DGT PI

 

Thank you very much for the information and that made me think about the DGT PI.

I have to admit that I still did not get my DGT PI but that does not matter. It looks like it got lost and so my board has also not yet been delivered as there where two packages under one Airwaybill number and as long as both packages are not available together, DHL does not deliver partials. One package already is in Mexico and the other one in a DHL Hub in USA and seems not to be moving. Already contatced the seller so he puts pressure (hopefully) on DHL.

OK, having read JimEsl's comment and searched for the power consumption of the Raspberry PI inside the DGT PI the batteries just seem to power the DGT PI when used as a chess clock as the Raspberry PI has a relative high power consumption and must be powered with 5V at least.

Now looking at this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n49GcPZ2gbY about how to sue the DGT PI it makes everything clearer. Using the DGT PI as a clock is just a matter of switching it on but if I want to use it as a Chess Computer then I need to plug in the Power adapter.

Below extract from the User Manual DGT PI

DGT Pi can also be used as a DGT3000 chess clock only. Consult the separate DGT3000 manual for instructions.Two batteries (included) should be installed at all times even when the device is used as a chess computer and the external power adapter is connected. When using DGT Pi as a chess clock it is not necessary to connect the power adapter.

Anyhow that does not still explain why no rechargeable batteries.I think it is time to let this topic just run out ...

 

Well, it does.  What JimEsl is saying is that any time you see the "Do not use rechargeable batteries" clause in a manual, what the manufacture of that gadget is saying is that their circuit has no "excessive current" protection and therefore, in the right conditions could cause a hazard harmful to health.  What JimEsl did not explain is if the Excessive Current condition would only likely occur if there was a fault with the device (not necessarily detectable by the user through casual observation) or if the condition can occur randomly without a fault being present.   If you could clarify this point Jim, I'd be grateful as I am keen to know.

It sounds like, from your excerpt from the manual, that the batteries only power the chess clock side of the device, while the power adapter primarily powers the DGT pi side of the device .  In this scenario, the batteries are in an extremely light load situation and not an ideal situation for rechargeables.  Using standard disposables would I think be the solution for this specific task.

However, I have been thinking about running a couple of my retro chess computers that require C sized batteries with Ni-MH rechargeable AAs using those C sized conversion jackets.  In this scenario, your question is a valid one.

From my poor electric understanding keeping non rechargeable batteries under a load = charge ¿? condition is, I am guessing, even worse, then keeping rechargeable batteries under load = charge condition ...

Or do you mean by load that there are two separate circuits ? One for the raspberry and one for the clock ? but when the DGT PI runs under Power adapter and working as a Chess Computer it also uses the display ...

OK, there is the possibility to have a diode protecting the batteries from getting somehow power but (my diode) that would protect a set of rechargeable batteries too from getting a load = charge ¿?

All this is getting into a redesign of the DGT PI but what is still a clue why is the technical support not able to answer my question or better said willing to ask my question ... and quoting you ... ¿ legal matters ? ... 

Unless it is an exceptionally bad design, when the power adapter is plugged in, it would power both the chess clock and the Pi side of the device simultaneously.  The batteries would be effectively disconnected during that time.  It may be that the Pi has its own clock that overrides the built in clock - rending the clock circuit inactive.

When the power supply is disconnected then my understanding is that the batteries will only operate the clock side of the device and not the Pi side.  When the device is turned off, again, the batteries should be effectively disconnected.  However...  I have encountered situations where good disposable batteries have leaked because a device that should have not been drawing a current when turned off was indeed doing so and discharged the batteries to a point where the batteries leaked.  A practice guitar amp was one situation where no "memory" function was involved.  Had the batteries been rechargeable, they would have been similarly ruined and not able to accept a charge.

I fear that perhaps you are worrying unnecessarily about the pros and cons of using batteries with the DGT pi and I think that once your device arrives that all will become clear and you will feel less anxious.  I am sorry to hear that your delivery has been stalled.  It is frustrating and worrisome when that happens.  Hopefully, your board and pi will be delivered soon and you will let us know how you get on with them.

" ... you will feel less anxious. "

I am not worrying and not anxious.

Was just wondering that nowadays with so many very cheap and intelligent solutions the " Green Dutchman " are not able to do something worth their alleged green reputation

... and worse they have no Nuts to answer my question ...

It is just a shame ... but OK it is them ...

Though to be honest, you could do (and probably actually do) things much worse for the environment than... using non-rechargeable batteries in a low-energy device (the horror!)...

 

My sincere apologies ...

