Will the JAM 4xAA battery extender work on the Universal?

[belfast-biker]

Here's my JAM battery extender:

http://www.belfast-biker.com/dvdf/mine.jpg

And here's one that http://www.thepocketsolution.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSI-5539&Category_Code=jasjar_accessories&Product_Count=11 this guy is selling...

http://www.thepocketsolution.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/PSI5539.main.jpg



Look pretty identical...

[lie_ui]

I purchased the Jasjar battery extender (the one in the link above). And it turned out not working. Instead of charging, it helps drop the Jasjar battery more rapidly. :`( What could be worse than that. See my email threat with the vendor below.




My PDA is imate Jasjar, the one this product is designed for. The name of the product and the image posted in the web store is an imate Jasjar. So, it has to work fine.
I did measure the voltage output of the battery extender and it shows 5.1 - 5.2V which is the good range for charging the imate Jasjar.
I really cannot accept the fact/excuse that there is possibilty my imate Jasjar is not compatible, like you said.

I have tested both battery extenders I have, so they are the same characterics. I do not think even though you send me a new one, it will work out too.

I can only test out the compatibility with imate Jam when I give the second one to my brother. If it does not work out, I can accept that, as it might not tested before with imate Jam, and the product is not listed compatible, at least, even though you have confirmed to me that they should be compatible. But with my PDA, imate Jasjar, I really cannot accept that fact, that instead of charging the device, it consumes the power as well.

Please help report this back to your engineering department, so they can test it more thoroughly and fix the charging/regulator circuit.


>From: Customer Support
>Subject: Re: Jasjar battery extender
>Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 13:14:05 -0500
>
>
>Hi,
>
>Hmm i'm so sorry to hear that...
>The only answer i have is that anything can malfunction and i can
>send you a replacement,
>However unfortunately once in a while there is slight
>inconsistensies in the voltage within random PDA's
>which makes for the unexplainable truth that some are not going to
>be compatible,
>Like i said i will be willing to send you another one, however if
>you have tried both , you brothers and yours , there is a good
>chance that
>your PDA simply will not be compatible, i doubt this will be the
>case for your brothers device,
>
>I will also include our return information;
>RETURNS;
>
>
>Please ship back returns and exchanges within 30 days of purchase ,
>in resellable condition including original packaging,
>Please do not write on or tape original packaging
>Include a copy of this e-mail and/or your reason for return or
>exchange,
>Write Exhange or Return on the outside of the box, depending on your
>needs ,
>
>In case of an exchange we will contact you for new shipping charges,
>Please don't forget your ORDER # As your RMA
>
>PLEASE NOTE:
>Any shipping method you prefer as long as it does not require a
>signature upon arrival.
>Please allow approximately 3 weeks for returns and exchanges to be
>processed,
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>I'm sorry for your trouble, sometimes it just doesn't work out....
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>To: <customersupport@
>Subject: Re: Jasjar battery extender
>

