Batteries etc on the port:

     1) Since rechargeable batteries aren't normally the best

choice for the port, getting the most AA alkaline battery for the

money is of interest to most port owners.  Fortunately, Consumer

Reports rated alkaline, heavy duty and rechargeable batteries in

November 1991.   



     Testing alkaline AA batteries at two different levels of 

demand, CU found Duracells, Panasonic, Sear's Diehard, and the 

Eveready Energizer, gave about the same level of performance.  In

other words, buy by price among these brands.  Kodak Supralife

and Radio Shack rated a little lower; but a sale or rebate offer

can make one of these the  best deal.



     Ray-o-vac cells were the poorest performers.  This agrees

with my experience.  I don't think  they could be priced low

enough to make up for their poor or uneven performance.  Avoid

them.



     House brand batteries might be worth trying, since most of

them are undoubtedly made by one of the major manufacturers; but

since that may be Ray-o-vac, try a few before buying a case,

whatever the price.  If you find some good deals, let the rest of

us know!



     2) If you don't have three new AA cells when the low battery

warning comes on (and carrying three spares can be a pain), a

trick I've tried MAY help you get a few more minutes work done. 

(I don't THINK it will cause any problems, but this is only my

thinking.)  Try adding one new cell.  If that doesn't bring the

port back to operation, try swapping out each of the remaining

two cells.  Checking cells, I've found that sometimes one cell

will be more exhausted than the rest. In fact it might be worth

checking each cell's voltage before throwing them out to see if

your experience matches mine.  



     3) The following applies to batteries, card contacts, etc.

in the port, and electical contacts in general, such as on ste-

reos, car batteries, PCs, etc.  An electrical engineer friend of

mine tells me  oxidation on battery (and switch and other) con-

tacts can create  significant resistance.  These invisible "re-

sistive oxides" can  build up even on gold-plated contacts, as

the the plating is "porous" and lets the oxides form and migrate

to the surface.  This  all adds up to energy wasted as heat and

perhaps decreased performance.



     The answer is to carefully clean the contacts.  Wiping with

a solvent like alcohol will remove oils and grunge; gently rub-

bing with a  clean PENCIL eraser will also help.  But what if

this doesn't work, or if the contacts are inaccessible, as in a

switch?   One answer is a product used in industry called

"CRAMOLIN", made by Caig Laboratories, Inc. as "Deoxit" 

or"Cramolin".  Write them for  information (1175-0 Industrial Ave 

Escondido, CA 92025).  

      Initially, the stuff doesn't seem  cheap - it costs $10 or

more to get any form of it - but it  goes a V-E-R-Y long way, is

non-toxic and safe for all surfaces and  best of all, really

works.  A small drop of the liquid or squirt of the spray is all 

you need.  It migrates and  penetrates like crazy, so applying it

to a dry cell terminal will clean  he contacts as well.  Clean

surfaces  are maintained for about a year after in application. 

Use blue cramolin or Preservit to extend the  protection.  Use

this on the battery terminals and all PORT/PC electronic con-

tacts.  (I cured an intermittent booting problem on my XT, e.g.,

by cleaning the card edges with it, and eliminated switch

problems on my stereo amp after so-called "tuner cleaners"

failed.)  I now use cramolin professionally as well, on electron-

ics used in the field or lab in biological research - these envi-

ronments can be harsh, and cramolin definitely improves perfor-

mance and reduces downtime for equipment. 



     Caig sells the stuff direct, but you might be able to find

at a local electronics supply store (Radio Shack doesn't have it)

or order it from MCM Electronics(order or get a catalog by call-

ing 1-800-543-4330, or write 650 Congress Park DR., Centerville

OH  45459-6959).  No I don't own stock in Caig (yet?).  It is

just that this stuff really works and will cure some problems

(some of which you may be unaware of) with contacts, noisy

switches,  etc.  This is an honest, cost-effective product that

should be better known!Batteries etc on the port:

     1) Since rechargeable batteries aren't normally the best

choice for the port, getting the most AA alkaline battery for the

money is of interest to most port owners.  Fortunately, Consumer

Reports rated alkaline, heavy duty and rechargeable batteries in

November 1991.   



