It almost seems unnatural to keep charging a rechargeable battery but that is what Compaq says we should do with the IPAQ 3150.

I have been reading the poop sheet downloaded from the Compaq tech support web page

http://wwss1pro.compaq.com/support/reference_library/viewdocument.asp?countrycode=1000&prodid=573|iPAQ+H3600+Series+Pocket+PC&source=1.xml&dt=21

It says not to let it sit around for two weeks or more without charging the battery.

I did that once. Thing was deader than a door-nail & lost all data. (Fortunately, nothing that I hadn't backed up on the PC.

And if you don't keep charging it, at least in my limited experience, the darn thing is either dead or almost dead and gives that power very low warning and won't allow me to do anything with it. Very annoying. I know it is my own fault for not keeping it charged all the time.

I keep the IPAQ in the truck and the charger in the house..and my wife does not like it plugged in on the kitchen counter all the time. At least on the counter by the coffee I see it in the morning and remember to take it with me. (now I need to remember to go get the IPAQ out of the truck and plug it in...today)

At any rate, it is mighty annoying to have a dead battery when you want to check the PDOP or SV locations.

Sharon and Randy bought devices from Radio Shack that plug in the cigarette lighter in the truck. They use them to charge batteries and run things portable.

Sharon says its called a portable power inverter.

Modified By Phil athome on 6/2/2002 at 9:20 PM

I sympathize with the lack of staying power from the Ipaq battery system.I have reloaded my application program many times. However,one thing that you may try is to purchase the expansion kit(I'm assuming that you do not already have it),which will not only give you an expansion slot, but will also give you an additional power supply.This unit can be purchased a Office Depot and other retail outlets for approximately $150.00. This should at least double your battery life.
On another note, when you connect your PDA to your computer with activesync, check out the tools menu, there is a backup routine which will allow you to restore all your original programs and data should it be deleted from a power failure.