[Duo2400] Re: Duo 230 Dead PRAM or Battery

[Tom and Lisa P]

>In a message dated 8/5/03 11:46:11 AM, CDerose at Merion.com writes:
>
><< I had a hard time starting it up from the adapter and my clock is reset to
>1/1/04 after I finally got it to boot from the power adapter.  Could it be
>both?  Could the PRAM battery prevent the battery from charging?  >>
>
>Sounds like a dead/discharged PRAM batt.  As it is actually a rechargeable
>battery, leave the unit connected to the AC adapter for a day or 
>two, reset the
>power manager and try again.  Actually, try resetting the PM FIRST, then
>charge, then reset it again.
>
>Andrew

While I havnt confirmed this for sure, I have a theory why Duo PRAMs 
go bad so easily.  Most PRAMs I have looked at have one of the 2 
cells nearly dead, while the other is a lot closer to the charged 3.0 
V.  I _think_ when the PRAM gets charged up, it looks at either cell 
for 3.0 V.  When one hits the voltage, it stops charging.  This 
results in one cell being ok, while the other one never gets a full 
charge.  I made a little adapter that charges only one cell, and that 
gets both to 3.0 V.  After that the PRAM seems to do better.

On the other hand, I could just be nuts.

Mad Dog