Comments on: Replacing My Visor Prism’s Battery http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:19:24 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Mike http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-34664 Mike Fri, 27 Aug 2021 12:12:39 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-34664 Well, a generic ~2000mah 10 x 34 x 50 mm lipo will fit in the Prism. (I say ~2000mah because I'm skeptical of just about all lipo capacities reported by manufacturers. These batteries are probably cranked out by the millions with little to no Q/C from Chinese sweatshops.) I just hack off the connector from the original and solder it onto the wires of the new battery, matching red and black. Battery life seems about the same as the original lipo, which is not so great. I like the old palm III and m505, which could go almost a month, better than these tamagotchis that always need charging. I refurbished 3 "broken" Prisms and they all have this irritating screen flicker. It's a shame...so many cool features (65K colors, expansion modules) and yet I can't stand to look at the screen! Alas, Palm IIIc was better. (btw, 103450 lipo also fits in Palm IIIc so there is no reason to buy 20-year-old batteries for either PDA.) Well, a generic ~2000mah 10 x 34 x 50 mm lipo will fit in the Prism. (I say ~2000mah because I’m skeptical of just about all lipo capacities reported by manufacturers. These batteries are probably cranked out by the millions with little to no Q/C from Chinese sweatshops.)

I just hack off the connector from the original and solder it onto the wires of the new battery, matching red and black. Battery life seems about the same as the original lipo, which is not so great. I like the old palm III and m505, which could go almost a month, better than these tamagotchis that always need charging.

I refurbished 3 “broken” Prisms and they all have this irritating screen flicker. It’s a shame…so many cool features (65K colors, expansion modules) and yet I can’t stand to look at the screen! Alas, Palm IIIc was better. (btw, 103450 lipo also fits in Palm IIIc so there is no reason to buy 20-year-old batteries for either PDA.)

]]> By: Keith Neufeld http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-34625 Keith Neufeld Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:48:36 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-34625 Mike, sorry, it's been so long since I used my Prism that I don't remember! But I'd guess no. Mike, sorry, it’s been so long since I used my Prism that I don’t remember! But I’d guess no.

]]> By: Mike http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-34619 Mike Fri, 06 Aug 2021 18:28:51 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-34619 Is it normal for the Prism screen to flicker slightly from time to time? I just got one of these and wonder if something is wrong. This is not the problem addressed by ContrastAdjust.prc, which does not see to affect the occasional screen flicker. Also, can a larger battery fit? What are the dimensions of the replacement battery? (Often people just solder on the connector to the wires and then ask DOUBLE the price of a generic lipo.) Is it normal for the Prism screen to flicker slightly from time to time? I just got one of these and wonder if something is wrong.

This is not the problem addressed by ContrastAdjust.prc, which does not see to affect the occasional screen flicker.

Also, can a larger battery fit? What are the dimensions of the replacement battery? (Often people just solder on the connector to the wires and then ask DOUBLE the price of a generic lipo.)

]]> By: Fred Kaluza http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-29203 Fred Kaluza Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:41:46 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-29203 Thanks Keith. I'm finally getting around to replacing my battery as well. I saw a few sources on Amazon and Ebay that still offer replacement battery packs. Having both a Visor Deluxe and a Prism, I have an orginal HandyGPS as well as the HandyGPS Pro. The "Pro" uses a "welded" plastic slide-on battery and it's toast now. Also "toast" are the slide-on packs for my Visorphones. Yes I had a bunch of the "springboard modules" including the Minstrel CDPD gizmo. Does anyone know of sources for these other battery packs or ways to refurbish them? Fred in Michigan Thanks Keith. I’m finally getting around to replacing my battery as well. I saw a few sources on Amazon and Ebay that still offer replacement battery packs. Having both a Visor Deluxe and a Prism, I have an orginal HandyGPS as well as the HandyGPS Pro. The “Pro” uses a “welded” plastic slide-on battery and it’s toast now. Also “toast” are the slide-on packs for my Visorphones. Yes I had a bunch of the “springboard modules” including the Minstrel CDPD gizmo. Does anyone know of sources for these other battery packs or ways to refurbish them? Fred in Michigan

]]> By: Keith Neufeld http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-27053 Keith Neufeld Sat, 12 Feb 2011 23:23:57 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-27053 Judie, <em>if you only use the built-in applications</em>, this is as simple as syncing to a PC, replacing the battery, and syncing again. When you first sync the rebuilt Visor, it'll ask which Palm Desktop username is the same as this Visor and then restore all your data. You will still have to set the touch screen and date/time by hand, but you'll get everything else automatically. If you've added applications, they may not be backed up to the desktop. There's a piece of software that allows you to change the backup flag on other applications and data -- I think it's called FileZ, but it's been a <em>long</em> time since I used my Visor and I don't remember for sure. If you do have additional apps and you want them backed up, look for FileZ, read its manual and set some backup bits, and then sync to the PC and check that you got your additional apps backed up before you do the battery swap. Judie, if you only use the built-in applications, this is as simple as syncing to a PC, replacing the battery, and syncing again. When you first sync the rebuilt Visor, it’ll ask which Palm Desktop username is the same as this Visor and then restore all your data. You will still have to set the touch screen and date/time by hand, but you’ll get everything else automatically.

If you’ve added applications, they may not be backed up to the desktop. There’s a piece of software that allows you to change the backup flag on other applications and data — I think it’s called FileZ, but it’s been a long time since I used my Visor and I don’t remember for sure. If you do have additional apps and you want them backed up, look for FileZ, read its manual and set some backup bits, and then sync to the PC and check that you got your additional apps backed up before you do the battery swap.

]]> By: Judie Chesson http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-27045 Judie Chesson Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:13:34 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-27045 when I replace the battery in my color handspring visor prism and lose all the original data (like setting up the touch screen and time and all the other things that originally came on it how do I get them back? It seems like it would be a waste to just replace the battery and be able to do nothing with it,,,,,,,,,,,,anyway, I want to try...any advice? 2/12/2011 Thank you, Judie Chesson when I replace the battery in my color handspring visor prism and lose all the original data (like setting up the touch screen and time and all the other things that originally came on it how do I get them back? It seems like it would be a waste to just replace the battery and be able to do nothing with it,,,,,,,,,,,,anyway, I want to try…any advice? 2/12/2011 Thank you, Judie Chesson

]]> By: Jim http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188&cpage=1#comment-24224 Jim Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:51:40 +0000 http://www.neufeld.newton.ks.us/electronics/?p=188#comment-24224 Your instructions were particularly helpful in providing instructions for replacing the Prism's battery. Thanks for posting those. Not a bad time to own a Visor; although dated, the Springboard modules are getting very inexpensive. I just picked up a new GPS Springboard module for $10. Much less that the original price of $199.00 Regards, Jim Your instructions were particularly helpful in providing instructions for replacing the Prism’s battery. Thanks for posting those.

Not a bad time to own a Visor; although dated, the Springboard modules are getting very inexpensive. I just picked up a new GPS Springboard module for $10. Much less that the original price of $199.00

Regards,

Jim

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