     Testing alkaline AA batteries at two different levels of 

demand, CU found Duracells, Panasonic, Sear's Diehard, and the 

Eveready Energizer, gave about the same level of performance.  In

other words, buy by price among these brands.  Kodak Supralife

and Radio Shack rated a little lower; but a sale or rebate offer

can make one of these the  best deal.



     Ray-o-vac cells were the poorest performers.  This agrees

with my experience.  I don't think  they could be priced low

enough to make up for their poor or uneven performance.  Avoid

them.



     House brand batteries might be worth trying, since most of

them are undoubtedly made by one of the major manufacturers; but

since that may be Ray-o-vac, try a few before buying a case,

whatever the price.  If you find some good deals, let the rest of

us know!



     2) If you don't have three new AA cells when the low battery

warning comes on (and carrying three spares can be a pain), a

trick I've tried MAY help you get a few more minutes work done. 

(I don't THINK it will cause any problems, but this is only my

thinking.)  Try adding one new cell.  If that doesn't bring the

port back to operation, try swapping out each of the remaining

two cells.  Checking cells, I've found that sometimes one cell

will be more exhausted than the rest. In fact it might be worth

checking each cell's voltage before throwing them out to see if

your experience matches mine.  



     3) The following applies to batteries, card contacts, etc.

in the port, and electical contacts in general, such as on ste-

reos, car batteries, PCs, etc.  An electrical engineer friend of

mine tells me  oxidation on battery (and switch and other) con-

tacts can create  significant resistance.  These invisible "re-

sistive oxides" can  build up even on gold-plated contacts, as

the the plating is "porous" and lets the oxides form and migrate

to the surface.  This  all adds up to energy wasted as heat and

perhaps decreased performance.



     The answer is to carefully clean the contacts.  Wiping with

a solvent like alcohol will remove oils and grunge; gently rub-

bing with a  clean PENCIL eraser will also help.  But what if

this doesn't work, or if the contacts are inaccessible, as in a

switch?   One answer is a product used in industry called

"CRAMOLIN", made by Caig Laboratories, Inc. as "Deoxit" 

or"Cramolin".  Write them for  information (1175-0 Industrial Ave 

Escondido, CA 92025).  

      Initially, the stuff doesn't seem  cheap - it costs $10 or

more to get any form of it - but it  goes a V-E-R-Y long way, is

non-toxic and safe for all surfaces and  best of all, really

works.  A small drop of the liquid or squirt of the spray is all 

you need.  It migrates and  penetrates like crazy, so applying it

to a dry cell terminal will clean  he contacts as well.  Clean

surfaces  are maintained for about a year after in application. 

Use blue cramolin or Preservit to extend the  protection.  Use

this on the battery terminals and all PORT/PC electronic con-

tacts.  (I cured an intermittent booting problem on my XT, e.g.,

by cleaning the card edges with it, and eliminated switch

problemms on my stereo amp after so-called "tuner cleaners"

failed.)  I now use cramolin professionally as well, on electron-

ics used in the field or lab in biological research - these envi-

ronments can be harsh, and cramolin definitely improves perfor-

mance and reduces downtime for equipment. 



     Caig sells the stuff direct, but you might be able to find

at a local electronics supply store (Radio Shack doesn't have it)

or order it from MCM Electronics(order or get a catalog by call-

ing 1-800-543-4330, or write 650 Congress Park DR., Centerville

OH  45459-6959).  No I don't own stock in Caig (yet?).  It is

just that this stuff really works and will cure some problems

(some of which you may be unaware of) with contacts, noisy

switches,  etc.  This is an honest, cost-effective product that

should be better known!

