Eken M-001 battery life

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sabrepoint

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#69576 11-Oct-2010 19:24

Hi
For a real cheap ebook viewer and wi-fi, I'm really happy with my generic M-001. Well, it's far easier to use than my little Nokia N5800 for wi-fi and cheaper than Kindle. And I quite like the Android OS. All good ... apart from battery life. Herein lies my problem. Got a few ideas:
1) Hook up a larger, external 7.2 V batt (maybe a R/C racing car batt) in parallel with the built-in one. But I think this would lead to charging/discharging imbalance and probably destroy in-built batt over time. Mixing different capacity and types probably a no-no?
2) Use a 0.21 mm power supply socket which switches off the internal batt when my big, external one is plugged in. Might be best idea as 230 V supply will charge whichever batt is connected. So the built-in one would probably be my reserve.
3) Buy a big 9.6 V battery and plug it in to the existing charging socket. So effectively use this batt as the charger for the built-in one. BUT is the M-001 DC power supply regulated internally? It would need to be, else I'll cook the built-in battery. I note the open-cct voltage of the 230 V charger is about 9.2 V DC.
Sorry about the waffle. Anyone got any ideas or experience? Advice re above?

Thanks!

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#390630 11-Oct-2010 20:20

Wouldn't do your option 1. due to imbalance issues... the result could lead to the internal battery exploding and catching fire.

It's possible that you may get a similar issue with your opt 3. As the external battery can supply way too much current... even at the 9.1 v.... although I'd think the device does have a built in regulator, but as I haven't had the back off mine I can't be sure.

Which leaves your opt 2... and that means moding the unit to add a new power socket to accept your new battery. At least inthe process you'll find if it does have an internal regulator.

But the other option is to search the web and see what other folk have done, and what has worked... there's plenty that have.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#390633 11-Oct-2010 20:31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djp9-4fxGLI

I saw this video a while back, this guy has done some pretty amazing stuf to his eken m-001, maybe you could do the same as him with the batteries.

ZollyMonsta

3009 posts

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#390655 11-Oct-2010 21:18

Why do you need to? Turn down the screen brightness. I did that when I had am eken and was able to get 3 hours 15mins of constant use surfing the net.

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sabrepoint

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#390667 11-Oct-2010 21:44

Thanks guys.
I have looked around a bit. Seen the vid too jbard. So far I go with ownsox and get external battery and switch it. Zolly wow...I'm lucky to get an hour with wi-fi! Maybe because I've got generic "Eken". And you know, I have brightness at absolute minimum, and still too bright! ... doesn't make much diff on mine! Need a few more hours (read books on plane and so on).

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#390668 11-Oct-2010 21:46

hmm mine is generic and i get a good 3-4 hours with brightness about 50% :)
maybe i just got lucky.

ZollyMonsta

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#390676 11-Oct-2010 22:12

sabrepoint: Zolly wow...I'm lucky to get an hour with wi-fi! Maybe because I've got generic "Eken". And you know, I have brightness at absolute minimum, and still too bright! ... doesn't make much diff on mine! Need a few more hours (read books on plane and so on).

Mine was a 'generic' too. Got off trademe. Maybe you were just a bit unlucky and got one with poor battery performance? :(

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

sabrepoint

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#390917 12-Oct-2010 13:07

Thanks again

Incidentially, what do you guys think of wi-fi range? Probably my home wi-fi is getting a bit ancient but my Nokia 5800 can easily use wi-fi throughout ... but with my Eken, even being 6 m away will often cut out (timber frame/gib walls). Here I am, only 4 m away from router right now at 29 Mbps "Fair" strength. Gotta stand right over the router to get Excellent. But I think I got better performance at a friend's house the other day so maybe I need a better router!

But anyway Still happy with unit ... for the price it's great. Reading lots of books!

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Linuxluver

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#390939 12-Oct-2010 13:50

sabrepoint: Thanks again

Incidentially, what do you guys think of wi-fi range? Probably my home wi-fi is getting a bit ancient but my Nokia 5800 can easily use wi-fi throughout ... but with my Eken, even being 6 m away will often cut out (timber frame/gib walls). Here I am, only 4 m away from router right now at 29 Mbps "Fair" strength. Gotta stand right over the router to get Excellent. But I think I got better performance at a friend's house the other day so maybe I need a better router!

But anyway Still happy with unit ... for the price it's great. Reading lots of books!

What firmware are you using?

LFD and Roger Calver tend to drop the "Txpower=" value in /system/etc/Wireless/RTsomething/RTsomething.dat to 25 from the maximum 100 (milliwatts).

Put it back to 100 for best wifi performance. The isn't just you hearing the AP...but the AP also needs to be able to hear you...and I've found 25 milliwatts is a whisper....when a shout is more useful. That aside, the antenna isn't the best. It's a cheap device.

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sabrepoint

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#391540 13-Oct-2010 21:03

Thanks. Was set at 100. Good idea though!