Trickle charging a Palm handheld

Second user Palm handhelds, especially company hand ins, often come without a mains charger. Some of these devices can be trickle charged, using a standard 5 pin USB mini cable. This includes the popular Tungsten E model, and the entire range of Zire PDAs.

A trickle charge is possible through a USB connection, which can deliver power to peripherals such as handhelds. Trickle charges are usually slower than regular charges, and a handheld can take up to 2 hours to charge completely.

The battery icon on the handheld may not show the lightning bolt that indicates charging. However, this doesn't mean it's not charging. To get the most out of the trickle charge, use a USB port on a desktop computer, or a powered hub, and turn off the handheld while charging. Trickle charging may not work on a completely drained handheld.