DirtyLude
Well-Known Member
I have a 40gb FlashTrax. It's basically a portable hardrive that I can backup a compact flash card on.
Looks like this:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/0303/03030217smartdiskflashtrax.asp
I got it really cheap as a refurbished item, and it's been working well for me. The only problem is the battery life is very short. I can backup my 512MB flash card, maybe 4 times before the battery dies. Since I will be going for a 9 day trip where I will have no access to recharging it, I need to get much more life out of it.
A new battery costs a crazy $70.00. It's worth it to me to try and make a new battery pack myself.
I've tested the battery and it puts out 3.79volts. I have a LM317T setup here that I have configured to output the same voltage. I figure I can just connect a 6pack of rechargeable NIMH AA batteries to it, regulate the voltage down to 3.79v with the LM317T, and it should work fine.
Here's what I'm worried about. I took the battery for the flashtrax out of its plastic holder and it has it's own components right on the battery. Also the components are upside down so I can't get any part numbers.
I would like to know if these are important at all.
My main guess is that it's probably part of the charging circuit. one IC is probably a temp sensor used to measure temp rise of the battery. That would explain why it's mashed directly on to the battery.
Anyway, if anyone knows what these components mounted on the battery itself, do, I would like to know, so I can figure out whether I need to reproduce these in my own replacement battery. If it's part of the charging circuit, it would be fine, since I won't be charging my battery pack using the flashtrax itself.
Pictures:
**broken link removed**
Sorry for the novel.
Looks like this:
https://www.dpreview.com/news/0303/03030217smartdiskflashtrax.asp
I got it really cheap as a refurbished item, and it's been working well for me. The only problem is the battery life is very short. I can backup my 512MB flash card, maybe 4 times before the battery dies. Since I will be going for a 9 day trip where I will have no access to recharging it, I need to get much more life out of it.
A new battery costs a crazy $70.00. It's worth it to me to try and make a new battery pack myself.
I've tested the battery and it puts out 3.79volts. I have a LM317T setup here that I have configured to output the same voltage. I figure I can just connect a 6pack of rechargeable NIMH AA batteries to it, regulate the voltage down to 3.79v with the LM317T, and it should work fine.
Here's what I'm worried about. I took the battery for the flashtrax out of its plastic holder and it has it's own components right on the battery. Also the components are upside down so I can't get any part numbers.
I would like to know if these are important at all.
My main guess is that it's probably part of the charging circuit. one IC is probably a temp sensor used to measure temp rise of the battery. That would explain why it's mashed directly on to the battery.
Anyway, if anyone knows what these components mounted on the battery itself, do, I would like to know, so I can figure out whether I need to reproduce these in my own replacement battery. If it's part of the charging circuit, it would be fine, since I won't be charging my battery pack using the flashtrax itself.
Pictures:
**broken link removed**
Sorry for the novel.