Download Solution #12172 Walkabout 5210/5215(DS)/5220 Portable

Solution 12172: Walkabout 5210/5215(DS)/5220 Portable Battery Usage
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Swenson, Robert
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External
10-Dec-2007 10:47:36
Patterson, Wayde
Question ( External )
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This document covers information and recommendations for battery usage on the Walkabout 5210/5215(DS)/5220 portable.
Answer ( External )
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AC Adapter
The Walkabout Model WA5210/5215(DS)/5220 portable kit is available with an international AC adapter (power supply/charger),
PN 2000007. The AC adapter comes with three (3) different power cords listed below. The US/Canadian power cord is
appropriate for North America
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US/Canadian (including Central America and South America) standard power outlet (120 VAC/60Hz).
British/UK standard mains (240VAC/50Hz). Power plug configuration:
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European/EU community standard (220VAC/50 Hz). Power plug configuration:
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Dictaphone Grundig NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
The Walkabout Model WA5210/5215(DS)/5220 portable is available with Dictaphone Grundig, NiMH rechargeable batteries, PN
2000008. Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable batteries for the WA5210/5215(DS)/5220 portables can be purchased separately.
Batteries are rated at 500mAh – 1.2VDC and are specially designed to work with these model portables.
There are two (2) batteries in the package of Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable batteries. Both batteries now come with the
exposed metal band around the center. This metal band will make contact with the portable’s charging contact located in one side
of the portable battery compartment. This connection is required for the charging circuit to accurately identify rechargeable battery
levels and charge the batteries appropriately. For older battery sets where only one battery has the center metal band, there is a
label in the battery compartment that will indicate which side to insert this battery into (Refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1.
Third-Party Batteries
Standard alkaline non-rechargeable batteries can be used in the portable. However, these batteries will not allow the portable to
provide real-time battery level indications to the user.
Related Categories
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Home > Digital
Portable >
Walkabout
5210 / 5215 /
5220
Other manufacturer’s rechargeable batteries and rechargeable battery types may be used in this portable. However, third-party
rechargeable batteries cannot be charged in the portable. In addition, using third-party rechargeable batteries will not allow the
portable to provide real-time battery level indications to the user.
Battery and Charging Specifications
This section is directed to the Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable battery, unless otherwise stated
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The rated output of the Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable battery is 1500mAh at 1.2VDC.
Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable batteries are considered failed and should be replaced if the battery voltage is
below .8VDC. However, charging can still be initiated if battery voltage is below .8VDC. Note, if one (1) battery out of the
battery pair is failed, or if there is a large difference in voltage between the two (2) batteries - referred to as “unbalanced”
- charging can be stopped when only one (1) single battery is fully charged.
Activation of the charging process may take up to 10 minutes while the portable is checking the battery level. If the
charge indicator on the portable does not display after ten (10) minutes, and charging is desired, simply reseat the AC
adapter plug into the portable, or the portable into the docking station, to activate a charging cycle.
The time required to achieve a full charge cycle is about 3 hours.
New rechargeable batteries do not reach full charge capacity until they have been recharged up to 6 times.
Runtime for new rechargeable batteries is a maximum of 3 hours until full charge capacity is achieved after 6 charge
cycles.
When new rechargeable batteries have reached full charge capacity after 6 charge cycles, expected runtime is up to 7
hours.
Runtime approximate specifications for the Dictaphone rechargeable batteries:
❍ 3.0V for full charge (1.42V per cell after resting period past charge cycle)
❍ 2.6V for two (2) bars...down to 50% of remaining battery capacity
❍ 2.4V for one (1) bar...down to 30% of remaining battery capacity (6 hours of operating time have passed)
❍ 2.3V for no (0) bars...down to 15% of remaining battery capacity (7 hours of operating time have passed.
Portable will signal “Low Battery message”.
❍ 2.2V...An automated, controlled shutdown of portable is performed at 5% of remaining battery capacity.
Incomplete dictation will be stored.
❍ Battery capacity across both cells must be 2.4V or higher to re-power portable after a controlled shutdown. If
automated shutdown was previously not encountered, 2.3V is sufficient.
The average life span for a NiMH rechargeable battery consists of approximately 500 charge cycles.
