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 Originally Posted by kalazano
I see an ad on Ebay for a Treo 600 Cradle which charges the 600 via. the USB port ( apparently w/o need of an external power supply ). I am in the market for 2 Treo 600 Cradles with the capacity to also charge my Treo.
I wonder has anybody any experience with this cradle which utilizes only USB voltage to charge the 600?
I have read that there are issues re. battery recharging etc. of the Treo 600 and I want something that works.
Thanks,
kalazano@pobox.com 
Kalazano ~
The specifics on this have been covered adnausium on this forum.
So I'll get to the point and give you the bottom line.
- The Treo 600 Internal and External Batteries are Li-Ion 4.2 Volt Batteries.
- The Charging circuit is a "CONSTANT VOLTAGE", self-regulating, somewhat sophisticated design - requiring 4.7 Volts be supplied to the Treo 600.
- If you do not deliver 4.7 volts to the Treo 600 the Charging LED will never turn from RED to GREEN - as this is the true indicator of a fully charged battery.
- This is because you will not be providing the needed 4.2 Volts to the battery. ergo the CONSTANT VOLTAGE circuit can not do its job.
- When your meter shows "100% Charging" you are still on the asymptotic curve.
- Only when the LED changes from RED to GREEN is your Treo 600 Battery charged fully.
- Reduced amperage increases the "surge" portion of the charge cycle - this charging time increase is marginal.
- However, if you use your Treo 600 a great deal, while charging, then the available amperage becomes relevant.
Note: Handspring's OEM USB Cable is only 24" long.
Voltage drop from using a longer cable, voltage drop at the connector interface is a fact of life.
I have 3 Treo 600s that alternate between USB, 12v DC and 110V AC.
All methods work just fine.
[But I have only deployed the OEM USB S/C Cable]
An yes, the 3 Treo 600s are charged with the OEM USB Cable in our cradles.
Carl (aka ArcBody)
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