The idiocy of battery packs in hand held systems.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed May 21, 2008 1:55 am

So i'm going on a camping trip. Screw nature I want to play some video games. The problem is that all of the modern systems use battery packs. I don't like these at all because A: They must be recharged and B: All batteries loose their capacity over time rendering them useless. Why is this such a big deal? Well I have the best of both worlds for my GBA. I can use disposable batteries if I don't have a charger around or I can use rechargable batteries.

What are people going to do 5 years from now when the DS and PSP go under and they are unable to find new batteries for them? I really wanted to take my SP camping this weekend but then I realized that I would only have one charge, it would have been nice to have that backlit screen. I have a 6 pack of batteries which is about 24 hours of gaming for my GBA but with a single battery for my DS I only have about 8 hours. I'm going to a lake camping site and we don't have a boat so I will be mostly playing games all day long. Also not to be a hater, but the buttons on the newer GameBoy systems are really hoaky. I just recently went back to playin GBA games on my GBA instead of the DS. I cannot say how much more confortable the buttons on the GBA were.

To sum it up, I don't like the idea of internal batteries that cost 40 bucks per unit.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed May 21, 2008 2:12 am

solution:

if it's a handheld, leave it half charged until a big trip
if it's a laptop unplug the battery at home where it's plugged 24/7

the batteries will last 15 years as opposed to 3

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Wed May 21, 2008 2:17 am

LOL @ going camping with a handheld.

Maybe Nintendo should make them totally water proof so you can play when snorkling.

Why don't you go sky diving at least the charge will not have run out by the time you reach Earth again

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed May 21, 2008 2:27 am

Well staying by a boating community is not really camping anyways so why not expect to use a hand held system?

subcons · Post by **subcons** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:07 am

I'd have to agree with neorichie. His point is to just enjoy doing something other than playing video games for more than a day. It's not going to kill you to just take a break from them all together. Don't screw nature... embrace it!

Besides that, I disagree on the battery pack issue. I don't want my portables using regular batteries. This isn't the 80's. I want to be able to plug my devices in the wall directly. I think most would agree.

Arvandor · Post by **Arvandor** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:09 am

When I go on motorcycle cruises I make it a point to not bring any electronics except for my phone (which I leave turned off, I'd leave it at home if it weren't so useful for emergencies and coordinating if people get seperated).

All I take with me is a small portable chess set and some books.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Wed May 21, 2008 3:45 am

if it's a laptop unplug the battery at home where it's plugged 24/7

You mean take the battery out while your laptop is plugged in at home?

themachinist · Post by **themachinist** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:20 am

It appears you have a few handhelds. When one dies, move on to the next handheld system. Surely you don't plan on not enjoying the outdoors ALL day EVERY day?

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:27 am

I'm going to a boating community by a lake folks. It will be sitting inside a 5th wheel trailor all day long. They have paved roads. We do not have a boat to enjoy said lake. There are a few sparsly (planted) trees. I'm not saying that I'm not an avid indoorsman, however I just don't care for battery packs which cannot be recharged out side of the home. What is the point of portability if you must always be close to an outlet? I've never had problems taking along my handhelds untill the PSP and DS. A fresh AA battery is much more attainable finding an outlit in a tree.

This place is not real camping it just happens to be next to a lake. I've been real camping in the Rocky Mountains here. I would not in that case bring along electronics. This is such a passive outdoor expearance that there is really nothing to see save some barking dogs and screaming children. I don't like either.

Perhaps you now better understand.

Nate · Post by **Nate** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:31 am

P_O wrote:

I'm going to a lake camping site and we don't have a boat so I will be mostly playing games all day long.

You should take the time to smoke a bunch of weed, whittle and sketch up some new homebrew shmup ideas!

Eh, maybe not all of those.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:38 am

I would love to whittle however I can't cut on the small planted saplings. I could do that with my pocketknife. The homebrew ideas are always flowing in my head so that comes naturally. I've never smoked weed. It does grow naturally here so I could perhaps happen upon a leaf or two in a ditch.

I should also mention that I'll have an hour of opportunity when my dad hooks his gas powered generator up to the trailer to tinker with electricity. I'll probably hook the lappy up and Divine the Code. Yes you heard it here first, powering a laptop computer with gas. That's just how I roll in Montana.

moozooh · Post by **moozooh** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:47 am

Zebra Airforce wrote:You mean take the battery out while your laptop is plugged in at home?

If your laptop allows this, yes. Basically, when it's plugged in, the current goes through battery to charge it, and not everyone implements trickle charging to avoid overcharge and consequent drain of battery resource. That's how I killed my DAP's battery: I left it connected to USB for a couple months, which had it constantly charging. Before that, it could work for 14 hours straight. After that, 30 minutes.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:33 am

Ah, thanks moozooh. Do they make dummy batteries to fill the gaping hole?

moozooh · Post by **moozooh** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:34 am

No idea. I probably wouldn't count on that.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:08 am

If your laptop allows this, yes. Basically, when it's plugged in, the current goes through battery to charge it, and not everyone implements trickle charging to avoid overcharge and consequent drain of battery resource. That's how I killed my DAP's battery: I left it connected to USB for a couple months, which had it constantly charging. Before that, it could work for 14 hours straight. After that, 30 minutes.

Most laptops have power management units which are a bit more sophisticated than that, thankfully. Still, not a bad idea to leave the battery out if you don't go out and about with the machine too often.

Motorherp · Post by **Motorherp** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:50 am

Shazam -> http://www.gadgetsquick.co.uk/universal ... 1QodeixGDQ

I know what you mean though. It's not just whilst you're camping or whatever either but its the travel. Those battery packs have got to survive the journey both ways as well as holding their charge for the time in between. Sometimes AA's are just superior. I usualy just take my old GBA for the travel, not only because of the batteries but also becuase I'm not bothered if I loose or break it.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed May 21, 2008 10:40 am

Twiddle wrote:solution:

if it's a handheld, leave it half charged until a big trip
if it's a laptop unplug the battery at home where it's plugged 24/7

That reminds me, I should run my laptop's battey down to half charge when I get home because it's being stored

trivial · Post by **trivial** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:51 am

Rechargable lithium batteries need circuitry that is customized to the specific model of battery. To charge, AND to use without driving the battery to drink/overheat/expire/explode.

Otherwise we'd be using Li-ion batteries for a lot more stuff. It sucks, actually, but that's been the state of electrolyte research for years now. Plus they decay over time no matter how they're used.

@:trad: stoners: If you live in the wilderness, are you "allowed" to smoke up and play games in your yard, or does that defeat the purpose of living?

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:41 pm

moozooh wrote:
Zebra Airforce wrote:You mean take the battery out while your laptop is plugged in at home?
If your laptop allows this, yes. Basically, when it's plugged in, the current goes through battery to charge it, and not everyone implements trickle charging to avoid overcharge and consequent drain of battery resource. That's how I killed my DAP's battery: I left it connected to USB for a couple months, which had it constantly charging. Before that, it could work for 14 hours straight. After that, 30 minutes.

Ah, cool. I didn't know I could do that! However, my charging cord doesn't stay in very well, and I'm not sure what would happen if that were to pop out...

EDIT: Indeed, it dies. In the battery goes again.

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:38 pm

replacement batteries for all the new handhelds with rechargeable ones are cheap and easy to get. so whats the problem. I intend to get a couple when they decide to stop producing the DS (just in case)

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:28 pm

ZOMG! GOOGLE!

http://www.joystiq.com/2005/08/30/solar ... or-gba-ok/