Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 10:12:58 +0100
From: Eelke Klein <eklein@NFRA.NL>
To: poly6-list@cornflakes.pair.com
Subject: poly6 Battery
Resent-Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 04:13:31 -0500 (EST)
Resent-From: poly6-list@cornflakes.pair.com

Since the battery in the Poly6 is a Nicad a logical conclusion is that
it is charged
as long as the poly6 is on and that it is decharged when it is of. If
you want to know if the battery is okay you could use a voltage meter.

Connect it to the battery while the synth is off the voltage off the
battery
should be some where near the 3.6 volt probably 3.2 will be enough to
maintain the memory but when it drops below the 3 volt you may need to
replace it. But before
you are going to do that switch on your poly6. Depending on the state of
the battery the voltage should raise now. It could take 14 hours to get
it full again so maybe
you should leave it on for a night. While charging the battery it should
easily go over the 4.0 volt and might reach 4.5 volts. 

When you switch off the power when the battery is full it will drop fast
to near 3.6
volts. If you can't get the battery at 4 volt while charging or it drops
to near 3 volt when you switch the synth off you need to replace it. If
the voltage of the battery is 2.4 you it's obvious one cell of the three
that is bad, replace.

I did not try this on a polysix but it are general facts about charging
nicads.

WATCHOUT FOR THE POWER SUPLY WHEN YOU SWITCH IT ON

If you are afraid you may damage your poly6 with a voltage meter, this
is very unlikely due to the high resistance of voltage meters
DON'T PUT THAT METER AT CURRENT (Ampere) MAKE SURE IT IS ON VOLTAGE
(Volt)

Greetings.
  E Klein aka The Bird Roc, The Netherlands
  http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/3991