Can I use nickel–metal hydride batteries in my HP 320LX?

My HP 320LX can use AA Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) rechargeable batteries. Apparently, the 320LX will charge the NiCad batteries if it's plugged into it's AC Adapter. NiCad AAs are hard to find nowadays and nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) is the new standard for rechargeable batteries. I've been using normal alkaline AAs. My question is can I safely use NiMH rechargeable AAs in my HP 320LX? The battery section in the Power control panel says to use only alkaline or nickel cadmium batteries, but I'm guessing this was before nickel–metal hydride batteries existed. I've done some general research on the subject, but I wasn't able to find a definitive answer.

I'm pretty sure it's not an issue, but since I only own rather recent Windows CE devices, I'll leave the definite anwer up to the HPC elders

The answer is no. The trickle charger of the 320lx will over charge the nimh batteries, even to the point of them getting super hot. You can charge nicad in a nimh charger however, just not the reverse.

My recommendation: An external battery nimh charger, where you can have 2 in the 320lx for use and 2 charging for swap out.

Btw, easy to find on eBay...such as here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-x-AA-900mAh-Ni-Cd-NICD-Ni-Cad-1-2V-recha...

Thanks for the help. If I use NiMH in the 320LX, should I set it to alkaline or nickel cadmium?

Alkaline as that disables charging info

When users struggle to the top of the tallest mountain to show their H/PC's and ask the ultimate questions, Rich Hawley is one of the few up there, sitting cross-legged, with all the right answers

If only the rest of life had this kind of guidance,
Jake

And then there was Jake, President of the Rich Hawley fan club...

Oh, that's why I am an HPC Guru.

My advice: Leave Washington!

I like your comment. especially, "If only the rest of life had this kind of guidance"

It's so true!

Edited by stingraze 2016-08-15 11:25 AM

Well, if Rich had the answers to the rest of life, we would hardly have to get out of bed and where's the fun in that?

Jake

Depends who you are in bed with...

I believe the correct grammar is "Depends into whom..."

Jake

And, not only whom, but what you are doing there as well...

lol!

Hello

I saw by chance this topic and I came to give my opinion.
I have a hp 320 lx.
I use rechargeable nmh batteries with 2500mah capacity.
The batteries do not heat, have the own plastic protection information to be recharged for 16 hours at about 160 mah.
I carry them for 5 hours with a transformer 5v 200mAh, sometimes going up at 9 hours.

Before the use searched some forums and was told that nc cells are practically in disuse.
Thus the nmh are the only option.

There is no problem to use rechargeable batteries nmh provided they do not go to max capacity recharging.

The battery management has to choose the rechargeable ncd option.

In cell 16h x 160mAh
Is reflected in my case 5h or 9h x 200mAh
My rechargeable batteries are the Duracel 2500mah, of which retain a charge for longer periods

Mannipulo, you are correct...with the caveat that you mentioned. Do not go to max capacity! No telling what would happen if you forgot and left it plugged in charging for a couple of days...