Well Anthony,
Sony want you to buy there ridiculously overpriced batteries. I've got an
old but perfectly working MZ-R3 and by using a bit of cardboard from a
cereal box have made it such it always thinks it has the proprietary Sony
NiMH battery.
I think it's the BP-DM20 or something like that (DWT can doubtless help
me here). I actually use a couple of 650mAH NiCads instead, and while
I may be charging them too fast, they look and work fine. I think you should
check the maximum recharge rate for your batteries-- my NiCads are
designed to be chargeable in 2hrs at a 350mA rate. Some of my others
are 5hrs+ at no more than 150mA.
Check how quickly they are designed to be charged-- all NiMH batteries I
have seen are between 1200-1500mAH (probably more like 1300-1400
mAH but I'll play safe). If they can be recharged in the quoted recharge time
in your R37's manual, buy some and go for it. OTOH if the batteries only
have a 5hr+ recharge time, your beautiful R37 may experience a major
internal explosion-- probably not, but why risk blowing your unit to bits
over a few batteries. BTW I saw a R37 today in Tandy (UK RadioShack)
and it really is a lovely piece of kit, if their was an R90 inside too the display
cabinet would probably be covered with my drooling :-)
Now I take a chance every time I recharge my 650mAH NiCads inside my
R3 but so far I've had no "terminal blow-outs". I've never personally seen a
battery recharge explosion, or an electolytic capacitor giving up the ghost,
but lets say a battery explosion inside your R37 would cause, hmmm let's
say a "significant amount of damage". Indeed you may be thankful the
battery was inside your MD when it ruptured as it would take most of the
impact and you personally would be protected by its case.
*Disclaimer* - I accept no responsibility for injuries caused to the user,
equipment, any other persons or other equipment by the use, misuse, or
non-use of batteries other than those recommended by the OEM. And if
the recommended batteries blow to bits, sue them, not me! [Thats a bit
of standard legal wotnot I choose to say if anything I post may cause
injury- if any legal types think I miss something, pls let me know- tnx!].
Cheers,
PrinceGaz -- "if it harms none, do what you will"
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: http://website.lineone.net/~princegaz/
ICQ: 36892193
From: Anthony Horan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Hi;
>
> I've just bought a Sony MZ-R37 portable, which I'm perfectly happy with in
> all but one area - battery life, of course. The unit comes with two Sony
> NiCd rechargable batteries which charge in the unit itself - and Sony's
> manual states that no other rechargable other than Sony's ones should be
> used.
>
> Now, a Melbourne electronics store called Jaycar (www.jaycar.com.au) has
> NiMh AA-sized batteries for sale for about $4.50 each, which to me looks
> like a good replacement for Sony's NiCd offering - larger capacity, less
> memory effect, etc. What I'm wondering, though, is:
>
> * Is there something particularly special about Sony's supplied batteries
> that makes them different to normal rechargables, therefore explaining the
> "warning" in the manual?
>
> * Given that the NiMh batteries have a larger capacity than the NiCd's, can
> I charge the NiMh batteries safely in the MZ-R37?
>
> And, of course, would I get much benefit battery-life wise by using them?
> If I recall the NiMh batteries in question (generic ones, incidentally)
> quote a 1300MaH capacity (the full specs are on the Jaycar site)?
>
> Thanks in advance to any battery experts with answers :)
>
> - Anthony
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