Battery Pack for iHP Series

[jeff]

Brought over from the old forum. 7 replies. Jeff

BigD: topic initiator

Please see the link lhere

There are two battery packs I have found. The first is a three AA one that generates 4.5V with 3AA alkaline batteries. This will allow the player to play, but does not charge the internal battery. The second one is four AA batteries that generates 5V 2A with 4 1.25V 2000mAh NiMH batteries. This will charge the internal battery and also allow it to play (exactly like the mains).

All the information is posted there.

SweetSpot

Hey BigD, was looking on that website for the battery pack, even used the item number, but couldn't find it. Could you perhaps post a direct link ? I looked through the electronics/battery section, which is where I would assume it would be, but no luck. Perhpas an oversight ? I'd like to have the direct link so that I can move this post to the tips/tricks section... I guess later though, as I'm getting ready for company and we're all going to see ROTK.

Thanks alot,
S.S.

BigD

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/mod...moduleno=35202

This is only a frame so I didn't post a link to it. The codes are:

L32AK
L33AK

Just cut and paste them into the product search box. It is working fine for me. Not sure what you are doing wrong.

divad6719

Looks like a good deal, they are quite cheap as well.
It's nice to see something in the UK for a change, usually this type of add-on is what you would find in the US.

Cheers

Jeff
Guest

Does anyone know where I can get these in Canada or the US?

SweetSpot

I can't imagine such an item being limited to one country. I'd imagine that if one was resourceful enough (or just not lazy, like I can be), they'd find the same contraption made by a different company. The first step in this would be to google a list of electronics/battery specialists. Get in touch with them, as I'm sure that if they don't actually have it, they probably have contacts which do.

BigD

I'd say Maplin is very similar to Radio Shack in the US. Not sure if Radio Shack exists still as Tandy (UK name) doesn't trade in the UK anymore.

FlameGrilled

The Tandy retail outlets are long dead in the UK, about 15 yrs i think apart from maybe one obsure outlet somewhere (channel islands i think).

As for the 'It's nice to see something in the UK for a change, usually this type of add-on is what you would find in the US.'

All i can, tactfully, say is that that impression kinda says you've been looking in the wrong places for this kind of thing

Any good component or electronics component supplier has been stocking such sub-assemblies and complete plug-in type finished assemblies for years - i can remember going back over 15 yrs from when i remember my father buying a similar pack (clearly not using such high capacity cells) that would take any AA type nicad or alkaline as a backpack for a radio transceiver.

And, in his case, it was a supplier like Maplin, who sold the item, not the usually marked-up radio goods outlet - the Tri/Kenwood branded version was about 5 times the price with some junky cells chucked in.

5x the price may seem steep, but when you put that into UK prices 15 yrs ago, the Trio/Kenwood official accessory price was hideously profiteering (for ferks sake, nicads weren't that expensive even then).

So, a lesson to be learnt, expand the mind and don't always look in the obvious places first

Regards...

[Big D]

Unfortunately I posted a reply to this earlier today, which hasn't been ported from the old forum, but contained all the information I'd put on the iRiver site.

Is there any chance it can be ported across too, Jeff? If not then I'll write it out again.

[jeff]

Here's the missing piece of BigD's post. Jeff

BigD

Thought I'd update about the battery pack. For those who can't be bothered with the iRiver forum.

NOTE: All testing was done once the player battery had been fully discharged. (i.e. would display low battery and switch off when turned on)

3 battery pack (L32AK)

I initially tested with part used 3AA Eveready Alkalines. These cause the player to function without making the green charging light on. This seemed to function as a normal external battery pack.

Since I did this test I have tried it with brand new 3AA Duracell Alkalines. This did cause the green charging light to come on as well as power the player.

I do not have any battery testing equipment so I cannot test current and supply, etc. If anyone buys this that has the right equipment then please post your results!

4 battery pack (L33AK)

This was a more simple test. Fully charged 4x1.25V AA MNiH Rechargables (2000mAh) were used. They charged the player (green light came on and fully charged in 3.5 hours). The player could be used at the same time. It functioned as if the iHP was connected to the mains.

To follow this on I managed to get two full charges out of the pack and a half charge. So a fully charged iHP with this set up could run for approx 50-56 hours without seeing a mains socket.

Impressions

I think that the best option is the 4 battery pack with 1.25V 2000mAh MiNH batteries. The potential battery life would see most people through the worst plane flight!!

I admit I have not tested charging with Alkalines but I feel this is an environmental waste, so I'll do this when I go on holiday later next month.

Only one person has posted on the iRiver forum saying they've actually used it so if anyone has tried it please post you opinions. It would be nice to see people using this and it actually working for them.



Merry Xmas everyone.

[divad6719]

BigD

Interesting results, thanks for carrying out the tests and posting them.
This will be real handy for anybody who travels a lot (as I do).
For next to nothing as well, great.

Cheers

[coreman]

Well Radio Shack does have something similar to what Big D found but it is an all-in-one solution and seems to be rather bulky. It can operate to directly charge the iHP-120, recharge the NiMh batteries or do a DC-DC charge to the iHP-120....not to mention, it has multiple selectable output voltages so it could be used for other devices as well. But it is a lot more, $39.99, and seems rather large.

Heres the link: HERE

Interesting product....this could work for the kids toys or walkie talkies when on vacation as well....the input voltage is universal as well although the plug is the two pronged American plug.

[Big D]

Originally Posted by coreman

Well Radio Shack does have something similar to what Big D found but it is an all-in-one solution and seems to be rather bulky. It can operate to directly charge the iHP-120, recharge the NiMh batteries or do a DC-DC charge to the iHP-120....not to mention, it has multiple selectable output voltages so it could be used for other devices as well. But it is a lot more, $39.99, and seems rather large.