While we would all like companies to take the initiative when it comes to making environmentally sensitive decisions, at the end of the day, it is really down to governments to legislate companies into compliance.

Sadly, profit will always prevail when it comes to business decisions - unless the masses demand different. When it comes to convenience (which seems the most prized these days) disposable batteries come out on top over rechargeables.

It was stupid from my side to post the OT ... and well, it really has nothing to do with chess ...

I’d like to get my hands on a DGT pi and take a look inside.

You'll find a DGT 3000 sitting on top of a Raspberry Pi 3.

I was just thinking, now that the confusion over what the AAs do, that if you wanted to use the Pi and Board away from a power point, one would need two or one dual outlet USB power bank to power the pi and the board together.

When I was reading through the instructions ages ago when deciding between the Pi and smart board vs Centaur vs King Performance, it seemed that the Pi did not itself save games. I did not know at the time the Smart Board was the “memory” device.

Also when using the Pi the instructions said that the toddle button for the clock was not used.

It all makes sense if one thinks of the Smart Board as a Chess Board that happens to be electronic - when thinking in terms of computer chess, the board saving the games and the computer having the engine etc etc seems disjointed and unintuitive at first.

I gave up trying to work out how piece verification would work when one had postponed a game, putting the pieces away and wanted to set up and resume later.

I’l out of date with all this new tech, basically.

UPDATE

One less thing to worry about is now that I do not need to think about rechargeable or not rechargeable batteries anymore

Look at message #22 where I reported it lost = 11 days ago ...

DHL seems to have lost one package of two and so nothing has arrived yet. They lost it, found it, lost it ... wash, rinse, repeat ...
I told DHL that I will not accept the shipment anymore, who know what happened and maybe they broke something (just a guess), and they should send it back to the vendor who was also not very supportive at all which BTW is US C-Games Trade, Amazon, located in Slovenia. Now I just hope I get my money back some day.
All this also took my interest in keep playing chess ...

So they say they lost one of the two shipments but you have not received either shipment?

I am sorry to hear of your problems.  Hopefully you will get your money back and can choose a different retailer to obtain your Pi and board.

While looking through various manuals, I came across this interesting snippet in the Yamaha E463 Arranger keyboard manual that reads:

"Setting the battery type [between Alkaline or Ni-MH rechargeable].  Depending on the battery type to be used, you may need to change the battery type setting on this instrument..." and "Notice  Failure to set the battery type may shorten the amount of battery life,  Make sure to set the battery type correctly."

So the concern here is not for the electronics but for the batteries themselves.

I saw on the internet somewhere the claim that some quartz movements will not operate with a rechargeable battery but I have tried mine without issue.  Whether they would keep accurate time I did not test.

Anyway, it is has been an interesting topic.  I wish you the best with regard resolving you issue with DHL and hope that this saga does not permanently dampen your interest in chess.

quote: " So they say they lost one of the two shipments but you have not received either shipment? "

They do not say anything and looking at the tracking history they are just fooling around. The 2 packages were shipped under on airwaybill and so they must be delivered bot at the same time and also has something to do with customs and payable taxes.
The whole enchilada is now in the status that I declined receiving the shipment and told the vendor to tell his local DHL office to call the shipment back. Now I just have to wait when this Bl...y shipment arrives back in Slovenia.
I decided I am not going to buy anything anymore.

Now that you mentioned that about the batteries I remember having a tape recorder where I have that setting too.

See you ...

Hi Guys,

4 months later exactly on the day, I send them an e-mail on February 11th 2021 and today June 11th I got an answer from DGT. Look below.
It is good I did not get the board at all. Imagine having a board from DGT and a problem comes up and DGT solves it 4 month sor maybe even longer ? No thank you.

Anyhow I changed the hobby and I am not playing chess anymore. I thought it would be relaxing but no.

Bye bye Rainer

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Dear Rainer,

Thank you for your e-mail.

 

The batteries are for the clock part only. The Raspberry Pi is always supplied with an external power supply.

Most rechargeable batteries have 1.2V only, that's a bit too less.

The clock runs many months/years with two "good quality" AA batteries.

So it makes absolutely no sense to use rechargeable batteries with the risk of sudden power-down caused by these batteries. Furthermore, these batteries have a totally different discharge curve, with the risk of powering down the clock unexpectedly during a game. In order to avoid all of this, we generally recommend using two good AA batteries, giving you a long time period from the first low battery warning to the final shutdown of the clock.

I hope I informed you sufficiently, but in case of any questions we are happy to help you.

Best regards,

Rishma Koop | DGT
Customer Service

digitalgametechnology.com
+31 (0)53 430 51 95

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