A battery question

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Bob G - 01 Sep 2007 23:50 GMT

We may get, for use when we travel in Europe, a phone that only comes
with a 240v charger.

If we fully charge the battery before we leave Europe and take the
battery out of the telephone and put it in the refrigerator (I've heard
that's what one should do to prolong battery life), could we reasonably
expect to have any charge left when we leave for Europe on our next
trip, approximately a year later?

Thanks,
Bob

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matt weber - 02 Sep 2007 02:19 GMT

>We may get, for use when we travel in Europe, a phone that only comes
>with a 240v charger.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>Thanks,
>Bob

Depends upon the type of battery. Li-Ion batteries hold charge quite
well, a year isn't unrealistic for one, it is for a NiCd or NiMh
however.

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d.g.s. - 02 Sep 2007 03:22 GMT

> We may get, for use when we travel in Europe, a phone that only comes
> with a 240v charger.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> expect to have any charge left when we leave for Europe on our next
> trip, approximately a year later?

Buy a step-down 240v-to-120v transformer in Europe. It won't be
very big, and you'll able to use it in North America (assuming, of
course, that's where you live when not in Europe).

Signature

dgs

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John Henderson - 02 Sep 2007 03:34 GMT

> Buy a step-down 240v-to-120v transformer in Europe. It won't
> be very big, and you'll able to use it in North America
> (assuming, of course, that's where you live when not in
> Europe).

While we're thinking laterally, a 12V charger (from cigarette
lighter socket) would be cheaper, and arguably more versatile.

John

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Bob G - 02 Sep 2007 04:13 GMT

Thanks, gentlemen, for all input. A cigarette lighter charger would
indeed be the cheapest and simplest solution. Bob

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mrcamp - 02 Sep 2007 14:59 GMT

Definitely indeed! Those options mentioned are much better than puttin
the thing in the freezer and hope to use it a year later.

Also, if it's a nokia you may be able to get a charger with th
appropriate voltage that will work. For example, a few years ago
bought a Nokia 3120 on ebay UK, and it came with a 240V charger. Well
I had my nokia 6185 (CDMA phone by sprintPCS) charger laying around an
that's what I use to charge it while here in the US

--
mrcamp

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Donald Newcomb - 02 Sep 2007 19:33 GMT

> We may get, for use when we travel in Europe, a phone that only comes
> with a 240v charger.

Almost every American house I've been is is wired for 230 VAC* You just have
to get/make an adapter for your European charger's plug.
Also, if the phone's charger is 240-only. I'll bet you can get a US or
international version for about $10 on eBay.

Signature

Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net.

* Look behind the clothes dryer.

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B. Wright - 02 Sep 2007 22:17 GMT

> > We may get, for use when we travel in Europe, a phone that only comes
> > with a 240v charger.

> Almost every American house I've been is is wired for 230 VAC* You just have
> to get/make an adapter for your European charger's plug.
> Also, if the phone's charger is 240-only. I'll bet you can get a US or
> international version for about $10 on eBay.

> * Look behind the clothes dryer.

Isn't there a difference though? The US "230v" is dual phase (with
two hot legs) and I believe the Euro 240v is single phase. Not sure this
will work the same with his wall wart charger and could possibly ruin it.

Chances are though that if the phone shipped with a 240v capable
charger that it is in reality the 110-240v autoswitching version which will
work with a simple adapter to change the plug configuration.

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Bob G - 03 Sep 2007 04:46 GMT

Should anyone be interested, we ended up with the $49 Pack Lite cell
phone deal from Telestial.com. This phone is an unlocked European only
phone (900/1800) with about $20 worth of calling time on it. It comes
with a dual voltage charger so it can be charged up before leaving the
U.S.

Incoming calls are free when we are in Europe. Outgoing calls are a
little expensive (I think it ultimately works out to about $1/minute)
but we don't intend to make many outgoing calls.

The advantage for us is that we have a contact phone number before we
leave home to give to relatives and neighbors looking after the house.
The phone is truly a basic cheap model but the reviews I read from other
users said it made and received calls in Europe just fine. There are
several options for recharging the number of minutes but I won't bore
you with those details.

The phone is unlocked so we can buy a Sim for any European country we
visit in future.

Bob

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Donald Newcomb - 03 Sep 2007 12:34 GMT

> Isn't there a difference though? The US "230v" is dual phase (with
> two hot legs) and I believe the Euro 240v is single phase. Not sure this
> will work the same with his wall wart charger and could possibly ruin it.

For that difference to matter the European plug would have to be polarized
(only work one way). All I've ever seen work any way you plug them in.

> Chances are though that if the phone shipped with a 240v capable
> charger that it is in reality the 110-240v autoswitching version which will
> work with a simple adapter to change the plug configuration.

Yeah. As it turned out that's what happened. (I read ahead)

Signature

Donald R. Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net

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