ChatPC
Questions
Answers
-
How to take care of the ChatPC-II batteries:
The ChatPC-II contains 2 separate batteries, the iPAQ main battery and an expansion pack. They supply power for running the iPAQ computer, the color display and the amplifier. The HP computer has an internal circuit, which keeps the batteries from overcharging. The batteries discharge within 2 weeks even if it is not being used. Data loss is possible when the main battery discharges.
Charging the Batteries:
At the end of each day, the device should be plugged in to ensure that the batteries are fully recharged for the next day. A complete recharge only takes about 4 hours, but since it is impossible to "overcharge" the batteries you can safely leave the device plugged in whenever you are not using it. If the device is left unplugged for more than 1 or 2 weeks without being used, the battery and backup battery can discharge completely and you will have to restore some of the software. To avoid this, keep the device plugged in whenever you are not using it.
Regular charging of your batteries is important for several reasons. First the batteries protect the memory in your Portable Chat-II. If the main batteries are left uncharged, the backup battery can drain and certain aspects of the software need to be reloaded. While your data will usually be intact when this happens, it does present an inconvenience and requires you to spend time reloading the software. Secondly, charging the batteries properly allows you to get better performance out of the batteries and reduce the cost of replacing batteries. The ChatPC-II is designed so that both the IPAQ Main Battery and the Expansion Pack charge from the same charger. The battery charger plugs into the charger jack on the right hand side of the ChatPC-II (on the rubberized case). Next to the jack is a red light that should flash while the unit is charging. In addition, there is a light next to the Power button on the top, front of the iPAQ that will flash while charging. This charge light is solid (no blinking) when the battery is fully charged.
Here are some guidelines for charging the batteries.
During Normal Use - Charge the batteries on a regular basis. Often the ChatPC-II can be charged every night. In cases where the ChatPC-II is used for an hour or less during the day, you may want to charge the batteries once every two or three nights.
When the ChatPC-II is stored for an extended period of time - In cases where the ChatPC-II is stored for an extended period of time (For example during Christmas vacation or during the summer vacation. We recommend the following:
-Turn the Amplifier On/Off Switch to the Off (0) position.
-Plug the battery charger in to the device.
-Make sure the ChatPC-II is turned off (the screen should be dark). When you are ready to get the ChatPC-II out of storage:
-Move the Amplifier On/Off switch to the On (1) position. The ChatPC-II will now be ready for use.
Charging a Low Battery
If you use your ChatPC-II or let the device sit without being attached to an AC Adapter (battery charger) for an extended period of time and find that your unit will not power on, it could be related to the battery reaching a low charge (below 3.2 Volts). If this happens, fully charge the battery before using the Pocket PC again. If the charge on the battery goes below the 3.2 volts as a result of not being connected to the AC adapter (battery charger), no damage will occur to the battery. However, the iPAQ charge indicator light will not flash until the battery reaches the minimum charge of 3.2 Volts and you perform a normal reset.
If yellow charging light is not coming on while charging
To charge and reset the iPAQ:
1. Connect the iPAQ Pocket PC to an A/C power supply.
2. Charge the battery for ~30 minutes. (the required amount of time is going to vary depending on the current charge level of your battery)
3. Perform a normal reset by locating the Reset button on the bottom of your iPAQ and use the stylus and lightly press the Reset button.
4. If necessary, continue charging the battery until it is fully charged.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions for loading the
Checking Battery Status
To check the current status of the IPAQ Main Battery and the IPAQ Backup Battery:
• tap on the Tools Menu
• choose Options
• choose the System folder
• tap on the down arrow next to Settings dialogs (a list of controls should appear)
• choose Power This screen shows the current battery status and sets the automatic power-down feature. The battery in the expansion pack is used first, then the internal battery.
Auto Power Down
The device is designed to suspend automatically after a set duration if the device is not in use. As long as you perform some action within the "Power Off" period, the device will stay on. To change the time the device waits before shutting off by itself:
• Go to the Tools menu
• Go to Options
• Go to System
• Go to Suspend after: The first option is Use System Settings. If this choice is selected, you control the "Power Off" settings through the Settings dialog.
Power dialog (at the bottom of the System screen). That dialog will allow you to set the device to power off between 1 and 5 minutes. If you need to have the power stay on longer than 5 minutes (such as during a demonstration), use one of the other settings (10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 minutes). Using a setting of infinite, will keep the power on continuously. This is dangerous since it can drain the batteries completely.
WARNING:
The device is designed to power off automatically to conserve battery power. Use this power control dialog with care or you may cause the batteries to be completely drained, which may cause a loss of data.
Dimming the Screen to Conserve Power
Another battery saving feature of PocketPC devices is called Auto Dimming. You can adjust the amount of time the system will wait before it dims the screen or you can turn this feature off entirely. To adjust this time:
• Go to the Tools menu
• Go to Options
• Go to System
• Go to Settings Dialogs
• Choose Brightness
• Choose Auto Dim Adjust time as appropriate.
[Back to top] -
The yellow charging light on my ChatPC-II won't come on when charging.
If the charge on the battery goes below the 3.2 volts as a result of not being connected to the AC adapter (battery charger), no damage will occur to the battery. However, the iPAQ charge indicator light will not flash until the battery reaches the minimum charge of 3.2 Volts and you perform a normal reset.
To charge and reset the iPAQ:
1. Connect the iPAQ Pocket PC to an A/C power supply.
2. Charge the battery for ~30 minutes. (the required amount of time is going to vary depending on the current charge level of your battery)
3. Perform a normal reset by locating the Reset button on the bottom of your iPAQ and use the stylus and lightly press the Reset button.
4. Continue charging the battery until it is fully charged.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions for loading the It is recommended that you keep the ChatPC-II connected to the AC Adapter (battery charger) when it is not in use.
[Back to top]