Standard "one-shot" alkaline batteries can provide up to 12 hours of runtime.
Why Rechargeable Batteries Can Have a Shorter Runtime in WA52xx Portable
The difference between analog and digital dictation machines is that analog devices immediately store dictation to tape media in
real time. This means there are no open files needing protection. Therefore, if the batteries are depleted, the analog media can
simply be placed in another machine for playback. Analog dictation is not in jeopardy of being lost.
In contrast, digital portables buffer a certain amount dictated audio in memory and then write it to an open file on the digital
storage media. In order to protect against lost dictation, enough reserve power must be available to write, save, and close this
open dictation file. Therefore, when Dictaphone rechargeable batteries are depleted to a predetermined level (2.2 VDC,
maintaining a 5% power reserve), the file is saved and a controlled shutdown of the portable is performed. At this level, batteries
are no longer able to reliably deliver the required power (150 mA) and the WA52xx portable will not power-on.
This is why those same batteries with 5% remaining can be used in other devices for an additional period of time.
General Factors Affecting Battery Performance
Runtime and cycle life constitute the performance of a rechargeable battery. Many factors influence battery performance,
including:
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Storage conditions (length of inactivity and environmental conditions)
Temperature during charge and discharge cycles
Charge and discharge current from the charging source
Depth of discharge (level of battery depletion)
Method of charge control
For optimum runtime and maximum cycle life, NiMH batteries should be operated at or near room temperature (20°C or 68°F).
This can yield typically up to 500 charge cycles with the battery delivering at least 80 percent of its rated capacity.
Cycle life is also affected by the depth of discharge. With the “charge termination” method used in the Walkabout 5210/5215
(DS)/5220 portables, up to 500 cycles can be obtained with the battery being fully depleted (deep discharge) on each cycle
resulting in automatic shutdown of the portable.
Note: Higher cycle life can be obtained if the battery is cycled at shallower discharges (not fully depleted).
Rechargeable NiMH batteries acquire greater electrical resistance over time. This is caused by minor irreversible changes in the
structural components of the battery according to the wear these batteries are subjected to.
As internal battery resistance increases, the portable’s charging component loses the ability to deliver a full charge to these
batteries, yielding a gradual decrease in battery runtime. To address this issue, the following minimum firmware versions are
required (refer to Figure 2):
Walkabout Model
WA5210
WA5215
WA5215DS
WA5220
Minimum Firmware Version
1.16 Build 48
2.0 Build 187
2.2 Build 204
2.2 Build 204
Figure 2.
Portable Modes
AC Adapter
If only the AC Adapter is being used with the model WA5210/5215, there are two (2) portable modes:
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Power Mode – when the adapter is connected while the portable is turned ON, the portable is running on AC power and
the batteries are not being charged.
Charge Mode – when the adapter is connected while the portable is turned OFF, the batteries are being charged.
If the power supply/charger is plugged into the portable and the portable is turned ON, and then the portable is turned OFF, the
portable will automatically switch modes to charge the rechargeable batteries. Beginning in portable firmware version 1.1.5,
batteries will begin to charge immediately regardless of the last usage duration of the portable.
Docking Station
If a docking station is being used with the model WA5215DS/5220, three (3) portable modes are available:
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Dictation Mode – when the portable is turned ON and then docked, the portable will run on AC power and dictation
operation is available. The batteries will not be charged. To enter this mode while the portable is already docked, press
the portable On/Off switch until the PC Operation Mode is presented. Then while “DICT” is displayed in the lower-left of
the portable LCD, press the Up function button assigned underneath.
Charge Mode – when the portable is turned OFF and then docked, the batteries will be charged.
PC Operation Mode – when the portable is docked whether turned ON or OFF, the portable is ready to transfer files.
The portable will run on AC power and the batteries will not be charged. The portable can be rotated between the three (3)
portable modes while docked in the docking station by pressing the portable On/Off switch.
Battery/Power Status Icons
The portable has seven (7) different icons that display the battery/power status for the portable.
