iRiver H120 / H140: Symptoms of battery (or charger) failure?

[Humbug]

I'm running two rockboxed iRivers, both with original batteries, one with the CF-Mod (so I'm fine with taking them apart, so long as I don't need to solder them).

These are my most up-to date recorders, I also use a Nomad JB3 for recording, as it works best with my SP-CMC-2 mics.

At the moment both iRivers are not charging to 100% capacity - or if they do, this is fairly rapidly dropping off, while they are sitting on my desk. They will still record for an hour or two, but I'm used to four or five hours.

So either both batteries have failed, around the same time, or the battery charger is only partially charging them.

How do I know which is correct? I am not able to get a multimeter inside the tip of the charger to measure voltage.

I do not wish to replace them at the present time, just like to know whether to try and get hold of new batteries or a charger.

Cheers,

Humbug 

ps I read this here, but can't figure out how to make it work:

"usually on iriver you can switch charge via usb on or off in the menu. (mine is rockboxed, dunno if its also availiable in stock firmware) "

Maybe my rockbox version is too old (r15983-071231)

[TimeBandit]

ps I read this here, but can't figure out how to make it work:

"usually on iriver you can switch charge via usb on or off in the menu. (mine is rockboxed, dunno if its also availiable in stock firmware) "

Maybe my rockbox version is too old (r15983-071231)

thanks for quoting me. This works on my iriver h340 with rockbox 3.5 don' know if its availiable on the H1xx too

settings -> general settings -> system -> battery -> charge during usb connection -> no or yes

settings -> general settings -> system -> battery -> battery capacity. make sure thre correct battery size is set here, especially after replacing the old battery with a fresh one with more mAh

There is no warning on the software, but if charging via usb is set to on, you should use the USB connection only and not together with the power adaptor. (usual way when i  want dropping files on it )

Battery replace on the H3xx is without soldering just a plastic connector like power connector on computer drives. Don'T know if its the same on the h120

somewhere on the rockbox software is a battery bench. maybe run that (it drains it until death) and recharge for refreshing it.

[Humbug]

thanks for quoting me. This works on my iriver h340 with rockbox 3.5 don' know if its availiable on the H1xx too

settings -> general settings -> system -> battery -> charge during usb connection -> no or yes

Thanks for the reply! I very rarely ask for help on here, so it's appreciated when it's offered.

This isn't an option either with my machines, or the version of rockbox that I'm using. I'm thinking it's more that the H120/H140 is an older machine and doesn't charge in this way.

settings -> general settings -> system -> battery -> battery capacity. make sure thre correct battery size is set here, especially after replacing the old battery with a fresh one with more mAh

Will do, if I end up going down the route of a new battery (2200mAh - these are affordable)

There is no warning on the software, but if charging via usb is set to on, you should use the USB connection only and not together with the power adaptor. (usual way when i  want dropping files on it )

Battery replace on the H3xx is without soldering just a plastic connector like power connector on computer drives. Don'T know if its the same on the h120

somewhere on the rockbox software is a battery bench. maybe run that (it drains it until death) and recharge for refreshing it.

I think it's a plastic connector, from what I've read on here. Getting the polarity right is key. Don't think there's a battery bench facility for my machines.

Cheers again,

Humbug

[Humbug]

Currently running a test by leaving both recorders on to if they lose charge at the same rate, the H120(H108) has decreased from 93% to 90% charge over about half an hour, the H140 has gone from 73% to 53% over the same period.

Anyone know if it's possible that the wall charger is partially functioning? Otherwise does look like new battery at least for the H140.

[jbell]

The H120/140 can't charge throught the USB!!  I would just get a new battery, they can be alittle difficult to change, but not impossible.  I shaved down the molex connector so it would slide in easier.  Licketysplit auction on ebay is where I got my replacement and it had the right polarity and was 2200 mah.  I'm not sure if the batteries are still easily found on ebay.  Also the CFmod iriver should get more battery life since it doesn't have the moving parts of a hard drive. 

Edit:  Here is a link to the correct battery

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-iRiver-H120-Battery-2200mAh-/390238211627?pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item5adc028e2b

[hardrain62]

I don't have any suggestions, but can share an experience. I think over time, the iRiver units just can't hold a charge if they still have the original batteries in them. I had a H320 that I really liked when I first got it. I would take it to festivals and record all day with no problem. Fast forward two years and many concerts later, and the unit couldn't hold a charge to get through a 90-minute show. I never looked into replacing the battery, I opted to upgrade recorders. The iRivers are nice though. The rockbox firmware is really cool.

