Kaiser Current draw at full processor load?

[pontifex33]

I am attempting to build a small 4xAA USB charger to use while on long flights so that I can watch movies. I notice that the wall charger is rated 5v 1000ma. I wonder if anyone has any clue what the Kaiser draws at full processor load. I can make a 4x AA charger with a 1000ma capacity, but if i could get away with something like a Minty Charger(2xAA, maybe like 500ma), I would, as the plans are there, and it would save me 15 bucks for a switching voltage regulator.

Has anyone done any work to this effect, and would they mind sharing their measurements?

Thank you in advance,

Ben

[RPG0]

use batterystatus and check consumption when watching a movie or something

[pontifex33]

I will certainly check that, thanks!

Also does anyone know whether the kaiser has and odd charging tendedcies?

My plan basically calls for 4 aa batts wired in series to provide 6v, into a 5v switching voltage regulator, and out to USB. Will this be something that will work, or are there any odd little caveats i need to worry about?

Ben

[Jozer99]

The USB spec calls for a max of 500mA at 5V. Since the Kaiser can charge off of USB, then that should work.

[GWelker62]

I have a back ground in basic electronics, and building something like this would be right up my ally. But when I can find just what you want at a price like this>>

http://www.thepocketsolution.com/PSI-42555.html

I can't see any reason to bother building my own. I use this vary one, for just the same reasons you want one. And it works great.

[pontifex33]

I have a back ground in basic electronics, and building something like this would be right up my ally. But when I can find just what you want at a price like this>>

http://www.thepocketsolution.com/PSI-42555.html

I can't see any reason to bother building my own. I use this vary one, for just the same reasons you want one. And it works great.


Wow! I suppose I should have done a little more research first ;) That charger costs the same as a decent switching voltage regulator.

Does that thing look like it's easy to open up? I may wish to modify it slightly so that I can charge other USB devices off it. I also probably want to repackage it into something fun.

Thanks for letting me know about this charger... You have saved me a lot of soldering ;)

Ben

edit:

http://www.thepocketsolution.com/PSI-36223.html

I'm scratching my head re this one. The tilt and the kaiser are, with very few exceptions the same phone. I would imagine that the battery chargers here are the same too, though this one is a couple bucks cheaper. The AAA model is only 10 bucks... I imagine that all these things are is a voltage regulator and an LED... if i am gonna rip one apart anyways, is there any reason i couldnt get the AAA model, tear it up, jack 4 AA batteries to it, and get all the benefits of the 15 dollar model, for 10? Im not really penny pinching, though if i decide to repackage the whole deal anyways, might as well save the 5 bucks and buy a USB jack ;)

ben

[kms108]

with the cost of geting the parts, you can buy one for about USD 10.


kms

[fgrump123]

You might want to check that giving the phone 5 volts will actually put it into charge mode. I believe the mot razar won't charge off the USB unless it first communicates with the computer. Don't know though, I only borrowed the phone for a week when traveling for work.

As for power consumption, I took a 10 hour trip yesterday. Bought a USB car charger and used the data cable that came with the phone. I plugged it in and it went into charge mode. Running tomtom and such didn't charge the battery to any meaningful extent while it was plugged in. Fortunately, it didn't drain the battery either.

Maybe the phone knows the diff between USB and an OEM charger, and draws power accordingly (500mA for usb, 1 amp for OEM charger).

Edit: the car usb thing I picked up is rated for 5v +-.5 volt and 1 amp output (says the sticker anyway). Does the job I was hoping for and was cheap (6 bucks at fry's).

[pontifex33]

Nice!

I think im gonna order 2 of the battery chargers linked above. one i will keep stock (i leave for spain in a few weeks and need one to work)

the other i will rip apart and see if i can do something fun and exiting with it. I think i have an empty altoids box around somewhere.... the one i used to hide smokes from the parents in when I was a kid....

I like breaking stuff!

Ben

[3waygeek]

Note that the Tytn II's charge circuitry may require more than 500 mA if the battery is sufficiently discharged. In such conditions, a 500 mA charging current won't actually charge the battery. A 1000 mA charging circuit should be sufficient, as that matches the device's rating as specified in the manual.

[ripnetuk]

Be careful taking any home built electronics on a plane in these days since 9/11.

A girl in USA got done for having a battery and LED on her t-shirt in an airport and wasnt even flying...

id be amazed if you were allowed to take a home-built circuit onto a plane, esp. in the USA

just saying

g

[GWelker62]

edit:

http://www.thepocketsolution.com/PSI-36223.html

I'm scratching my head re this one. The tilt and the kaiser are, with very few exceptions the same phone. I would imagine that the battery chargers here are the same too, though this one is a couple bucks cheaper. The AAA model is only 10 bucks... I imagine that all these things are is a voltage regulator and an LED... if i am gonna rip one apart anyways, is there any reason i couldnt get the AAA model, tear it up, jack 4 AA batteries to it, and get all the benefits of the 15 dollar model, for 10? Im not really penny pinching, though if i decide to repackage the whole deal anyways, might as well save the 5 bucks and buy a USB jack ;)

ben

I can't see any difference in these two. I've had this one for over a year and half. I used on the 8125, the 8525, and now the Tilt.

As far as a AAA ver a AA, since the voltage is the same between the two, then it is only a question of mAh capacity.

[austinsnyc]

I have one thing to say if your coming into America with some home made electronics your going to be thrown in Jail ...

[Jozer99]

Be careful taking any home built electronics on a plane in these days since 9/11.

A girl in USA got done for having a battery and LED on her t-shirt in an airport and wasnt even flying...

id be amazed if you were allowed to take a home-built circuit onto a plane, esp. in the USA

just saying

g

I've actually taken a suitcase full of half built circuit boards and electrical components as carry on (half finished school project). They didn't even raise an eyebrow. As long as it isn't connected to something that looks like a bomb, I don't think they care.

[pontifex33]

thanks, i surmised that based on some other devices i have. I'm not too concerned as the battery will never (hopefully) get critically low. I'd like to jsut keep the thing running for ~9 hours while running either GPS or a movie... I hate plane rides, and i need something to do to entertain myself. I'll see what the charger mentioned above can put out. I just ordered two, and we'll see what it looks like... I'll write a review when i have had time to play with it a bit.

[RemE]

I've had Archos portables for years and it also has a 5V input. A simple 4 cell pack using 2300-2900 NiHi AA batteries in series will easily power these devices for over 10 hours straight. What's nice is that you don't need any regulator at all, just don't use alkaline batteries in it as you'll be at 6V. I carry a very small 4-cell charger to charge the cells. Works great for long travel. I took an iPod version with battery fuel gague, stripped out their power supply and just kept the power switch and fuel gague circuit. This costs more but works really well and looks good too.

[pontifex33]

So this thread is of some use to others: here are some data that i collected regarding current draw:

Locked with the screen off, no apps running: 1-4ma
TCMP playing a movie fullscreen: never more than 350ma
TCMP Playing in background with tomtom navigator 6 running: 416ma

all done in flight mode with the backlight set to the middle.

[tdusen]

Can you you do a worst case test for current draw?

Turn on GPS, bluetooth, Wifi, backlight max and not flight mode.