From: Dave Arnett Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48 Subject: Re: Improved HPs Date: 11 Sep 1996 17:19:36 GMT Organization: Hewlett-Packard, MCD [Note: This subject never dies! Which is just as well. We all need a good laugh once in a while. -jkh-] > Balance out the current drain from the batteries, so that the > middle one doesn't die first. That's a tough one to change. The middle one drains first because of centrifugal effects. The zig-zag pattern of installation helps, because it lowers the power system inductance, decreasing the gyromagnetic moment. One option we discussed is to have an alarm preprogrammed which, when it goes off, suggests that you remove your batteries an rearrange them. This would be comparable to rotating the tires on the car every six months. We didn't do this because the alarm repeat interval would be different in the Southern Hemisphere from that in the Northern Hemisphere, and we didn't want to seem insensitive to our intenational customer base. And if you believe that, I can offer you a real bargain on the Brooklyn-Wheatstone Bridge. Dave. -------- I don't speak for HP or for the City of Wheatstone Public Works Dept. when I post here.