Palm handheld modifications: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:24, 9 December 2007

Revision as of 11:30, 9 December 2007

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A popular method discussed extensively on the brighthand.com and spug.net for modification have involved opening the case and removing the original 900mAh battery and replacing it with various higher capacity batteries, or simply replacing it because of age (a replacement battery costs a small fraction of the manufacturer's battery-replacement charge).

Several people have successfully documented replacing the built in [[Lithium ion battery]] with a higher capacity battery, increasing time the T3 can be used without charging. {{citationFact|date=December needed2007}}. Batteries of 1100mAh are available that fit just fine. However, disassembling the case is complicated by 5 small metal tabs, not mentioned by most online instruction pages: 2 on ech sides, and one on the back just above the docking connector, which must be released as one of the first disassembly steps (for example, by inserting a very thin shin and pushing it gently down, while pulling the bottom panel down enough to clear it).

The biggest problem when upgrading the T3 battery to even higher capacity, however, is that there is limited space within the handheld shell for a larger battery. Hence, modification typically requires some crushing of the replacement battery to make it fit and/or irreversible modification to the internal components of the shell (for example the stylus holder). Another problem is that Lithium-Ion batteries require a regulator circuit to regulate battery charge preventing damage, and so replacement batteries either require a built in one or a grafted regulator circuit added.