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Gifts for GPS geeks - Moixa USBCELL
December 8, 2006
Here's a gift that most GPS geeks would love to receive this Christmas - a set of Moixa USBCELL AA batteries.
Put simply - these are rechargeable NiMH AA batteries that you can either recharge normally using a battery charger or using the USB port on a PC.
Here are just a few applications where the USBCELL is ideally suited:
- GPS receivers
- Wireless mice/keyboards
- Digital cameras
- MP3 players
Specification:
- Rechargeable AA NiMH Battery 1.2v 1300mAh
- 90%+ Charged after 5 Hours by powered USB
- Built in Intelligent Charger
- Charge by powered USB
- Also can be charged in approved NiMH Chargers (not suited to fast chargers)
- Price: 2 cell pack £10.28GBP | $19.95USD
Download: User Guide (PDF) | Tech Spec (PDF) | FAQ
Buy direct from Moixa.
USBCELL Info:
- Charge time:
In a powered USB socket, USBCELL should take about 5 hours to charge to over 90% of capacity, sooner if the battery was only partly depleted. Refer to the Technical Info section for a description of how the built-in 'intelligent' charger works.
It's OK to top up; or just partially charge USBCELL if you need the power in a hurry: NiMH batteries aren't affected by partial charging or 'memory' problems, unlike Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries. As with most rechargeable NiMH batteries, you may find that maximum capacity is reached only after a few full charge and discharge cycles. - Suitable USB sockets:
Most USB sockets are suitable, but occasionally a device will have a recessed or difficult-to-access USB socket: If the battery doesn't plug in easily, don't try to force it. Some (un-powered) USB hubs don't provide enough power to fully charge more than one USBCELL at a time. Use powered USB sockets or connect directly where possible. - Can be used with ordinary NiMH chargers:
The preferred charging method is via USB, however with the cap on USBCELL, works just like a normal NiMH battery and can be charged in an ordinary AA NiMH charger. Do not charge with super-fast chargers (rated over 600mA) that charge batteries in less than 2 hours. The USBCELL is not designed to work with these chargers. Check your charger’s manual before charging.
The recommended charging current is 250mA for 7 hours. Make sure that you use a good quality charger – a good charger should stop charging automatically when the battery is full. Make sure that the batteries are properly connected – the positive terminal (green cap) must be at the correct end. It is normal for the USBCELL to get warm during charging but should never get so hot that it cannot be touched; If they seem to be getting too hot disconnect the charger. - Known compatibility issues:
USBCELL is standard AA size, but in some devices with very tight AA sockets or barrels, (e.g. tight-barreled torches) it may be difficult to extract and we do not recommended USBCELL for use with these devices. Again, if it's hard to insert, don't force it.
- Always make sure that batteries are connected the right way round.
- When depleted, batteries should all be swapped at the same time, as a set (otherwise in some situations one battery could act to reverse-charge another).
- In high-drain applications batteries can get warm. Refer to the Technical Info section for maximum recommended ambient temperatures.
Posted by Kathie on December 8, 2006 12:50 PM.
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