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Is there a way to run a PB100 without a functioning battery?

tattar8

Well-known member
I just got my PB100 booting, but it boots and immediately brings up a message saying the reserve battery power is depleted and it will go to sleep in 10 seconds. Which makes sense since the battery is dead as a doornail. But this makes the machine unusable. Is there a way to run the machine solely off wall power without a functioning battery? Or is a new battery required?

Sorry to make a second topic so quickly, but this is a different issue so I figured it warranted its own topic.
 

desertrout

Well-known member
The battery is not required to run off the PSU. Is the PSU good? It should read ~7.6-7.8V. If so, try without the battery installed.
 

tattar8

Well-known member
The PSU measures 8.1v. I tried with and without the battery installed, with the battery switch on and off.

I have the PSU for my 145B somewhere that was successfully powering it as of a couple of months ago; if they're compatible I can try that one as well.
 

desertrout

Well-known member
Haha I have some experience but I wouldn't call myself and expert... 😬 Just trying to help out where I can.

8.1 is too high out of spec, which means amperage could also be out of spec. Trying the other adapter might solve it - it should be pretty much the same as the 100 one (7.5V 2A). You may also need/want to reset the PMGR (after letting the machine sit without power for a couple minutes, hold the reset and interrupt buttons down together for 15 seconds, then reconnecting the PSU and powering up). I'm not sure if the battery switch position matters.
 

tattar8

Well-known member
After some playing around, I managed to get it to not bring up that message, under certain circumstances. Any time I change the setup, I need to reset the power manager.

The power adapter it came with (7.5v 2A) always causes the error. I can get it to work properly with the adapter from my 145B (7.5v 3A). Having the dead battery installed causes the error; if I take it out it's fine (I had hoped to keep the dead battery in it just for appearances, since ripping off the plastic cover and just putting that in doesn't stay very well). And finally, it only works if I have the battery switch in the installed position.
 

desertrout

Well-known member
The PMGR could be getting confused trying to charge a battery that won't take it. To leave the battery installed, you can put some kapton tape (or some other kind of good insulating tape) over the leads on the battery to prevent the charge attempt. I've heard of others removing the battery sensor switch, but that seems unnecessary. You may want to repack the battery at some point (or buy a 'new' one).

But it *should* work in all circumstances - I just tested all four scenarios just to verify. But the 100 is notoriously tempermental, and the occasional reset is not unusual. The PMGR and related system is more or less the same as the Portable's, and you may know how kooky it is.

What I'm not sure of is the medium/long-term effects of running the 100 with the battery switch in the 'disconnected' position; I don't know enough about that circuit to know if it will cause an issue over the medium or long term, and it's unique to the 100 so we have no analogue. But I've been using mine in the 'connected' position and they've been working without issue... so far.
 

Fizzbinn

Well-known member
I get this message on my PB 100 (no main battery, any AC adapter) that has a blown logic board fuse if it doesn’t have the three coin clock batteries installed.
 
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