Battery Status Indicator

My Lite gives me a critical warning on rechargeables an hour or two after the indicator goes to 1/2. It never reaches 1/4. I suppose I could have a defective unit. but somehow I suspect this is a firmware issue.

We probably need a function to tell the unit what type of battery is installed so the indicator is properly calibrated. If this is too difficult to do, maybe you can find a setting that is an average between an alkaline and an NIMH. I will say, however, that when I checked the depleted NIMHs with a Radio Shack battery tester, they were pretty much finished, bordering between the yellow and red (way out of the green zone). I think the voltage detection threshold needs to be re-evaluated and changed?

I am not an engineer, but I get the feeling that the indicator is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. When rechargeables start to drop voltage, they die pretty fast and you can do long term damage running them down too low.

Alkalines taper off and still have a lot of life when 1/4 full; and of course we run those down to nothing.

Right. Rechargeables do drop off rapidly at the end. I'm trying alkalines now to see what happens, but the meter did not drop off full to 3/4 until I had read for 11 hours, which would lead you to expect 44 hours out of a set of alkalines (Ectaco says to expect 25 hours).

If it does the same thing with alkalines, dies before dropping below 1/2, then I would say the voltage detection is wrong. We'll see. It is really not a big deal as long as I have some kind of indication of when they will die, but they could probably make the meter accurate with a one line code tweak.

Well, I see the point. Maybe someday these guys will recognize that alkaline and rechargeable have different characteristics. At least they work, which is the only way I would have purchased one of these.

Dear Customer

ECTACO recommends to use Alkaline batteries with Jetbook-Lite.
They must keep charge up to one week or at least 25 hours of non-stop work.

Best Regards,
Pavel - technical support
Ectaco INC,

Testing with alkalines, the meter seems OK. At about 27 hours, the meter went from 1/2 to 1/4 and gave me a warning which I was able to dismiss and keep reading. I don't know how much longer it would have gone.

With NIMH, 2 hours after 1/2 (it must have been ready to drop to 1/4) I got the warning, and a dismiss just shut it down. So with NIMH, I'm just figuring on 2 hours after it reaches 1/2, but at least it is a predictable indicator.

If the meter needs to be calibrated to ONE type of battery, it is properly set up to read alkalines- so- no problem!

If Ectaco recommends alkiline batteries then why does the write up for the jetBook Lite say Note,that ordinary rechargeable batteries can be used as well? This is why we have wasted our money buying these batteries. Change your description if they shouldn't be used.

There is no reason not to use rechargable batteries that I can see. Not all rechargables are created equal though. I have a set of Radio Shack batteries that show a full charge and last a long time. I have a set of Energizer rechargables that only show 3/4 charge right after being recharged and last very little time. Both are nickle-metal hydride. The jetBook Lite turns it's self off when the voltage drops too low so there is no danger of low voltage hurting it.

I'm fine with the JBL being calibrated for alkalines, I think it's a fair guess that the majority of readers are likely to use those over rechargeables.

I have never known rechargeables to last as long as fresh, brand-name alkalines, and those of you who have difference experience, then God BLESS you guys for your good fortune.

Get the right kind of charger (a discharge/full-recharge type, some have like a six-hour timed charge) and a set of 2800mAh NiMh batteries (8 total, 4 active, 4 standby) you should enjoy good battery life and usage.

I'm OK with meter cal for alkalines- but now I know when it gets to 1/2 with rechargeables, I've got about 2 hours.

If you read 4 hours a night, disposeable alkalines are a poor choice, expense -wise and for the environment.

Dear Customer

You may use Alkaline, rechargeable and NiMH batteries, but the unit will stay longer if You use alkaline.

Best Regards,

Pavel - technical support

Ectaco INC,