PDA Power Problems

[DSMKevan]

I have a Palm m105, and I use rechargeable batteries in it, but every week the battery goes out, and I lose all my programs!! This is a real pain, since I lose my logs as well.

What is everyone else (w/ a m105) using to power their palms? Ive heard of using a cigarette lighter thingy, but where would that plug in? Ive seen some that plug in the hotsync cable port, but I need to use that for logging.

What the dickens should I do?

 

[TURFNNSURF]

I had the same problem with my Palm IIIxe, If I forgot to replace the batteries every few days I would loose MMCd in the Palm. My fix was to sell the Palm IIIxe and buy a used Palm IIIc. The IIIc comes with a rechargable Lith/ion battery that lasts about 4 to 5 days of normal driving/logging. If I forget to charge it, the power goes off but all the programs are still stored in memory till I get home to put it on the charger..

 

[DSMKevan]

What other palms (err PDA's) are out there that also have this feature? Or is there a car adapter (cigarette lighter) that POWERS the PDA (not charges it, only powers it ONLY when the car is on)? Thats all I need (along with a palm that doesnt lose its programs).

 

[TURFNNSURF]

I think some of the new Sony Clie's can be charged while the data cable is also being used, but some of them are not compatable with some logging software. Check out this link to see what Palm have been tested. http://www.pocketlogger.com/index.php?pid=faq_pda_list

 

[my95tsi]

my m105 only lasts 2 days at most in my car until it needs a recharge...

 

[boostaddictgsx]

i must be lucky, b/c i found a palm lying around the house! but, im not sure how to hook it up for the car, any suggestions?

 

[DSMKevan]

Buy or make a datalogger cable. I dont have the link for the website, but there is one showing you how to make one out of some weird serial cable or something. If thats too hard for you, just look on trader or classifieds. Youll also need a "hotsync" cable, to hook up the palm to the datalogger cable. And you have to download MMCD, but first make sure that palm even works with MMCD.

 

[98RedGs]

i must be lucky, b/c i found a palm lying around the house! but, im not sure how to hook it up for the car, any suggestions?

http://pocketlogger.com/
You would need the logger cable and software.
Good stuff!

Also if you guys keep loosing your information why haven't you went to palms webpage and downloaded the software so you won't be forced to redo it everytime....

 

[Spellmen]

Check in the Vendor announcements, there is a member that sells a cable and software for $35. Then you just need a hotsync cable which I got for $4 plus shipping off ebay.

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

I reccomend Pocketlogger...great company!!

 

[my95tsi]

or...you can not spend a ridiculous amount of money and go with palm n stein software which is free. Then you just need the cable which is pretty cheap for a 1g anyways....

 

[dicion]

I dont know how many batteries it uses, but here's what *I* would do:

Take how many batteries it uses (I'm guessing AA or AAA?) and multiply by 1.5v. I'm guessing 3, but i dont know. So, Lets say my palm uses 3 batteries, thats 4.5V. I would get, or build, a DC/DC converter so I have a 4.5v output. Then, Removing the batteries, I would wire the 4.5v to the battery terminals in the palm. Also, I would hook the DC/DC converter to an always-on 12v source. That way the palm doesnt loose power.

Thats just how I would do it, as It requires some electronics experience.

 

[DSMKevan]

Yeah but then you would drain your battery all the time :thumbdown Ill just look for a IIIC

 

[dicion]

I hate to tell ya, but when your car is 'off' theres still stuff using the battery Much like when your TV is off, it's actually just in standby (if it TRULY was off, then your remote control wouldn't work, would it). There's a constant load on the battery in your car from things like clocks, stereos, etc. Hooking your palm up and leaving it wont drain your battery. especially if you turn the palm off when your not using it. It will retain the memory because it's still powered.

 

[DSMKevan]

Could you detail into how you would wire this? Like make a diagram? thanks

 

[dicion]

Well I really cant make a diagram right now, but all you need is a DC/DC converter with a rated output the same as your PDA's requirements. Here.. How many batteries does your pda take? If they're AA or AAA's, multiply the number by 1.5. So 3 batteries = 4.5 volts. Now find a Cigarette lighter CD-player power adapter, or similar that says it does 4.5volts output. If you cant find one, go to your local radio shack and tell the guy you need something to plug into your cigarette lighter that gives a 4.5V output. they have a whole bunch of em there. Then, strip the wires that normally have the little round power connector on em, and solder them in place of the batteries on your PDA.

 

[DSMKevan]

It uses 2 AAA batteries... So 3 volts? Would I need a 3v adapter then? And would I just make two wires off of the adapter's wires? Like a Y for the + and - of the cig. adapter?

 

[JasonBelec]

I use the Palm Zire72, I got it at 50% off because the package was opened.

My wife and I use the Nology Dyno software and cable. This allows logging, dyno, and DTC reading and clearing. This is really amazing. Combine that with mapping software and we've found we can't do without it! Has a camera too!

I just plug it into the cradle everynight to keep it charged.

 

[dicion]

It uses 2 AAA batteries... So 3 volts? Would I need a 3v adapter then? And would I just make two wires off of the adapter's wires? Like a Y for the + and - of the cig. adapter?

Yes then, 3 volts.

you actually would have to take apart the cigarette adapter itself, as there's a DC-DC converter circuit in there that converts 12v to 3v. Then run the input to the DC-DC converter to your 12v power source, and the output to your pda. But before hooking it up to the pda, use a multimeter to make sure it is 3v, and which one is neg/pos

 

[luizdiefenbach]

I have a palm III and I test with a voltimeter and found it needs 5V (looking on the charger output it says too that is 5V and 1A regulated)
My question is can I use a resistor to lower the voltage from 12V to 5V without using a converter? a 1A resistor off course.

some one can calculate how much Ohms the resistor needs to be?

 

[luizdiefenbach]

Remember this is for the palm IIIC only.

found a much better solution:

Just buy a voltage regulator:

7805 TO-220 (it has a 5V 1A max output)
It turns any voltage between 8V and 20V to 5V and it cost less than 1 buck

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that way the palm will exatly the same voltage and current that the carger gives, so you can actually charge your palm on the car. You can log and when you take you palm out its fully charged