Paul: After you have run the battery down using one of the Drainage Modes provided in the Support Information Mode, you should plug the AC Adapter in. You will be advised that the AC Adapter is On, followed by a message that the "Battery Test is Complete". To hear its results, press SPACE, and this should tell you how long it took to discharge the battery from its full state. Note that this Test applies to the continuous use of the Drainage Mode. As previously discussed, the Braille/VoiceNote draws a slight amount of battery power even while switched off, which is used to maintain such features as the Clock and Calendar and keep them accurate; as I understand, it's apparent that the VoiceNote will draw less power than the BrailleNote when switched Off. Also, if the unit enters Hibernate Mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, be aware that Hibernate Mode is designed to allow for the unit to draw the same amount of power as if it were switched Off; this would still mean that power was drawn, although not as much as would be used if the unit was On and being used, for whatever activity. As pointed out here also, playing an MP3 or WAV file, using the modem, and using either just speech or both Braille and Speech will draw more battery power than, for instance, the word processing, entering items into the Planner, making calculations, or reading a book with just the Braille display. Extensive output to peripherals, whether it be printing, embossing, connecting to a PC for whatever reason, connecting to a cell phone, using an Ethernet card, or having a CompactFlash, PCMCIA, or Microdrive card plugged into the unit, will also draw more power than, for instance, word processing without a CF/PCMCIA/MD card in the unit; although, in my personal experience, peripheral output has not significantly drained my battery, extensive use of the modem and playing of sound files does. The Microdrive would naturally draw more power than the CF/PCMCIA card because it more closely resembles a hard drive due to its having movable parts, as pointed out, and BTW, I'm sure any electronic, battery-powered unit which maintains the accuracy of such things as a Clock and/or Calendar would draw minimal amounts of battery power even while inactive, as, in the case of the above example, the Clock/Calendar would fail to remain accurate without some form of power. I personally haven't timeed either the amount of battery life I have or the time it takes for a discharge to occur on my unit using either of the Drainage Modes of the Support Information Mode. However, I can give you a rough estimate of the amount of time which I use my BrailleNote BT-32 each day and the amount that I charge my unit. Every day, I use the unit for about six hours each day, and I charge every three or four days. This use is without printing, using the modem, or playing sound files, although I have a CompactFlash card plugged into its corresponding port, but, of course, if I do different activities which draw high battery power and depending on whether a CompactFlash card is present, although the Card doesn't seem to draw significant power on my unit, the frequency of charge and battery life would vary.
HTH Maria > ----- Original Message ----- >From: Paul Henrichsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: Braillenote List <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 15:16:15 -0700 >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] Battery life >Hi, John. If you can, tell me how to do this with a qt keyboard. The >problem is that once this thing starts talking, I usually put into another >room and close the door. I might even leave it all night and charge it in >the morning. I think that even after it goes flat or speech stops, it must >still be racking up the time, but I am not sure about that. >If I checked this correctly, and I don't know if I did, it seemed to say >something about 30 hours. >If I am doing this incorrectly, let me know the steps. >At 4/13/2004, you wrote: >>Hi Paul: >>Just a couple of thoughts, and I have done this on my voice but if you >>charge your bn completely, then let it talk till it drives you crazy of >>course letting it do it's thing, when you turn on the unit there is a way >>when checking the status it will say how long the discharge took. On my vn >>which I received and the last time I calibrated the batter it was over 16 >>hours. >>My point which I know took a long way to get too but that number will tell >>you how much or how many hours your battery will last. >>I know you've had some concerns and probably rightly so but just so you can >>get an accurate count on just how much your batter will stay alive with out >>going south till the next charge. smile >>Hope I didn't ramble too much. <g >>John >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Paul Henrichsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>To: "Braillenote List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 7:15 PM >>Subject: Re: [Braillenote] One more suggestion: >>> Hi, Jim. That's the only thing that keeps me not too concerned. Even my >>> wife's Centrino only gets five hours. >>> I would really like it if I could get more hours or not such a percentage >>> of a drop each day, but I still get more than a laptop. >>> At 4/12/2004, you wrote: >>>>Hello again! >>>>I have always felt that the battery is the weak link in the chain >>however, >>>>If it is being used constantly, one might get 10 to 15 hours of battery >>>>life before having to charge the unit! That is certainly better than >>most >>>>laptops! >>>>Jim Aldrich >>>>At 02:57 PM 04/12/2004 , you wrote: >>>>>Hi, Sandra >>>>>I have similar experiences with the battery life of my unit and, indeed, >>I >>>>>did send it back to PulseData Europe about 18 months ago for replacement >>as >>>>>I wasn't satisfied with its life. Net result? Exactly the same even to >>the >>>>>extent of them scoffing at the idea of a 20-hour lifespan. >>>>>To my mind, the batteries (along with the continued withholding of the >>SDK) >>>>>are a major flaw in the unit. >>>>>Regards >>>>>Richard Bartholomew >>>>>E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>>From: "sandra tomkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>To: "Braillenote List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>Sent: Monday, April 12, 2004 1:33 PM >>>>>Subject: re: [Braillenote] One more suggestion: >>>>>Hi Mary-Ellen and list, >>>>> While on the subject of batteries: I just received my bn back from >>its new >>>>>battery implant. I am a little concerned that this "new" battery is not >>>>>quite the thing. For example, having charged it to 100 % I left the bn >>>>>unplugged over night, with no cards in and, of course, turned off, the >>power >>>>>level went down by 20 % when I checked the following morning. Also, if >>I >>>>>read a book, using a storage card, but not doing much else with the bn >>for, >>>>>perhaps, 7 to 8 hours (being an avid reader) my battery goes down from >>100 % >>>>>to 9 % how does this performance compare with others who have new or >>>>>relatively new batteries? I would be very grateful to hear as I am loath >>to >>>>>send the machine back, especially as I paid £150 for the privilege only >>two >>>>>weeks ago. >>>>>Thanks, >>>>>Sandy. >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>>From: "Mary Ellen Earls" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 12:45:24 -0400 >>>>>>Subject: [Braillenote] One more suggestion: >>>>>>How about a battery which doesn't need calibration every 6 weeks? >>>>>>The present battery has never made sense to me but I'm in the dark >>ages so >>>>>there. >>>>>>Mary Ellen Earls >>>>>>___ >>>>>>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>>>>>http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >>>>>___ >>>>>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>>>>http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >>>>>___ >>>>>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>>>>http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >>>>___ >>>>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>>>http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >>> Paul Henrichsen >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> <home.pacbell.net/paulh52 >>> ___ >>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>> http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >>___ >>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >Paul Henrichsen ><[EMAIL PROTECTED] ><home.pacbell.net/paulh52 >___ >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
