Long train journey with a PRS-500

AprilHare · 11-14-2009, 12:16 AM

As is common in Australia, we are in love with outdated transport technologies that lead to overlong journeys at less than 100 km/hour / 62.5 miles/hour (in this case more like 60 km/hour / 37.5 miles/hour). Apparently the larger the country, the slower everything has to be..
As is the case with a planned rail/coach trip I'll be taking soon

14 hours of listening to the sound of a train and coach while reading with my Sony Reader!
I'm hoping the battery will hold out, but if it doesn't I definitely won't have access to a power outlet - even if I did, the only outlets on board the trains would be subject to power surges and would fry my PRS-500!

Can anyone recommend a 'external battery' device, somewhat like what they sell for mobile phones now, that will work with a PRS-500?
I guess it would have been designed for a PSP but I have yet to see one.

owlrigh · 11-14-2009, 03:25 AM

I had a quick websearch, and came up with these for the search term 'psp emergency battery charger':

Emergency Battery Charger For Sony PSP 1000 (Red)

24000 External Charger Battery for Sony PSP Slim 3000 (ebay)

Battery Operated Emergency Charger

I don't know how well these would work, though ... but they're out there, and PSP forums would likely have discussions on the merits of the different types out there.

kenmark · 11-14-2009, 08:29 AM

There are numerous emergency battery chargers available for the PRS-XXX. I've seen some mentioned at MobileRead.

I believe one of them mentioned was this one:

http://www.gomadic.com/sony-reader-p...-extender.html

I found this thread:

Sony PRS-505 Portable AA Battery Charger

notsure · 11-14-2009, 08:32 AM

What you need is this!

Power Monkey!!

I have one and love it.

They also sell them with a solar charger but since I don't have one I can't speak to how well they work.

Cheers.

HarryT · 11-14-2009, 08:39 AM

Why would you need any form of charger for a mere 14h of usage? That's nothing, even for a fairly elderly PRS-500.

MickeyC · 11-14-2009, 10:00 AM

This was the subject of a thread here about a year or so ago. Details here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31556

AprilHare · 11-14-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why would you need any form of charger for a mere 14h of usage? That's nothing, even for a fairly elderly PRS-500.

I've never been one for pushing my luck.. and the thing seems to be losing charge more quickly than it used to. I haven't tested it heavily though.

khalleron · 11-14-2009, 09:58 PM

If you're going to be on noisy transport that long, I HIGHLY recommend a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They don't have to be the expensive Bose ones - I paid only $40US for a pair of Earhugger brand ones, but they make all that awful plane/train noise recede to a distant rumble. You'll arrive feeling much more rested, trust me. I wore them on my trip from the US to Australia and I did not have jetlag either way. It's amazing what a difference they make.

You don't even have to use them to listen to anything, just turn them on and relax.

Off-topic, I know, but I thought I'd throw that in.

Patricia · 11-14-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsure

What you need is this!

Power Monkey!!

I have one and love it.

They also sell them with a solar charger but since I don't have one I can't speak to how well they work.

Cheers.

I can second the Power Monkey recommendation. It comes with a variety of tips, so can be used for a reader, a mobile phone etc.

AprilHare · 11-15-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalleron

If you're going to be on noisy transport that long, I HIGHLY recommend a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They don't have to be the expensive Bose ones - I paid only $40US for a pair of Earhugger brand ones, but they make all that awful plane/train noise recede to a distant rumble. You'll arrive feeling much more rested, trust me. I wore them on my trip from the US to Australia and I did not have jetlag either way. It's amazing what a difference they make.

You don't even have to use them to listen to anything, just turn them on and relax.

Off-topic, I know, but I thought I'd throw that in.

Thanks for bringing that up

I have experience with train travel (Sydney is a large city and I often have more than a hour commute to work) and one of things I did get to make life easier and let me listen to my favourite classical music was a pair of noise-cancelling headphones... for about $7.50US - and they work wonders

Definitely getting packed, along with my CD MP3 player..

JSWolf · 11-15-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patricia

I can second the Power Monkey recommendation. It comes with a variety of tips, so can be used for a reader, a mobile phone etc.

I second the Gomadic as it has a number of tips available for it. That would be my #1 choice.

11-14-2009, 08:29 AM	#3
kenmark Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Great White North Device: PRS-505	There are numerous emergency battery chargers available for the PRS-XXX. I've seen some mentioned at MobileRead. I believe one of them mentioned was this one: http://www.gomadic.com/sony-reader-p...-extender.html I found this thread: Sony PRS-505 Portable AA Battery Charger Last edited by kenmark; 11-14-2009 at 08:34 AM. Reason: Added MR thread

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11-14-2009, 12:16 AM	#1
AprilHare Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 11862367 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2	Long train journey with a PRS-500 As is common in Australia, we are in love with outdated transport technologies that lead to overlong journeys at less than 100 km/hour / 62.5 miles/hour (in this case more like 60 km/hour / 37.5 miles/hour). Apparently the larger the country, the slower everything has to be.. As is the case with a planned rail/coach trip I'll be taking soon 14 hours of listening to the sound of a train and coach while reading with my Sony Reader! I'm hoping the battery will hold out, but if it doesn't I definitely won't have access to a power outlet - even if I did, the only outlets on board the trains would be subject to power surges and would fry my PRS-500! Can anyone recommend a 'external battery' device, somewhat like what they sell for mobile phones now, that will work with a PRS-500? I guess it would have been designed for a PSP but I have yet to see one.

11-14-2009, 03:25 AM	#2
owlrigh Bibliomanist Posts: 99 Karma: 26 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia, somewhere Device: [past:PRS-700, PRS-505, PRS-T2] Now: Kobo Glo HD, Samsung G7 Edge	I had a quick websearch, and came up with these for the search term 'psp emergency battery charger': Emergency Battery Charger For Sony PSP 1000 (Red) 24000 External Charger Battery for Sony PSP Slim 3000 (ebay) Battery Operated Emergency Charger I don't know how well these would work, though ... but they're out there, and PSP forums would likely have discussions on the merits of the different types out there.

11-14-2009, 08:32 AM	#4
notsure Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-350	What you need is this! Power Monkey!! I have one and love it. They also sell them with a solar charger but since I don't have one I can't speak to how well they work. Cheers.

11-14-2009, 08:39 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Why would you need any form of charger for a mere 14h of usage? That's nothing, even for a fairly elderly PRS-500.

11-14-2009, 10:00 AM	#6
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	This was the subject of a thread here about a year or so ago. Details here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31556

11-14-2009, 09:58 PM	#8
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,700 Karma: 3605799 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: MeeBook, Kobo Libra Colour	If you're going to be on noisy transport that long, I HIGHLY recommend a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They don't have to be the expensive Bose ones - I paid only $40US for a pair of Earhugger brand ones, but they make all that awful plane/train noise recede to a distant rumble. You'll arrive feeling much more rested, trust me. I wore them on my trip from the US to Australia and I did not have jetlag either way. It's amazing what a difference they make. You don't even have to use them to listen to anything, just turn them on and relax. Off-topic, I know, but I thought I'd throw that in.