Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I just bought the Belkin Back-up Battery Pack and in the small users guide it says that the pack will not charge the internal battery, but I was just returning from a long trip and my ipod had no battery left so I attached the backup battery turned it on and used it as it was intended.
When I arrived home I turned off the ipod but forgot about the battery pack that I left connected and on. About 2 hours latter I noticed I left the battery pack on and disconnected it.
Just to see if it charged (had not read the manual yet) I turn the ipod back on and it said it had a full charge and looking at the power indicator on the battery pack showed only 3 of the 4 leds indicating power had been used.
So is the manual lying:confused:, is this an unintended feature :D , or is this a defective product:(
MasterScooby
# 1 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I don't know, but great use of the smileys... :D
# 2 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
Are you sure it charged the unit?
Lithium-ion batteries have a tendancy of regaining a partial charge after getting some rest. Also, knowing how faulty the battery meter is on the new ipods anyway, who knows if it's reading an accurate charge.
But...i wouldn't doubt you so much. After all, a battery pack feeds power to the iPod, i don't see why it couldn't partially charge the internal batt.
Also, does it hold up to its claim of providing 10-15 hours of playback? I read the instructions and it said that it can achieve this with alkaline batteries. I wonder if you could get a better runtime with NiMH batteries. NiMH have the characterstic of performing better that alkalines in high-drain devices. Something about their internal resistance being lower than alkaline batteries.
Anyway...i'm jealous that you have the battery pack. That is probably the most expensive accesory for the iPod right now. It must be great to have a back-up battery around all the time.
# 3 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I am sure that the lithium battery was empty as I had used it for around 7 hours which is about the max I ever get. I have never had the battery come back that much on the meter before, one bar at most ever. I haven't got around testing the charge the ipod said it had. I will this weekend sometime while at a 4 day rock concert with no AC.
I will be tell you if it last the 15 to 20 hours after this weekend :D
# 4 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I don't doubt your story.
I have the battery pack and was monkeying around with connecting it to the iPod in the dock. I forget the exact sequence, but I think I turned on the battery pack and plugged into the dock with the iPod in it but turned off. When I plugged the battery pack in, the iPod flipped to it's charging menu.
I've been getting 10-13 hours using 1600 & 1700 mah rechargables so I think 12-15 hours on a fresh set of Duracells might not be out of the question.
So, in theory, you could get close to 23-24 hours between the battery pack and the iPod's internal power......
JYoung at 2007-11-15 16:09:34 >
# 5 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
WOW...a whole day of continuous playback (including internal battery)! Would you say that it was worth the (gulp) 60 dollars? I think it might be...but not right now for me. I haven't had any problems so far with the internal battery during moderate trips. Maybe when i go on another road trip i'll buy the Belkin pack.
How does it feel connected to the iPod though? It looks like it'll add about 1.5" to the thickness of the new iPod. I guess that's okay considering the amount of playback you get, but i guess the battery pack wasn't meant to be ultra portable. It looks well built, but those suction cups keep me wondering.
# 6 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I'd like to second "ILoveMusic"''s request for more info about the battery pack -- I'm heading to Africa in the Peace Corps in September and probably won't have consistent access to electricity for a couple of years, so the battery pack sounds like a must-have. In addition to having _tons_ of AA batteries, I'm thinking of buying some rechargeable batteries and a solar power charger (anyone have any recommendations? I don't know much about solar charges) in order to get the iPod going... sounds like you guys are happy with the Belkin battery pack -- any concerns? Would you recommend it? Where'd you buy it (from Apple.com or is there a cheaper place to get it)?
# 7 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I got my Belkin Backup Battery Pack from microwarehouse.com about a month ago.
They currently charge $38.95 + $7.06 for FedEx ground shippping = $46.01 (though $46.03 was charged to my account back then, heh)
But I did notice that they aren't listed in stock for them right now :\
I'm going on a road trip to Lake of the Woods tomorrow where I'll be staying for a week at a cabin on an island with no electricity and no running water (can you say "outhouse"? blech!). I haven't tested the battery pack extensively yet (still have the original batteries it came with inside and it still gives me four lights of power!) but I can let you know how it fares when I get back with the original batteries and then the max size fully charged rechargeable by Energizer if anybody cares...
celina at 2007-11-15 16:12:38 >
# 8 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
well, i'm off travelling for a year & have purchased the battery pack & the world traveller kit. yes the battery pack is an extra weight & is probably thicker than the ipod itself, but if you use rechargeable's instead of alkaline's i'd say its worth the investment. i'm just using it just in case i am unable to get to a power point.
i'm not sure about whether or not it charges the ipod battery, but if it does, then it has to be worth the cash (though only if u use rechargeables) from what i have heard, these portable solar power chargers take 20 odd hours to charge 4 X aa batteries.
as for the world traveller kit, if u enjoyed the moment when u first opened your ipod & all the packaging that came with it, then you'll enjoy the traveller kit - same quality design & build
cheers
stuart
# 9 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I bought the battery padck because I already had four sets of rechargables and the recharger from using my Archos.
It adds thickness and 7 ounces to the iPod but I primarily use it in settings were it's just sitting, e.g. in my office, in the car. It allows me to listen to music all day in my office and still have a charge in the iPod so I can listen to it while at the gym. Just slip in into the Sportsuit Convertible and I'm set.
I've actually gone a week without recharging the iPod itself, just swapping rechargables into the Belkin pack.
JYoung at 2007-11-15 16:14:39 >
# 10 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
Does anyone know if there's a similar external battery pack (Belkin etc.) which can be used with a 20Gb 2nd gen 'Pod?
Thanks...
# 11 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
Why sweat it? It's cool that it does it, so be happy!
# 12 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
well, i'm off travelling for a year & have purchased the battery pack & the world traveller kit. yes the battery pack is an extra weight & is probably thicker than the ipod itself, but if you use rechargeable's instead of alkaline's i'd say its worth the investment. i'm just using it just in case i am unable to get to a power point.
i'm not sure about whether or not it charges the ipod battery, but if it does, then it has to be worth the cash (though only if u use rechargeables) from what i have heard, these portable solar power chargers take 20 odd hours to charge 4 X aa batteries.
as for the world traveller kit, if u enjoyed the moment when u first opened your ipod & all the packaging that came with it, then you'll enjoy the traveller kit - same quality design & build
cheers
stuart
# 13 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
this battery pack is the coolest thing ever! Im thinking im going to buy one, but not sure since i have a case that the pack won't work with. If my battery life gets much worse ill definetely get it.
# 14 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
What (if any) cases does the battery pack work with? Since I'm going to be in Africa (either desert or rain forest), I'd like to have a case that gives a good deal of protection -- been thinking about the iPod Armor or the Flipstand -- but I'm guessing that at least the Armor covers the charging port. The battery pack sounds like a great thing to have in a place where there's no electricity, so I'm trying to find a case that will work, too.
Also, can anyone point me to a thread or website on rechargeable batteries? Sounds like they're going to be necessary, too. Anyone know anything about solar-powered battery rechargers?
# 15 Re: Belkin Back-up Battery Pack
I don't think that any of the iPod specific cases will encompess both the battery pack and the iPod but I have used a Case Logic Camera case to carry both...
http://www.casedirect.com/grafx/photo_comp.jpg
JYoung at 2007-11-15 16:20:44 >