Heres the link: HERE

Interesting product....this could work for the kids toys or walkie talkies when on vacation as well....the input voltage is universal as well although the plug is the two pronged American plug.

That does seem a lot more versatile than the device I found. Significantly bigger though. I wonder if Maplin makes something like this...?

[jeff]

Need to take a look at the spec pdf file. It appears that if you use it as an AC adapter you cannot select 5v as an option only if you use it as a DC>DC powerpack. Here's the pdf file link:

PDF File

[Big D]

I'd guess most people would use the iHPs charger if they had access to mains AC current.

The thing that caught my eye on the PDF was the maximum output is 1000mAh (half that of the iHP's charger). I wonder if this will make a difference.

Maybe someone with more electrical knowledge than me can answer this one.

[coreman]

The 1a output is plenty for the charge cycle. From Ziggyb's posts, it seems 500ma closer to what battery needs for charge. This also is supported by the 4 AA battery recharge tests that Big D did. The voltage is fully selectable in AC-DC or DC-DC mode so that isn't a problem.

The 2A rating on the mains adaptor is it's rating, the player will only draw as much current as it needs. The voltage setting is more important and again both Big D's and Ziggy's post are quite useful, it seems that the player will recharge at 4.5 to 6 volts without problem.

What is of interest to me is that this combines an AA recharger with the AC adaptor...which means I don't have to carry both a recharger and an adaptor for the player. We have a Canon A40 camera that takes (4) AA rechargeables and Gameboys from my kids so this device would fit the "family" bill. Not sure I would need the DC-DC. However the smaller Matlin unit would be perfect for emergency backup. I am interested in both options.

[Big D]

I have been able to get a full charge with 3xAA 1.5V alkaline batteries. Once the battery has been exhausted then I'll try charging the battery again.

[Big D]

Sorry it's been a while since I tried this. Only got a couple of bars after the original charge using 3xAA alkalines. Pretty good if they add 20-24 hours playing time.

I'm more than happy.

[enesch]

This is a little Cheaper way to get a battery back for people in the US.
Only need 4 items from Radio Shack

Battery Holder
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=270%2D383

AC-DC Adaptor Cord.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...Fid=273%2D1641

Snap Connector For the Battery Holder
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=270%2D325

Adaptaplug Size H
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...Fid=273%2D1711

Now Granted it isn't a nice neat box with a power switch, but it will do the same job as the others and a little easier on the wallet after the $400.00 Iriver price tag..

I am not going to go into detail how to hook it up it is more or less self explanatory, but if someone has some trouble I will help out..

I ended up using 4 AA Rechargables at 1.25v each to give me the 5v's charge light comes on when it charges as far as what kinda of play time I have nothing to go on since I just put this together last night... I hope this helps out someone else other then me. since the battery boxes the UK guys were using can't be found(at least I can't find them yet) here in the US..

[ACIS]

Hi everyone Im from the Oz land and Ive been reading this post and decided to go out and make one of these little battery packs myself.
What a fantastic idea, thanks to Big D for experimenting, this will save much sanity on those extra long trips when you are nowhere near a power socket.

So if anyone from Aus uses this site go check these part numbers at Dick Smith electronics:

S6153 - Battery Holder, 3 Way "AA" Switch, Enclosed Box, On/Off Switch - $2.48

P1643 - 1.3MM DC plug - $1.78 (I think this is correct, I went into the shop myself and grabbed one, the website is not much chop)

I replaced the wires supplied with some nice flex and presto a nice little battery backup which can be topped up from any shop worldwide.

A

[jburtonca]

I built my battery box for $14 Canadian from the following Radio Shack parts:

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Sear...log=RadioShack

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Sear...log=RadioShack

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Sear...log=RadioShack

It works perfectly. Here's a photo:

http://ca.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/...ox+for+IHP-120

Jeff

[Steiner83]

I found this piece which seems to be quite handy for travelling. Not does it only allows a unit to give different voltage outputs, i.e. (as I understand it) no matter what voltage 4 separate batteries give (above a certain voltage level) one can chose from the different modes (3.6, 4.5, 5 and 6V).
It also allwos direct recharge of the batteries in use, handy since one can use a single unit instead of two separate. It also comes with USB.
http://www.semsons.com/powerbank.html

jburtonca, does your homemade box work just as well as Big D´s maplin box? I.e. does it allow you to recharge the ihp-120 2.5 times? Does it take both NiCa and Alkaline?

[jburtonca]

Yes, my home made box will recharge the iHP-120, and willwork with any type of "AA" battery.

Jeff

[Steiner83]

Anyone else out there who has any comments on the unit I poste info abt?
Aprox how much is an ordinary charger (witout the ability to be connected to electronics for the external battery function)?

[jburtonca]

That "Power Bank" device at http://www.semsons.com/powerbank.html is agreat idea. Very versatile.

Jeff

[seadzz]

here is a link for a DIY charger using AA"s instructions will be posted at this site Friday the 6th, In german but we can decode that too....thought they would trick us??

DIY Battery Pack

sdz

[seadzz]

Our German friends at the ihplounge have posted DIY instructions for building a cutel little battey pack for ihp-1xx. Click on the photograph for step by step instructions including pix.

All parts are available at Rat Shack for about $3.00 USD.

Tools required: Pocket knife, soldering iron, screwdriver.

DIY Battery Pack

use a website translator if you want to read the instructions in english.

good luck

sdz

[BackFireWarrior]

Heres my homemade external battery pack for my iGP100 and iHP100. I made it this weekend.




iHP battery is full (no yellow light)