Third-Party Batteries
This icon indicates the use of either regular "one-shot" alkaline batteries, or rechargeable batteries that are not provided from
Dictaphone Grundig and designed for this portable (refer to Figure 3). If this icon is presented using Dictaphone rechargeable
batteries, ensure that a battery with an exposed metal band is inserted in the correct side, and that this metal band is making
contact with the charging contact (refer to Figure 1).
Note: All current Dictaphone Grundig, rechargeable battery sets now come with the exposed metal band on both
batteries.
Figure 3.
AC Power
This icon indicates the portable is plugged into an AC power source like the AC power adapter or docking station which is
supplying power to the portable (refer to Figure 4).
Figure 4.
Dictaphone Grundig Rechargeable Batteries
This set of icons indicate the battery is a Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable battery designed for this portable. These icons are
dynamic and display the remaining amount of charge in the battery (refer to Figure 5).
Figure 5.
Three (3) bars are shown down to approximately 50% of the remaining battery capacity.
Two (2) bars are shown down to approximately 30% of the remaining battery capacity. Approximately two (2) hours of operating
time have passed.
One (1) bar is shown down to approximately 15% of the remaining battery capacity. Approximately four (4) hours of operating
time have passed. Portable will signal a “Low Battery message”.
The blinking icon starts at approximately 10% of the remaining battery capacity.
An automated, controlled shutdown of the portable will be performed at approximately 5% of the remaining battery capacity.
Incomplete dictation will be stored.
Charging
This animated icon represents the charging process. The icon continually counts through its eleven (11) segments from left to
right during charging. When the portable containing Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable batteries is powered off and either
connected directly to an AC adapter or placed in a docking station, this animated icon is displayed (refer to Figure 6).
Figure 6.
Automated Portable Shutdown
An automated, controlled shutdown will be performed at approximately 5% of the remaining battery capacity. Three (3) audible
beeps will be heard and a warning message will be displayed on the portable LCD to alert the user (refer to Figure 7).
Figure 7.
Data Loss
The portable firmware contains logic to prevent data loss. For example, the Undervoltage Battery Management component
prevents powering on the portable again. Specifically, if an automated shutdown occurs due to an undervoltage condition (where
the battery level dropping below the recommended operating point which is usually due to deep discharge), the batteries can
recover enough to attempt to power the portable back on. However, if the battery current is not sufficient to sustain the portable's
operating system and gracefully close dictation, an automated controlled shutdown continues to execute if attempts are made to
power up the portable without an adequate power source.
Another precaution is taken with the portable writing to the FAT (file allocation table) every 18 seconds instead of every time a
single block of data is allocated. This is necessary to maintain real-time performance when writing dictation to the storage areas
(internal memory or MMC card). This reduces the overall wear on the storage areas which decreases the instance of data
corruption.
Important: It is strongly recommended that once the blinking icon
warning beeps are heard, the user should immediately
1.
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is displayed and immediately after the audible
Switch out of record mode.
Either initiate the battery charging process or use the AC power adapter to operate the portable.
In rare cases, after the portable has automatically shut down and the user attempts to power the portable back on during
the FAT update (every 18 seconds) without a new power source…dictations may become corrupted or permanently lost!
In some cases if the rechargeable batteries were completely recharged and allowed to deplete in the portable leading to an
automated shutdown while in the record mode, the portable operation will automatically switch to the play mode. At this point, the
record mode may be activated to dictate further for one (1) or two (2) minutes.
Dictaphone Grundig Rechargeable Battery Date Code
In the scenario where a Dictaphone Grundig rechargeable battery is suspected to be defective, it may become necessary to
check the batteries’ datecode. The datecode is located under the bottom or negative (-) side wrapper. The bottom or negative (-)
side wrapper should be peeled away to reveal the datecode. An example follows:
FF01HZ
The above datecode shows a manufacturers’ date of June, 2006:
F --> Year (2006)
F --> Month (June)
01 --> internal no. or code
H --> cell type (NiMH)
Z --> function (normal)
Original Answer ID ( External )
2852
Keywords ( External )
Walkabout 5210, Walkabout Transfer, Walkabout Write, WA, Grundig, MultiMedia
Card, MMC, 0DP5210, 0AK5210-001, WA5210, Voice Exchange, 5215, 5215DS, 5220
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