| Forum Home | ||||
| PC World Chat | ||||
| Thread ID: 119295 | 2011-07-15 03:21:00 | A question for MP3 Player experts | braindead (1685) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1216910 | 2011-07-15 03:21:00 | At last, at age 68, I finally bought one of the somewhat cheaper non-iPod MP3 players with 2GB onboard memory. Better late than never :) Charging of the internal LiPO battery is via computer USB and it takes some time to charge it fully. The "manual" is minimalistic and doesn't mention if there are faster ways of charging the LiPO. Do any of you happen to know the answer to this? Am I locked in to using USB as a power umbilical? I could probably build a small outboard charger but I don't want to stuff the battery with an over enthusiastic charge current or lack of some sort of limiting circuit. These auxiliary battery devices one sees by the hundreds on dealextreme.com - would they be suitable as a faster method of charging the player? Thanks heaps! |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1216911 | 2011-07-15 05:23:00 | Some have an external charger but if yours doesn't, then probably USB is the only way. Why not just leave it plugged in overnight? Can't vouch for 3rd party gadgets for charging, what kind of battery is in the thing? |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1216912 | 2011-08-17 08:31:00 | My congratulations to you! It's good that you still preserve the desire ti be in time with technologies. My granny can hardly use cell phone and if she need to call she takes paper notebook and deals the numbers manually! flash mp3 player (www.spencer-tech.com/my_scripts/mp3_player) | silverlady180 (16463) | ||
| 1216913 | 2011-08-17 08:45:00 | OMG...I forgot all about this thread. Thanks PCTek and silverlady180. There are battery boosters available that put out USB voltage but I decided to do what you suggest PCTek. Much simpler. I think the batteries are small LiPO. The datasheet doesn't say. Thanks SilverLady180. I took the bull by the horns about 15 years ago and began building my own computers and designing websites. Keeps my brain chugging along and it's very empowering - with a lot of help over the years from the folks on this forum! |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1216914 | 2011-08-17 09:28:00 | Hi Braindead You can buy a USB Power Supply from any electronic store . Got mine from Dick Smith, code# M 9942 . Cost about 30 buck$ . Check it out HERE ( . co . nz/product/M9942/digitor-mains-charger-for-usb-enabled-mp3-players" target="_blank">dicksmith . co . nz) . Output is the same as any standard computer Usb port - 5V @ 500ma . It comes complete with a USB socket so you can use your existing cord to your Mp3 Player . Should you upgrade to an Ipod later this beauty will charge that too . Don't need to worry about overcharging as there is an internal circuit to prevent overcharging . This same circuit limits the charge rate too . So long as your charging circuit meets the standard USB rates everything will be ok . Remember when your computer turns off, their USB plugs also turn off . This could explain why it takes a long time for your player to fully charge . If you are into building electronic projects, there are plenty of circuits on the net using a 7805 regulator . Google is your friend . Hope this helps . BURNZEE |
Burnzee (6950) | ||
| 1216915 | 2011-08-17 09:31:00 | Just make sure you dont charge it too often (If its not flat). It'll go flatter / faster if you do. | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 1216916 | 2011-08-17 11:24:00 | I'd stay away from building your own battery charger if it's a LiPo or LIon battery, NiMH's and NiCads are easy enough but Lithium has a nasty habit of exploding when it doesn't get the voltage it likes or overheats. Remember that exploding laptop fiasco a few years ago? | ubergeek85 (131) | ||
| 1216917 | 2011-08-17 22:10:00 | Thanks guys. I'm aware of the tricky care and feeding of LiPO, having watched some of the more spectacular explosive YouTube vids :) Burnzee - Thanks for the info. I have a good LiPO charger from Deal Extreme and a good supply of 18650 LiPO batteries @ around 3.6v. Probably one way to go would be to build a small boost regulator to take that voltage to 5v USB at an appropriate charge rate. I'll investigate further. |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1 | |||||