Turbo Express & Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries

dougal · 07/30/2013, 07:09 AM

Just received my very first Turbo Express today. I am dying to go home and try it but i'm at work

Anyway... I opened up the battery cover and it says not to use Ni-Cad batteries :S

Has anyone used Ni-Cad in theirs ? Most of my recharge batteries are Ni-Cad and they seem to work OK in my Lynx, Game Gear and Gameboy so why would they damage the TE ?

If not Ni-Cad what else can I use ? Ni-Mh ?

esteban · 07/30/2013, 09:06 AM

Quote from: dougal on 07/30/2013, 07:09 AMJust received my very first Turbo Express today. I am dying to go home and try it but i'm at work

Anyway... I opened up the battery cover and it says not to use Ni-Cad batteries :S

Has anyone used Ni-Cad in theirs ? Most of my recharge batteries are Ni-Cad and they seem to work OK in my Lynx, Game Gear and Gameboy so why would they damage the TE ?

If not Ni-Cad what else can I use ? Ni-Mh ?

The warning is because the drain/amperage can affect performance on TurboExpress, so it was easier for NEC to issue a blanket "Thou shall not use Ni-Cad" to avoid disappointed customers who would blame hardware (and not the batteries) for a substandard experience.

I don't know how battery performance has evolved over the last two decades, but I'm pretty certain using Ni-Cad batteries in TE will result in a spontaneous explosion (especially if you are playing R-Type). Using Ni-Cadbury batteries will certainly result in a horrible, sugary mess in the battery compartment (a pain the clean out, be sure to use cotton swabs to reach the nooks and crannies).

HercTNT · 07/30/2013, 11:09 AM

Quote from: dougal on 07/30/2013, 07:09 AMJust received my very first Turbo Express today. I am dying to go home and try it but i'm at work

Anyway... I opened up the battery cover and it says not to use Ni-Cad batteries :S

Has anyone used Ni-Cad in theirs ? Most of my recharge batteries are Ni-Cad and they seem to work OK in my Lynx, Game Gear and Gameboy so why would they damage the TE ?

If not Ni-Cad what else can I use ? Ni-Mh ?

Quote from: esteban on 07/30/2013, 09:06 AM
Quote from: dougal on 07/30/2013, 07:09 AMJust received my very first Turbo Express today. I am dying to go home and try it but i'm at work

Anyway... I opened up the battery cover and it says not to use Ni-Cad batteries :S

Has anyone used Ni-Cad in theirs ? Most of my recharge batteries are Ni-Cad and they seem to work OK in my Lynx, Game Gear and Gameboy so why would they damage the TE ?

If not Ni-Cad what else can I use ? Ni-Mh ?
The warning is because the drain/amperage can affect performance on TurboExpress, so it was easier for NEC to issue a blanket "Thou shall not use Ni-Cad" to avoid disappointed customers who would blame hardware (and not the batteries) for a substandard experience.

I don't know how battery performance has evolved over the last two decades, but I'm pretty certain using Ni-Cad batteries in TE will result in a spontaneous explosion (especially if you are playing R-Type). Using Ni-Cadbury batteries will certainly result in a horrible, sugary mess in the battery compartment (a pain the clean out, be sure to use cotton swabs to reach the nooks and crannies).

Esteban Speaks the gospel. Also do you know the Secret of NI-MH? Alot of users on these boards use Energizer and Sanyo rechargeables. Sanyo enerloops are highly rated. I personally use Energizers on thesteve's advice and they work just fine.

esteban · 07/30/2013, 12:30 PM

I have an extra 12-pack of AA Ni-Cadbury batteries I can lend you (I got them in a basket in Spring, but I haven't used them yet).

MotherGunner · 07/30/2013, 12:59 PM

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=10671.0

I would go with Eneloops. =) Good luck!

dougal · 07/30/2013, 03:15 PM

Thanks guys for the answers

I decided to buy a 4 pack of AA NiMH rechargeables (Energizer). They are very similar to the other 2 Energizer ones I already had. New ones are 2000mah and the old ones are 2500mah. All NiMH.

Been using the TE for the last hour or so on batteries.

I really love this TE. Much more than my GG and Lynx.

turbokon · 07/30/2013, 04:28 PM

The TE is my favorite handheld console, even more so after its been modded. Here is mine modded with component video output and an external controller port. Modded, the TE is the best handheld/home console ever:)

dougal · 07/31/2013, 05:41 AM

Quote from: turbokon on 07/30/2013, 04:28 PMThe TE is my favorite handheld console, even more so after its been modded. Here is mine modded with component video output and an external controller port. Modded, the TE is the best handheld/home console ever:)

And I can see you changed the standard LCD to a larger one too. Awesomeness !!!

Mine is standard. I don't intend on doing any mods though I like that LCD mod you have.

What mine probably needs is the audio capacitor as the volume is a little on the low side but still very usable and perfect/loud on headphones. LCD works perfectly for me too

turbokon · 07/31/2013, 06:48 AM

You should at least get all the caps replaced!

dougal · 07/31/2013, 07:41 AM

Quote from: turbokon on 07/31/2013, 06:48 AMYou should at least get all the caps replaced!

Haha, yeah as soon as I find someone who will do it for me. When I'm back from my holidays i'll talk to a friend of mine who is pretty amazing at soldering and stuff as he is a technician.

After screwing up 3 GameGears during cap replacements I won't dare do it myself. Which reminds me, i'll ask him to fix the Gamegears for me too.

turbokon · 07/31/2013, 08:55 AM

Some of us on here that can do this also, thesteve, bluebmw, keithcourage and myself just to name a few.

dougal · 08/01/2013, 03:40 AM

Quote from: turbokon on 07/31/2013, 08:55 AMSome of us on here that can do this also, thesteve, bluebmw, keithcourage and myself just to name a few.

Thanks. If my friend cannot do it maybe I can ask one of you (in Europe) to do it for me ?

Regarding batteries - Is it normal that when the batteries is almost 'dead' the screen turns white and you need to adjust contrast and then the game crashes ?

turbokon · 08/01/2013, 06:52 AM

Yes, that's normal.