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Got an Emate itch
Posted by: mac-man6 on 2016-09-01 08:02:36
By using a 2xAA battery holder instead of a 4xAA holder, you may be able to fit similar capacity in terms of mAH, but the voltage will be too low, so it won't work. I've seen people hack away plastic to fit larger holders or make custom holders that will fit, but your best bet is to re-cell the battery pack (the eMate should be much easier to do than the MessagePad 2x00 as it's just shrink tubed, not encased in ABS plastic).
Damn, when I was looking I couldn't find a lot of information. I understand series vs parallel but always forget which one is which (if anyone has an analogy or mnemonic I would love to hear it). Another cheat I could do is a 4xAAA battery holder. The AAA are shorter and might fit but I would be compromising mAH, but I think I'm OK with that. Most decent rechargeable AAAs are 800mAH-1000mAH so that would put me around the original capacity.
Posted by: mac-man6 on 2016-09-02 19:47:10
I've been thwarted again! A 4 AAA battery holder in the shape I want doesn't seem to exist. I'm looking for something like this but for AAAs. Maybe I can just do what some the sites show and glue and shrink-wrap the batteries together. If anyone knows a vendor that battery holders like this but for AAAs please let me know.

 
Posted by: mvallance on 2016-12-19 01:54:04
The hinge mechanism on my eMate has broken beyond repair. I want another eMate as a hinge repair appears very challenging. I can get one in Japan for $300 (too expensive for me!) so $15 is  a bargain. 

Michael - currently in Japan. 
Posted by: beachycove on 2016-12-20 07:54:43
A 4.8v NiMH battery pack can be bought ready-made on eBay for about $15-20, complete with plastic wrapping and pre-wired leads. Just attach the plug from the original eMate battery (and fuse if you are so inclined), and the battery problem is solved. This is a MUCH better solution than fiddling with black AA battery holders, which don't fit without modifying the plastics of your machine.

Just look for a battery pack wired 2x2 lengthwise. They are available and they work perfectly in an eMate, with excellent run times.
Posted by: mac-man6 on 2016-12-20 17:32:02
A 4.8v NiMH battery pack can be bought ready-made on eBay for about $15-20, complete with plastic wrapping and pre-wired leads. Just attach the plug from the original eMate battery (and fuse if you are so inclined), and the battery problem is solved. This is a MUCH better solution than fiddling with black AA battery holders, which don't fit without modifying the plastics of your machine.

Just look for a battery pack wired 2x2 lengthwise. They are available and they work perfectly in an eMate, with excellent run times.

Never thought of that. The only thing is I'm using a third party adjustable supply and sometimes it says I'm providing too much power. Having the AAAs would allow you to charge externally but that would mean opening the case each time to charge...
Posted by: mac-man6 on 2017-01-03 10:17:59
A 4.8v NiMH battery pack can be bought ready-made on eBay for about $15-20, complete with plastic wrapping and pre-wired leads. Just attach the plug from the original eMate battery (and fuse if you are so inclined), and the battery problem is solved. This is a MUCH better solution than fiddling with black AA battery holders, which don't fit without modifying the plastics of your machine.

Just look for a battery pack wired 2x2 lengthwise. They are available and they work perfectly in an eMate, with excellent run times.
Just thought of something. All those AAs are 1.5v, in series they'd be 6 volts no? Won't the 4.8v pack not be enough? Or is it NIMH can only output 1.2v?
Posted by: beachycove on 2017-01-10 19:34:36
Rechargeables are 1.2v.
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