Question for RH10/RH910 owners

[Petter156]

I was wondering if I could get some opinions of other RH10 (and RH910 users I would imagine) concerning the fact that the battery is getting charged every time the unit is connected through USB.

Personally, and I am pretty sure I´m not alone with this, I´m likely to connect my new RH10 to my PC for transfers quite often - way more often than how long it takes for the battery to get depleted in normal usage.

Same thing with the stand that came with the RH10. It´s just comfortable to have the unit in the stand when listening to the unit through my stereo system.

So this means that the battery is going to be charged only slightly every time I want to download some songs to the player - even though the battery would be almost fully charged. Say I add some music in the morning before heading off to school and then do an upload and add some more tracks in the evening. The battery won´t be near empty when I do this.

This can´t really be healthy for the battery?

How do you treat this issue? Do you always let the player get charged when connecting to the PC even though the battery wouldn´t be empty or do you remove the battery whenever connecting to your PC (this seems like quite an inconveniance)?

Am I likely to end up with a useless battery withing a few weeks if go on like this or are the batteries durable enough?

Your thoughts please.

Edited September 1, 2005 by Petter156

[ethornley]

I own an RH910. I had the same concerns regarding the charging of the battery when connected via USB so I have gotten into the habit of popping the battery out before connecting the USB.

[doomlordis]

Ni-MH batteries wont like being charged frequently when not fully discharged, would have been fine with a lithium battery.

[raintheory]

I think the manual states that it is simply a supplemental charge to ensure that there aren't any errors during transfer.

[Petter156]

Well I hope so.

I think my battery seems to be running short a bit too fast since at least one person said he had used his RH10 for a full day of non-stop music with one charge.

I have been doing a lot of sound quality tests and other PC-MD transfers lately (and I keep starring at the OLED all the time )

Edited September 1, 2005 by Petter156

[Qwakrz]

If you are constantly topping up the battery I would reccomend discharging it fully at least once a month to stop the onset of the memory effect.

Although Ni-MH are no where near as bad as Ni-CD cells they will exibit memory effects after a few months of top up charges.

[Petter156]

That shouldn´t be a problem. I could just leave the player running over night.

By the way, are there any Li-ion gumstick batteries available for purchase? Might as well get a decent batery if I´m going to go on like this.

[icie]

It just so happens that I don't update my music selection that much, and when I do, it's major updates on multiple discs. Usually I wait for my battery to run out before I connect it up and use sonicstage whilst charging at the same time.

Otherwise, I manually remove the battery and connect up the player via USB and let the USB power the device on its own. Not sure if this is such a good idea, but hey it works.

[Chiron]

Hi All,

I have worried about

I did a quick little search and found a good FAQ on Ni-MH batteries that might help answer some of your questions.

http://www.greenbatteries.com/nibafa.html

They don't seem to have a real "memory effect" per say but do experience "voltage depletion" but to a lesser degree than the NiCad ones. The FAQ has some good life and storage tips to increase the life of Ni-MH batteries.

Another faq site http://www.batterieswholesale.com/faq_nimh.htm mentions that you tend to condition the battery the first 3 to 5 times you use them, after that they reach their peak performance. So if this is correct, it may be worth charging and depleting fully the first few times you use it. So the USB charge may not be an issue.

Do we have any battery experts out their with electrical engineering expertise who could step in here?

Petter, unless you have a seperate Li-ion charger I wouldn't go that route. You won't be able to charge it in your Hi-MD player.

[Petter156]

Petter, unless you have a seperate Li-ion charger I wouldn't go that route. You won't be able to charge it in your Hi-MD player.

Interesting... I would have thought that the unit can´t tell what kind of battery is present.

[The Low Volta]

read up on this subject on the battery university as well

[Chiron]

Interesting... I would have thought that the unit can´t tell what kind of battery is present.

←

I am guessing that's why it says in the instructions, don't try to charge another type of battery. I have two types of AA chargers, one only charges rechargable alkaline batteries. Another one is an illigent charge that charges alkaline, Ni-CD and Ni-MH ones, but it checks the battery for type and then knows what to charge. I have also seen ones that will only charge Ni-MH, or other ones that will only charge Ni-CD. I don't think it is just a sales ploy, I think some are only wired to charge certain types of

I am guessing the charge in the 10/910 only will charge Ni-MH or might get damaged. I am only guessing and don't know for sure.

To date I have tried other types of gumstick Ni-MHs in my RH910. I have two extra 1400 Sanyo Twincells from another unit, it didn't recognize them and charge at all at first, but after another try the work well and charge better than the original Sony.

[AMPlitude]

no such lithium ion gumstick

[Chiron]

no such lithium ion gumstick

←

Actualy I found one here. A lot less common in gumstick, but still some available.

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/audio/rb103247-Battery.htm

But as I mentioned, I suspect they won't be chargeable in a Hi-MD unit.

[greenmachine]

Don't even try to use a battery with more than three times the voltage of NiMH/NiCD (3.8/1.2V) unless you want to get rid of your unit.

[pata2001]

This is 1 useful feature that was not excuted properly, making it harmful for consumers. Sony should have done this IF they are going to use the Li-ion battery for the units. Charging the NiMH gumstick like this is definitely not healthy.

Edited September 3, 2005 by pata2001

[Petter156]

Actualy I found one here. A lot less common in gumstick, but still some available.

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/audio/rb103247-Battery.htm

But as I mentioned, I suspect they won't be chargeable in a Hi-MD unit.

Huhm... but only 780mAh. That´s a bit weak IMO.

Pata: That´s what I´m afraid of. We should at least have been given an option to turn the USB charging off.

[uglor]

those li-ion batteries wont even fit in the battery compartment of the hi-md units. those batteries are replacements for old discontinued sharp models.

Actualy I found one here.  A lot less common in gumstick, but still some available.

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/audio/rb103247-Battery.htm

But as I mentioned, I suspect they won't be chargeable in a Hi-MD unit.

←

[ynos]

I own an RH910.  I had the same concerns regarding the charging of the battery when connected via USB so I have gotten into the habit of popping the battery out before connecting the USB.

←

I do the same and I don't think this a bad habit. Just to save the life of my battery.

[Chiron]

I do the same and I don't think this a bad habit. Just to save the life of my battery.

←

I plan to do it now too. I am in the practice of fully charging and unloading the battery for the next few months, until they have been put through their paces. I will pull my batteries out before sticking it on the USB.

[Petter156]

I plan to do it now too. I am in the practice of fully charging and unloading the battery for the next few months, until they have been put through their paces. I will pull my batteries out before sticking it on the USB.

And I´m thinkin I´ll stop doing this. I´ll just try to keep the recorder connected as little as possible.