[jbell]

I don't have any suggestions, but can share an experience. I think over time, the iRiver units just can't hold a charge if they still have the original batteries in them. I had a H320 that I really liked when I first got it. I would take it to festivals and record all day with no problem. Fast forward two years and many concerts later, and the unit couldn't hold a charge to get through a 90-minute show. I never looked into replacing the battery, I opted to upgrade recorders. The iRivers are nice though. The rockbox firmware is really cool.

It is probably a good idea to upgrade!!!  Musicians Friend just had a great deal on the Roland R-05 for $89.10 on Black Friday.  You might want to look into some 24bit options instead of dumping money into older technology.

[TimeBandit]

i also don't use my iriver for recording anymore. but for playback it's still a fine device. next step i will replace the battery also and do on the same task an HDD upgrade.

you can do nothing wrong with the roland / edirol r05, expecially in a country where the pcm-m10 is still too expensive.

[Brian Skalinder]

So either both batteries have failed, around the same time, or the battery charger is only partially charging them.

How do I know which is correct? I am not able to get a multimeter inside the tip of the charger to measure voltage.

Only way to know for certain:  test with a known-good charger or known-good battery replacement.  Maybe you can pick up a similary specified generic replacement charger with the proper tip from a local electronics store?*  If it solves the problem, great.  If not, return it, and buy new batteries.

* Here in the US, anyway, RadioShack has chargers with switchable voltages and replaceable tips, making this an easy option -- especially for testing purposes.

FWIW, I found the battery replacement simple (and I'm all thumbs).

[darktrain]

Changing a battery is pretty easy, its even easier if you just snip the wires on the old one, that way you only have to remove the back cover, leave yourself enough "lead" and solder the new battery leads , either a little electrical tape or small heat shrink and good to go, I started do it that way after i realized what a pain taking to whole thing apart was, you really have to force out that little molex, but by just cutting the wires its much easier and faster

[Humbug]

It is probably a good idea to upgrade!!!  Musicians Friend just had a great deal on the Roland R-05 for $89.10 on Black Friday.  You might want to look into some 24bit options instead of dumping money into older technology.

Thanks for everyone's help with this issue.

I ordered a couple of batteries off ebay, and installed the first this afternoon. Took me about 20-25 minutes, and everything went back together nicely. The H140 is now charging and all appears OK. I will use the second battery for the H108.

There are a couple of reasons I don't want to ugrade my iRivers/JB3s:

I am in the habit of repairing / replacing parts when they wear out, for something I'm happy using. Probably the same reason I run two 25 year old motorcycles, they give me more pleasure to use than the more modern (but probably more efficient) updated models.

The computer I use to work on recordings is from 2005. It has a hard drive of just 160GB, which means I am constantly backing up shows once I have finished them on two external drives. I doubt 1GB of RAM could cope with 24 bit recordings, it's slow enough as it is with 16 bit.

I don't have the playback facility, or been convinced that for the live recordings that I make, 24 bit would be of benefit. If you guys think it's so much of a leap sound quality wise, I'm happy to listen to what benefits there would be.

Off to download Foobar to listen to some 24 bit recordings a friend sent me, of a gig we both went to, sat 10 seats apart, using similar mics to those I recorded with.

Cheers,

Humbug

[TimeBandit]

It is probably a good idea to upgrade!!!  Musicians Friend just had a great deal on the Roland R-05 for $89.10 on Black Friday.  You might want to look into some 24bit options instead of dumping money into older technology.

I don't have the playback facility, or been convinced that for the live recordings that I make, 24 bit would be of benefit. If you guys think it's so much of a leap sound quality wise, I'm happy to listen to what benefits there would be.

No thought playback-wise but recording - wise 24 Bit is a real big deal.

[F.O.Bean]

It is probably a good idea to upgrade!!!  Musicians Friend just had a great deal on the Roland R-05 for $89.10 on Black Friday.  You might want to look into some 24bit options instead of dumping money into older technology.

I don't have the playback facility, or been convinced that for the live recordings that I make, 24 bit would be of benefit. If you guys think it's so much of a leap sound quality wise, I'm happy to listen to what benefits there would be.

No thought playback-wise but recording - wise 24 Bit is a real big deal.

Better signal to noise ratio, better dynamics, better signal path is cleaner. Thats about as tech as I get