put too fine a point on it, but, we are discussing "discharge cycles", and to my knowledge none suffer from Toxic Shock Syndrome or the like.

Thirdly, how their car batteries all came to be discharged on the same day is a mystery. (obfuscation merely for the twist)

Lastly, where the dog got her license I cannot fathom!(she does have one...) However, she is good natured, and never seems to mind when they refer to her as a bitch, deservedly or not. I consider her a shining example and/or a possible saboteur as she may too have both public and private personae. Go figure!

(The truly scary part concerning all the above is that contrary to possible belief, I am completely free of the influence of any mind altering substance or drug... unless you count Diet A&W Creme Soda -may have to look into that.)

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by TechniSol

"Just curious, did the relatives and dog discharge as well?"

Firstly, there are some things in this life which I will be glad to simply assume based on a more than passing knowledge of biology, without need for supporting evidence, and act quite blissfully ignorant of whenever allowed the privilege as befits my public persona of typically uninformed, unthinking, unfeeling beast and foolish male.(possibly not my own words, but largely apropos for my public persona...)

I put this in the same category as the mythical absence of female flatulence, or need to eat more than the occasional salad, or as follows ever eliminate... In this same category one finds the "common knowledge" that no man ever requires directions, or female advice, and notions that "all men are created equal" -in all it's various permutations ranging from intelligence, to attitude, ability, wit, wealth and, of course, creativity, dimensions and ability concerning wedding tackle, and the possible uses thereof... (Before a certain group feels the need to point out that it should, in this day and age, be all persons that are created equal, please ask yourselves just why you'd like to downgrade just to be considered equal?)

Secondly, not to put too fine a point on it, but, we are discussing "discharge cycles", and to my knowledge none suffer from Toxic Shock Syndrome or the like.

Thirdly, how their car batteries all came to be discharged on the same day is a mystery. (obfuscation merely for the twist)

Lastly, where the dog got her license I cannot fathom!(she does have one...) However, she is good natured, and never seems to mind when they refer to her as a bitch, deservedly or not. I consider her a shining example and/or a possible saboteur as she may too have both public and private personae. Go figure!

(The truly scary part concerning all the above is that contrary to possible belief, I am completely free of the influence of any mind altering substance or drug... unless you count Diet A&W Creme Soda -may have to look into that.)

Good grief have many survived an encounter with your private personae?

Reminds me of several of my male friends and closer associates telling me that women think that men are just big dogs that can talk. I now suspect that that is what they want us to think, true or not.

Still mildly amusing. Kudos.

Helen

[murg]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Good grief have many survived an encounter with your private personae?

Reminds me of several of my male friends and closer associates telling me that women think that men are just big dogs that can talk. I now suspect that that is what they want us to think, true or not.

Still mildly amusing. Kudos.

Helen

How do you know that we aren't big dogs that can type?

[TechniSol]

Relax, Helen. I keep my ID safely locked away, but apparently the bugger does know how to type... How he got that arm out of the straitjacket -that's a whole other conversation.

Just having a bit of fun poking at the silliness of human nature. We all wear multitudes of masks, the appearance of which differ given the angle, circumstance, and the position of the viewer.

OTOH, how does that old saw go about the Devil's greatest trick being convincing others that he doesn't exist?

I still insist that the dog may have had something to do with the batteries being dead. She's just too happy and always glad to see you with that phoney doggy smile and that little dance... Just plain makes me nervous. ;-)

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by murg

How do you know that we aren't big dogs that can type?

If I was French I would say Pitou, pitou, pat pat pat.

Seriously though I am fond of both men and dogs and think the world would be a far worse place without most of them.

Helen

[AndrewH7]

Originally Posted by Masutin

Usually, small devices use only battery power. Are there any multimedia devices (not only readers), smaller than a netbook, that can get power directly from the mains, i.e. are equipped not only with a charging circuit but a mains power circuit as well?

Binatone 7" has round power input as well as USB. = good thing, as battery not hold much.