Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!know!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpcvra!prestonb
From: prestonb@hpcvra.CV.HP.COM (Preston Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Battery problem in 48SX?
Message-ID: <25590066@hpcvra.CV.HP.COM>
Date: 18 Oct 90 20:47:17 GMT
References: <1990Oct18.013921.28895@santra.uucp>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA
Lines: 27


>how much does the serial I/O drain the batteries?

The normal run current for the 48SX is about 10mA, and using the I/O
raises that to about 12mA.  Please note these are just averages,
your calculator may be different.

>Do the Kermit commands in 48SX leave the serial port open?  The manual
>states something about closing the port when not in use (so as to
>conserve batteries), but I thought this applied to the low-level I/O
>commands only.  The reason I'm asking this is that I've been doing
>some pretty heavy serial I/O using the 48SX as a Kermit server.

Yes, they leave it open; the current drain is about 12mA when
doing I/O but drops to about 5mA while waiting.

>I should think that the
>checking of pending alarms does drain the batteries somewhat even when
>the machine is turned off.

Nope, the 48 sets the harware to wake it up when the next alarm is
due and then goes to sleep.

In general, the battery life for the  48 may be only a few weeks
if you use it alot.  It sounds like your unit is behaving normally.

Preston