Serial & PC Card battery usage

[nclark]

Originally posted by wanman
... you should always leave your link off on your 7book when not connected to help preserve battery life.

Is this true? I knew the link affected the Series 3 if left on, but didn't think this was the case with the EPOC machines. I've certainly left the link on and seen no adverse batrery effect even after a month or more of non-use.

[wanman]

Hi nclark,

If the unit is switched off, then you will suffer from no additional battery drain as all the ports are closed aswell. But as soon as your machine is switched on & used, the port is re-activated and this open port will affect your battery performance.

Regards

Si

[markdeppe]

I once read I think, that the PCMIA golcard modem if left in the machine also draws power even if it is not connected to the internet, anyone able to confirm this?

[wanman]

I don't think this is the case. I think full power is only sent to the card once you click on the connection window. There may be nominal amount of power sent to the port as this could be used to identify the card so that it can identify the type of card, but I think this is only done at start up.

Regards

Si

[markdeppe]

Good to hear that Si as I used to keep taking it out to put the blank or cf card adaptor in to stop dust etc as I thought it drained the battery. Maybe I misunderstood or misread - not unheard of for me - I am happy to hear otherwise.

[netBookBabe]

I too was working under the belief that the modem card drains the battery - I guess Mark and I had taken notice of the same piece of hearsay.

Julie

[wanman]

I am not 100% but have not read or heard the same rumour as you both. I have always left my modem and CombineIT card in my 7 & 7book without any battery problems. Still get between 7-8 hrs continued use if I don't try dialling or connecting to a network. If I do connect then this can drop by an hour or two, depending how long I spend surfing......er I mean working hard. :rolleyes:

Actually the only rumour I heard about increased power drain was by leaving your Link to Desktop switched on by either the IR or Serial Port as already mentioned above.

Regards

Si

[diem]

Just to check two pence in this direction, I agree with Si - PC Cards in general are only 'switched on' when they are actually in use, plus a brief couple of seconds every time the unit is switched on (nB/S7 interrogate all their ports at switch-on just to find out what's plugged in).

You could therefore argue that the cumulative effect of these switch-on powerings up will affect the battery life - its true to say that batteries do not appreciate going from no load to high load - so perhaps this is where the rumour came from. Personally I used to leave my ethernet card in and could run for a couple of days-worth of normal usage between charges (without using ethernet much!).