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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The idea crossed my mind. However, I think I need to build
my prototype and make sure it works as envisioned first! Like I said before,
I'll post in a week or two after I've built it and have done a few rounds on
local pianos.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com
href="mailto:AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com">AlliedPianoCraft</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 01, 2008 12:18
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: PDA-Based ETDs</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry, It seems to me you have it all down to a
science. Why don’t you make a few of them while you're at it. I'm certain
you'll sell them here in a minute.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:33 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A
title="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: PDA-Based ETDs</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Voltage Depression ("memory") occurs primarily in NiCad
batteries <BR>(nickel-cadmium). NiMH batteries are almost never affected and
Li-Ion <BR>batteries are NEVER affected. I have used numerous NiMH battery
packs that I <BR>have made up extensively on my bicycles for powering lighting
systems with <BR>consistently excellent results. I have tried Li-Ion and have
had problems <BR>with the electronics involved (not to say that Li-Ion is bad,
but I've just <BR>had problems with the technology). I have also used NiCad
batteries in the <BR>distant past - nothing short of a nightmare. NiMH for
small packs are about <BR>the same size as Li-Ion, seem to be bullet-proof,
last forever (zillions of <BR>recharge cycles) and cost half that of
Li-Ion.<BR><BR>I already have a 12V smart battery charger for NiMH, so that
won't cost me <BR>anything. And the voltage indicator, which is only $17 is an
add-on - the <BR>other $139 packs don't have one, so it is an upgrade and not
comparable. <BR>Truth be told, I do also have to incorporate a voltage reducer
and current <BR>limiter for proper charging and that cost me $13. So the pack
and <BR>electronics will cost me $26 plus the voltage monitor. Even if I had
to buy <BR>the charger, I can get a smart charger for that pack for $17. No
battery <BR>holder needed - the pack will be a pad for my PDA. So total cost
if I had to <BR>buy all the parts - batteries, charger and needed electronics
- would be $13 <BR>+ $13 + $17 = $43 and I chose to upgrade the pack with a
battery monitor, so <BR>add $17 for a total cost of $60.<BR><BR>We're still
talking less than 50% the cost of the other - and I get to have <BR>all the
fun of building it! And I do enjoy building battery packs. It's <BR>kinda like
doing key bushings - can't explain why I enjoy doing them so <BR>much, but I
do. So building the pack is just icing on the cake. The pack <BR>will also
likely have a Sitka Spruce panel to hold its shape!<BR><BR>YMMV.<BR><BR>Terry
Farrell<BR><BR>----- Original Message ----- <BR>From: "Don" <<A
href="mailto:pianotuna@accesscomm.ca">pianotuna@accesscomm.ca</A>><BR>>
And the cost of the battery holder, and the cost of the voltage
indicator,<BR>> and the cost of a charger, and what is your labor rate per
hour? Lots more<BR>> than $13.00 I suspect. Plus LI vs Nickle Metal
Hydride--no memory effect <BR>> on<BR>> the LI, but there is for the
Nickle.<BR>><BR>> At 06:08 AM 5/1/2008 -0400, you
wrote:<BR>>>Well, for one, I already ordered batteries to make up an
external pack. <BR>>>The<BR>>>pack I'm making is half the size of
the Zap pack (and half the capacity -<BR>>>but still way plenty, I'm
quite sure), and the batteries only cost $13<BR>>>compared to
$139.<BR>>><BR>>>Terry Farrell
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