eMate Replacement Power Adapter/Battery

[LadyAiluros]

I just came into a nice looking eMate from a warehouse sale this weekend! I know it works fine, there was a test power bank there, but now I need to get my own adapter for it. There is only one that comes up on Amazon, and I'm always leery of buying stuff like this there since it's often not the voltage/amps/watts advertised. Where is a good place to go for this, or is there one on Amazon that's known to be correct?

Additionally, is there anywhere that sells refurbished batteries for this or anyone that will rebuild them? I read the directions and I'm not sure soldering batteries is something I am ready for!

Thanks muchly!

 

[AlpineRaven]

I am pretty sure they use rechargeable AA batteries that you should be able to replace it yourself easily - no you dont need solder it.
Cheers
AP

 

[defor]

I also bought one from System Source!
Honestly, a generic 7.5v adapter should work fine- I'm actually about to go diffing around in my adapters bin, but if I don't have one- the generic ones on amazon should be fine.

 

[LadyAiluros]

I am pretty sure they use rechargeable AA batteries that you should be able to replace it yourself easily - no you dont need solder it.
Cheers
AP

Nope! Proprietary battery pack that clips to the board. We looked, and found a few battery bombed ones at the workshop later ;;

 

[aladds]

There is an understanding in the Newton community that the 9W supply (which you would want for the eMate) is current limited _in the supply_ somehow and therefore a supply capable of a higher current output can cause damage. This is even detected by the Newton since it can display an "Adaptor supplying too much power" error.

Those supplies provide 7.5v at 1.2A.

I've used 7.3v (8v minus a diode drop) from a 5V 2A USB phone charger, through a little SMPS board, which gives ~1.25A, and this seems to be fine: I used one of these (AliExpress) configured to 8v output, and then an inline 1N4001 to drop the voltage. Had I spent a bit more time fiddling it wouldn't be too difficult to configure the board for the correct voltage I'm sure. I just didn't.

Simpler would be finding a supply which has the correct rating in the first place

I suppose one of these days it would be worth reverse engineering the power circuitry inside the thing to see what it's really doing to see if a current limited supply is really necessary. I don't believe anyone has done this before, but I am happy to be corrected.

 

[joevt]

There is an understanding in the Newton community that the 9W supply (which you would want for the eMate) is current limited _in the supply_ somehow and therefore a supply capable of a higher current output can cause damage. This is even detected by the Newton since it can display an "Adaptor supplying too much power" error.

I don't understand this.

Power is Voltage x Current.
Current is Voltage ÷ Resistance.
A power supply controls voltage.
The load controls/is resistance.

Maybe "Adaptor supplying too much power" means too much voltage?

The load controls current. If the load tries to take too much current (a low resistance situation maybe caused by a short circuit?) then the power supply can fail (melt).

I suppose a power supply can have a variable resistor to limit current? Usually they just have a fuse to cut the current completely?

A fixed resister limits the total possible current? But then a large load can cause a drop in voltage?

 

[aladds]

I completely agree, but I’ve seen the error and I’ve read reports of people who have had issues. Hence why I’d like to take it to bits

 

[LadyAiluros]

I completely agree, but I’ve seen the error and I’ve read reports of people who have had issues. Hence why I’d like to take it to bits

System Source in Hunt Valley MD was selling them for 40 USD a pop this weekend.

 

[beachycove]

The cheap and cheerfully battery solution is to buy a 2000ma 4xAA NiMh battery pack with leads on eBay. From China that will be ~$15US. Clip the old leads and the fuse (I think that is what it is) off the old battery pack and replace the leads on the pack you just bought with the old wiring. There is no soldering near a battery in this solution, as the cells are already soldered together, so it is all pretty straightforward. The new pack will even fit nicely within the plastic case of the original battery.

Like this eBay item: 234677847122

 

[LadyAiluros]

The cheap and cheerfully battery solution is to buy a 2000ma 4xAA NiMh battery pack with leads on eBay. From China that will be ~$15US. Clip the old leads and the fuse (I think that is what it is) off the old battery pack and replace the leads on the pack you just bought with the old. There is no soldering near a battery in this solution, so it is quite a straightforward matter. The new pack will even fit nicely within the plastic case of the original battery.

IIRC there is a thermistor in there too. Just transfer all that to the new pack?

 

[beachycove]

Yes, and perhaps it is a thermistor rather than a fuse. It is very easy. I have an eMate that runs happily on this solution.

I just updated the post with more details.

 

[LadyAiluros]

Yes, and perhaps it is a thermistor rather than a fuse. It is very easy. I have an eMate that runs happily on this solution.

I just updated the post with more details.

I just ordered one of those packs. Good project for the next workshop!

 

[splorp]

The fairly common Sony SCPH series of power adapters will work with a Newton device, including the eMate.

Newton FAQ: Hardware

Frequently asked questions and answers lovingly compiled and sporadically edited specifically for the Apple Newton community.

newtonfaq.com

 

[defor]

Somehow the battery in mine from System Source seems good- I haven't run a test to try and see what kind of runtime i can get but using an adapter off eBay, I'm getting the adapter warning as well...does seem to charge up fully and hold a charge...When i get back from my out of town work I'll try and get some software loaded up on it I guess.

 

[LadyAiluros]

Update!

The one I got from Amazn that says it was compatible is not - has the wrong barrel size. I am now on the hunt for a first-party SCPH adapter or a first-party Apple adapter. I'm also looking at one of those test adapters that are adjustable output. That's what someone had at the workshop.

The battery pack is still inboud from China.