Omnimaga

Calculator Community => Other Calc-Related Projects and Ideas => TI Z80 => Topic started by: Demon on July 18, 2006, 11:06:00 am

Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 18, 2006, 11:06:00 am
Here's an idea for making those God-forsaken triple-'A' batteries last longer than a week in your calc:  build a solar-powered charging system.  You could get one of those small- or mid-sized solar panels and wire it up to your batteries while they're in the calc, and when you're not using the calculator, it can be charing the batteries when you leave it out in the light...

A somewhat better idea than with I did with my other calculator:  I took it apart and screwed it up so the back would not go back on.  So I had to make a back and a cover for it out of a shoebox and some masking tape, and put the huge-@$$ double-'A' battery pack on the back. Now it has been dubbed "The GTI-83+ (Ghetto TI)", and is being used as a "backup server," and I hot-taped up a nice little close-and-"locking" door for the front.
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Spellshaper on July 18, 2006, 11:12:00 am
O_Oshocked2.gif teh sickness!!!!

I simply always have 4 spare batteries with me.
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Risen Phoenix on July 18, 2006, 11:25:00 am
QuoteBegin-pyro_xp2k+-->
QUOTE (pyro_xp2k)
God-forsaken triple-'A' batteries last longer than a week in your calc

Only a week? I've had the same Duracell batteries for 6+ months with almost daily use... and they're still going :lol:laugh.gif
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 18, 2006, 11:29:00 am
Triple-'A's
Duracell:  Two weeks
Energizer: Never tried.
Rayovac:  One week.

Double A's:  Have all lasted longer than three weeks, even with extensive usage (and even after that time I accidentally left an ASM programming running all night).
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Zeromus on July 18, 2006, 12:02:00 pm
I have gotten Energizer e^2 Lithium batteries to last 3+ months when I was doing greyscale work (4 level) which DRAINS batteries
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 18, 2006, 12:52:00 pm
Hmm... that sounds good.  I'll try those (even though I know they're probably expensive as hell - batteries getting up in the 1-dollar range here now...)
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: kalan_vod on July 18, 2006, 06:06:00 pm
I just use ravoc 15 min rechargeables... :Ptongue.gif
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 19, 2006, 02:36:00 am
seems like pyro_xp2k is one of those ppl who code at least 5 hours per day for calcs (my duracell batteries never lasted more than 3 weeks for me) O_Oshocked2.gif
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: josephmarin on July 19, 2006, 09:50:00 am
My batteries (some cheapo generic ones) have lasted me all through summer vacation and another 4 months of school before that with heavy usage and programming
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 19, 2006, 10:06:00 am
I guess I should use emulation more often 'cause mine is blowing though 4 packs of batteries a month.  I got a drarwer with at least 32 old triple-'A's in it from the calc.  They're not dead yet so they just get "recycled" in other electronics til they die.
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Dragon__lance on July 19, 2006, 10:39:00 am
Damn, my baterries last about 6 months! hmmm,cool idea though! How long do the charged batteries last?
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: kalan_vod on July 19, 2006, 11:39:00 am
Well, something similar was made into the lesser calcs. The solar panel was as a back up, but also would be powered by it.
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 19, 2006, 11:56:00 am
i remember back when we had solar calc with no battery
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 19, 2006, 11:57:00 am
...And then someone turns the lights off and everyone's answers are gone... :Ptongue.gif
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 19, 2006, 12:03:00 pm
yep, aah the good old days
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: kalan_vod on July 19, 2006, 12:35:00 pm
Well it would be something where you could use the solar when available, but once it is gone you would be using the batteries. But if you do not have a light source, you could not see the screen anyways :Ptongue.gif....unless you modified it to use a backlight setup >.>
Title: Self-Charging Battery
Post by: Demon on July 19, 2006, 12:43:00 pm
Well how 'bout this:

You could take the calc and make a custom case ( you could make it into a mini-laptop :Ptongue.gif ).  On the fold-down door, you could put a solar cell on the back that would be connected to something that would charge the batteries when it is running (or off), and could also save the batteries more by powering the calc, too, and then if its power alone isn't enough, it could combine it with only as much that would be needed to maintain six volts.  When I have time I should draw a picture of this (I forgot - I got a scanner now! :D )

It could also have one of those bright energysaving lightpanels on either side of the screen inside for night-time illumination. (and you could change the color too :Ptongue.gif )