>>
>>I would like to let you know that I have performed several more
>>testings on the products I bought from your store, the Jasjar
>>battery extender.
>>And the overall result of my testing proves the battery extender is
>>not working as expected, as published in your web store's
>>description about the product.
>>
>>I used brand new Energizer AA Alkaline batteries. First load, it
>>fails to charge the Jasjar battery. Instead of charging it, it
>>caused the Jasjar battery to drop all the way to 10% few hours
>>later.
>>Second load with brand new battery, before start charging, the
>>battery status was 45%. After charging it for entire night, the
>>next morning it became 5%!
>>The battery extender was not the power supply anymore, it became
>>the load/resistance instead.
>>
>>May I know did you guys really tested this product properly before
>>launching it. I'm really curious.
>>The spec shows really clear, 2.5 times charging capability from a
>>complete discharge. Sorry, really, but i'm really dissapointed,
>>especially I purchased 2 units and just expect them to be working
>>fine.
>>
>>This is from your website:
>>
>>Requires 4 AA batteries, which will charge the PDA roughly 2.5
>>times from a complete discharge.
>>· Charge and use your PDA at the same time.
>>· Special circuitry design protects your PDA from overcharging and
>>short-circuiting
>>· Charges to 45% in 20 minutes
>>
>>I hope you can help me resolving this.
>>
>>
>>Thank you. I got the shipment yesterday and exicted trying it out
>>last night.
>>I try it with my imate Jasjar. Cannot test it with imate Jam as I
>>don't have one, but the second battery extender I ordered was
>>intended for my brother who has a imate Jam.
>>
>>I use 4 AA alkaline batteries (Energizer) and measure the output
>>voltage with a multimeter, it showed 5.2 V, which is good.
>>When I hooked it up to my Jasjar, the charging led started light up
>>as normall.
>>When I start charging it, it was 45% battery remaining. Few hours
>>later, I looked at it, its not fully charged yet, and when I
>>unplugged it and check the Jasjar battery status, it dropped to 5%!
>>Very surprising and I have no clue how could that happens. Without
>>the battery extender, usually without any usage, the Jasjar will
>>only drop 1-2% battery in 4 hours!
>>
>>I will test again tonite. But i ended up charging it with the AC
>>power adapter last night.
>>If you know/have any suggestions, I would like to know. I hope it
>>to be working good to extend the life of my PDA during long flight
>>and I would like to give the same thing for my brother without any
>>disapointment.
>>

[lie_ui]

Because of my curiousity, I finally opened up the battery extender. I wanted to find out what is causing it instead of charging my PDA, its eating up the power of the PDA.

I was so surprise, inside the black box, there IS NOT circuit whatsoever!
The only two electronic components are a LED and a resistor that is connected in series with the LED, this resistor limits the voltage to the LED.
The 4 AA batteries are in series, and the output are connected directly to the USB cable, means actually the PDA is charged directly by this 4 AA WITHOUT any protection circuit whatsoever.
This is really really really really bad!
And I can say, this is really dangerous, as if the actual alkaline battery works at 1.5V fully, 4 x 1.5 means it will supply 6V to the Jasjar directly. Jasjar is only accepting 5V DC for charging it. Jasjar is a very expensive device, over $1,000.00, and yet sensitive.
I cannot believe they dare to do that. I mean, look at the products below posted in the web store, it says very clear, there is a special circuit, design to protect the PDA from overcharging and short circuit. And this is definately a big lie.

I definately cannot use this products and will not test any longer before I damage anything.

FEATURES:

· Requires 4 AA batteries, which will charge the PDA roughly 2.5 times from a complete discharge.
· Charge and use your PDA at the same time.
· Special circuitry design protects your PDA from overcharging and short-circuiting
· Charges to 45% in 20 minutes
· LED indicator light

[hollinshead]

I've got one of these and it charges my MDA Pro fine, i'm supprised there isn't any voltage regulating circit in the device though.

[belfast-biker]

UPDATE: Tried it - no joy.

But based on what some others have said her, maybe that's a good thing that my JAM still works! :)

I'll stick it on ebay, along with a few other jam things....

[fatman]

UPDATE: Tried it - no joy.

A mate of mine bought one for his Jam. It didn't work but a quick investigation revealed that you need to short 2 of the "usb connector pins" in the plug. Windows PPCs and smartphones seem to need a voltage on more than one pin in the mini usb plug. I read somewhere that this is why the device won't charge unless you have Activesync installed - I presume AS sends a signal down this other pin.

We used the charger on a JAM and a SPV C500 with no problems. You don't get as much extra battery life as you would expect from the rating of the AAs. The voltage from the AAs drops off quite quickly.

[fjlmiad]

which two usb pins?

[punkhawaiian]

which two usb pins?

An easy fix i found is use an htc headphone adapter between the charger and the phone. I have used the 4aa charger for years and love it, it triples my run time with 2700mah rechargeables.