No harm at all. The only reason for not using them is: the battery level
indicator is not accurate when using rechargeables.
At 05:13 PM 2/4/2006, you wrote:
Are you thinking something similar to the battery in Braille Sense? I haven't had any experience with it, but it does at least allow the user to replace the battery themselves, and you could always have a second battery around.
I ran into a battery issue yesterday afternoon on my Book Port while in the middle of training a group of vision teachers to use the Book Port. Boy was I happy for those two extra double a batteries that I put in my pocket just before I went into the training. Had it not been for those two batteries I would have been dead in the water since a lot of the training I was doing was by having them follow along with me as I went thru verious exercises on the Book Port.
I am trying to remember if someone said that it was best not to use rechargable batteries in the Book Port. For some reason I thought I read that somewhere. Am i confused? Is there any harm that could be done using rechargeable batteries in the current Book Port?
----- Original Message ----- From: "LARRY SKUTCHAN" <lskutchan@xxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 6:37 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: power
:I think we also all agree that the unit would not have to be returned to : replace the battery. Extras would also be available. : : : >>> david-tanner@xxxxxxxxxxxx Thursday, February 02, 2006 1:16:55 AM : >>> : I think one big thing that we all agree with is that we would want : something that is not so tightly tied to the BookPort that the only : place one could go to get an extra battery or replacement would be APH. : If you guys aren't aware, one of the biggest pains with BrailleNote, and : to some extent with PacMate is the need to go back to the company with : any battery issues, and the cost for the company to replace the battery : plus the amount of time the unit is out of service are both a genuine : pain to the user, and usually to us as a state agency trying to find a : way for the person to still have some kind of unit that the person can : use while their unit is being repaired. : : : ----- Original Message ----- : From: "Sarah Cranston" <cranston.sarah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> : To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> : Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 1:17 PM : Subject: [bookport] Re: power : : :: BTW, that last post was, of course, just my opinion. <Smiles all : around!> :: :: :: -----Original Message----- :: From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of LARRY SKUTCHAN :: Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 12:56 PM :: To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: :: :: What about if we did something like your cell phone where you could :: replace the battery yourself if you needed to, but you would not need : to :: do so every week or so as is the case now. :: :: :: >>> ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Wednesday, February 01, 2006 :: 12:39:22 PM >>> :: I must chime in here. I have never had a problem with the current :: battery contacts. And I would hate to see the batteries become :: something that cannot not be replaced by the user. There are many :: battery charging systems that allow users to recharge batteries, and : I :: firmly believe that having the ability to replace the batteries : makes :: the Bookport portable and easy to use. Think about it, APH, if : there :: were some kind of proprietary battery system, you'd have even more :: Bookports coming in for repair than you ever did for battery contact :: issues. People would have to routinely send their devices for : service :: when the battery died. :: :: -----Original Message----- :: From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Neal Ewers :: Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:27 AM :: To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: :: :: Sarah and others, I have not had any problems changing batteries :: either. :: And, for what it's worth, I like the fact that I am not stuck with :: some :: proprietary batter pack that I either have to buy at some point, or :: worse yet, send the unit back to have the battery pack replaced. I :: can :: understand Larry's point if they have really had problems with this, :: but :: perhaps a little podcast on how to correctly change batteries would : be :: in order before scrapping the idea of replaceable batteries. :: :: Neal :: :: :: :: -----Original Message----- :: From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sarah Cranston :: Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:03 AM :: To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: :: :: Eric, :: :: May I respectfully ask what any of this has to do with blindness? :: Changing batteries has nothing to do with vision and everything to : do :: with being careful and paying attention to what one is doing. I, : like :: Walt, have changed batteries in many, many devices. In particular, : I :: have changed the batteries in my BookPort at least 60 or 70 times, : and :: have had absolutely no ill effects. I do understand that there are :: those who have ended up with damaged contacts, but I have never been :: able to figure out exactly how this could happen if one is careful. :: If :: I've misunderstood your comment about making things "blind proof", :: (you're not a partial, are you?), then please clarify and set me :: straight. :: :: Sarah :: :: :: -----Original Message----- :: From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Eric StevenS :: Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 10:48 AM :: To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx :: Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: :: :: Well, Walt, again they have to dumb down to the lowest common :: denominator. :: Make everything stupid/blind proof. :: :: :: ----- Original Message ----- :: From: "Walt Smith" <walt@xxxxxxxxxx> :: To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> :: Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:39 AM :: Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: :: :: > The last time we had a discussion on battery connections, I think : it :: :: > was Larry who pointed out that in actual use, the spring type of :: > connectors really don't stand up much better than the present : spring :: :: > clips. The problem seems to be more related to how the batteries : are :: :: > inserted and removed--they :: > should always be inserted negative end (the bottom of the battery :: opposite :: > to the end with the little button on it) first. I've made dozens : and :: :: > dozens :: > (probably over a hundred) battery changes without any apparent :: damage :: to :: > the :: > contacts and have used all types of batteries. I agree with the :: comments :: > regarding the 15-minute charger, as well. :: > :: > Larry's message slightly alarmed me in that it almost seems to : imply :: :: > that future devices that emanate from his shop may not have :: > user-replaceable batteries and I think this would be a mistake, as : it :: :: > would seriously limit the BP's portability in situations where AC :: > power might not be easily available (camping, for example). :: > :: > ----- Original Message ----- :: > From: "Chris Hill" <chill000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> :: > To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> :: > Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:29 AM :: > Subject: [bookport] Re: power :: > :: > :: > I agree that the way the charger does it is a batter solution. I :: > think the coil spring type of contacts also are a better bet than :: what :: :: > the bookport currently uses. :: > :: > On Wed, 01 Feb 2006 07:27:40 -0800, you wrote: :: > :: >>I was glad to see that the user could change and replace the :: batteries :: :: >>in the bookport. I'm wondering about a solution to the problem of : :: >>damaged contacts. I :: >>use an IC-3 battery charger that quick charges the IC-3 batteries : in :: :: >>about :: >>15 :: >>minutes. This is a great comvenience. Now when you insertt the :: batteries :: >>into :: >>this charger, where the positive contact is, instead of feeling : the :: bare :: >>contact, if you will, you find a round protruding piece with a :: little :: >>recess in :: >>it where you fit the little nub at the positive end of the : battery. :: When :: >>you :: >>snug the battery against this, inside, it is spring loaded. You : fit :: in :: >>the :: >>nub :: >>and gently push in and seat the battery. This protects the : contact :: and :: >>you :: >>never actually touch it. Wonder if something like that could work :: for :: the :: >>BP :: >>battery recepticle. Just thinking. I really like the current :: >>battery/power :: >>arrangement for the BP. :: >>By the way, I don't get as much battery time per charge with the :: IC-3 :: >>rechargeables, as I do with non-rechargeable alkalines. But the :: quick :: >>charge :: >>convenience and cost savings makes it worthwhile. If I'm reading :: only :: >>books :: >>using the synthesizer, I get 50 hours or close thereto :: >>Lois. :: > :: > :: > :: > :: :: :: :: :: :: : :
