Subject:
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Re: Rechargeable batteries and the RCX -- Firmware error
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sat, 13 Jul 2002 03:35:50 GMT
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Viewed:
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658 times
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One or more of the battery contacts could have lost its springiness. Try
bending all the contacts in towards the other side of the compartment
(not too far!). Also, the contacts that supply the power from the
batteries to the circuit board may be loose. Look at
http://graphics.stanford.edu/~kekoa/rcx/#Hardware for instructions on
how to disassemble your RCX (standard disclaimer applies).
To answer the original question:
I used NiCds for a while, and had no problems. They should work exactly
the same as NiMHs, except they won't last as long. I now use
rechargeable alkalines, and they work great.
Trevyn.
lego-robotics@crynwr.com wrote:
> Our class uses NiMH batteries. Haven't seen any problem... but we do have
> one problem off and on and I guess that could be related.
>
> On one RCX, we do get an error that the firmware needs to be downloaded
> quite often, and the battery level on the RCX is about 2/3 to 1/2 on the
> meter (we use the RCX software). So I don't think it's a lack of juice...
> Of course, it could be something the kids are doing. Anyone else get this
> message excessively? We have to reload the firmware 2-3 times a class
> period. Of course, the kids answer to every problem is to blame the
> hardware and/or switch batteries (but when we get this error, the RCX
> batteries have NOT been removed, which I know causes this to happen).
>
> But I do think we only get this error only on one RCX. 3 of our RCXs are
> 1.5s, 4 are 2.0s, and 1 is a 1.0. Actually are just starting to use the
> 1.0, so we'll see how that goes. We are using the software version 2.0 with
> serial towers. I haven't noticed which version RCX is getting the error; I
> need to make a note next time it happens.
>
> Liz Bilbro
>
> Teacher/Coach
> CyberStorm Robotics Class and FLL Team
> Sports for the Mind for Lubbock Homeschoolers
> http://www.cyberstorm.us/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Baker [mailto:sjbaker1@airmail.net]
> Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2002 10:54 AM
> To: Laura O'Grady
> Cc: lego-robotics@crynwr.com
> Subject: Re: Rechargeable batteries and the RCX
>
>
> Laura O'Grady wrote:
>
> > Does anyone have any comments about using rechargeable batteries in the
> > RCX? Has anyone had any bad experiences with this? Can anyone recommend
> > whether NiMH is better or worse than NiCd? Thanks.
>
>
> Definitely use NiMH's.
>
> NiCd's are a problem - they only generate 1.2 volts instead of the usual
> 1.5 of disposable batteries - and I've found that this *sometimes* causes
> problems with the RCX. I'm not sure exactly what the situations where it
> fails are though - maybe room temperature, load, how well charged they are?
> Anyway - I know quite a few people have reported problems too - so it's not
> just me.
>
> NiMH's work fine though - I use them a lot.
>
> ----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
> Mail : <sjbaker1@airmail.net> WorkMail: <sjbaker@link.com>
> URLs : http://www.sjbaker.org
> http://plib.sf.net http://tuxaqfh.sf.net http://tuxkart.sf.net
> http://prettypoly.sf.net http://freeglut.sf.net
> http://toobular.sf.net http://lodestone.sf.net
>
>
>
>
>
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | RE: Rechargeable batteries and the RCX -- Firmware error
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| Our class uses NiMH batteries. Haven't seen any problem... but we do have one problem off and on and I guess that could be related. On one RCX, we do get an error that the firmware needs to be downloaded quite often, and the battery level on the RCX (...) (22 years ago, 12-Jul-02, to lugnet.robotics)
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