Batteries (Akaline vs. Nickle Metal Hybrid) October 22 2001 at 8:38 PM
I read several times in the operator's manual that only alkaline batteries can be used in the Zoom Palmstudio. I have tried at Bestbuy, Circut City... to find a battery charger set. The only chargers and chargeable batteries I can find are the Nickle Metal Hybrid. Are these different than alkaline and is it ok to use these in the Zoom Palmstudio? I emailed at Zoom's customer support site about 4 months ago and have not received an answer yet.
I use Nickle-Metal Hybrid rechargeable batteries and they seem to last about the same as the alkaline. I haven't experienced any problems with the PS-02.
I don't think the difference between rechargable batteries and alkaline batteries will cause any harm to the unit. They recommend alkaline because they will last longer than regular batteries.
I believe rechargeable batteries only come in Nickle/Metal because of their "rechargeability".
If anyone has a differing opinion or evidence to the contrary, please post.
Mike
Battery Notes
October 23 2001, 7:06 PM
Two things become important when thinking about battery types.
1) It is not good to have the PS-02 power drop out when in use. That is how you loose songs and blow Smartmedia formats.
2) Rechargable 1.5 volt batterys are "fully charged" at about .9 volts.
The idea behind rechargable batterys is to maintain a working voltage. Taking advantage of the Metal/Hydrids flat power curve allows the design to work fully charged at about .9 volts. The power level stays constant until depleated, then it drops suddenly. This will give you very little time to finish things up when the battery indicator starts warning of low power.
Alkaline batterys start out at about 1.5 volts and as they are used drop slowly to lower voltages. When it reaches a voltage lower than say .7 volts it is efectively used up.
Another differance is that if you have four rechargeable batterys in a device, and one of the batterys goes low, than the device voltage will go low. They do not pass usable voltage through like Alkaline batterys and act more like resistors when they are depleated.
Personally I have used rechargeable batterys and gotten behind them with purchasses of chargers and spares using them almost exclusivly untill I started loosing works. Then They came out. I don't use rechargables in the PS-02 anymore.
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