Posts Tagged ‘mp3 player’
Killed My MP3 Player
I killed my MP3 player. It’s called an “AMT” MP3 player, they’re popular in gyms and as compact MP3 players you turn on, put in your pocket and that’s it. They don’t have a screen, but they do have a strong clip on their back, it’s useful. This one cost me 77 NIS half a year ago or so … that’s about $19. Cheap.
Sound quality is slightly below the average for generic MP3 players and the earphones that came with it were bad. 100% enriched, smelly crap. Also, the manufacturer promised it works for 3-4 hours if you charge the battery fully. My player began its career with 2.5-3 hours, then it dropped gradually. Before I disassembled it, the battery lasted for about 15 minutes.
It has one big chip with a small Samsung, high-quality 1 GB memory chip on it. Two wires are connected to a small chip with two resistors. Then, two metal stripes led to a rechargeable lithium battery, covered by some gray, plastic substance, probably because it’s toxic. I detached the battery from the chip: I wanted to detach it, then connect my MP3 player to an AAA battery.
The remains of my MP3 player
I detached the small chip and tried to connect a battery to both wires. My theory was that the lithium battery produces high voltage and the resistors reduce it to 1.5 V so it plays nicely with the MP3 player. I know some players use AAA batteries, and they’re 1.5 V. If it’s a generic player that uses the same firmware it must be similar in its hardware.
Well, I was unable to connect a battery to this thing, it didn’t work. For some reason, before I removed the small chip with the resistors, if I connected both of its ends and plugged the USB cable in, I could use the player with the voltage it receives from the computer. I guess my voltage theory is wrong … maybe it’s more than 1.5 V. I think I’ll give it a go with 2 batteries, although I’m very pessimistic.
Anyway, now it’s dead. Goodbye MP3 player, you were a good friend. Spent many trips to central Israel with you, but now you’re gone. Rest in peace in the electronics heaven. Thanks for letting me vandalize your dead body.
