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RJ

Has anyone heard of an accessory like this? Is there a gps unit that could recharge rechargeable batteries when in the car, driving to a point, while getting power from the lighter? This would be very convenient. I haven't looked into it at all so I'm not sure what is or what isn't out there.

Moe the Sleaze · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:50 pm Post subject:

My Maha battery charger will work off of a car power port (formerly known as a cigarette lighter). I highly recommend their chargers.
_________________
"Hi, I'm Moe, or as the women know me - Hey! You in the bushes."
-Moe, The Simpsons

rickrich · Geocacher Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 673

I also have a NiMH Maha charger which came with a 12VDC adapter for use in the car. Its great for cutting down the expenses of running 3 Game Boy's (yes, I play too -- completely beat Pokemon Red and Blue back in the day). Its a very fast charger and I second Moe's recommendation if you need one of these. I got mine and a hoard of AA batteries from Thomas Distributing about 4 years ago. We still use these batteries regularly and I recovered the cost of the charger and batteries (vs. alkalines) a long time ago. If you ever have any kids, make sure you get one of these!

But I was dissatisfied with the results I got using AAA NiMH batteries with the Handspring Visor, Magellan GPS companion, and FRS radios. The ones I have seem to thrive better on the higher voltage that alkalines provide. YMMV. One thing I would not do is buy a device with a non-replaceable NiMH or LiON battery in it. Those batteries eventually get old and won't take a charge. If they are permanent, you toss the whole device and get a new one. You may have read about Apple getting slammed for the iPod for just this reason.

The GPS Companion has a jack for powering from external DC source, but I've never used it. In the car I use an el-cheapo laptop for maps and cache descriptions and its connected to a tiny Deluo USB GPSr that is velcroed to the dash. BTW, the laptop has been running 24x7 since I got it 13 months ago, with the exception of a few times when I forgot to jack it into the lighter and ran down the battery.

The laptop is the focal point of our mobile geo information center. I fill up the laptop with waypoints at home (using my geo-demand and geo-nearest tools). I carry a couple of cables in the glove compartment that let us download waypoints from the laptop to the GPS Companion and Dylan's Geko 201 if needed. And I can update the maps and waypoints and get answers to puzzle caches Smile

on the laptop while on the road using a USB connected Sprint cell phone. The kids have also been known to surf and play games on the laptop to pass the time between caches.

-Rick

towlebooth · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:39 am Post subject:

Great minds buy alike! I've got the maha MH-C204F. Came with both the wall wort and car adapter. That coupled with a lighter plug splitter and I'm good to go!

SirPoonga · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 2:37 am Post subject:

There's a rayovac car charger that suppose to charge in 1 hour at target.