Sega Nomad

[+wood_jl]

When I took the picture, I had yet to test the two loose "Powerbacks." I let them charge for something like 12 hours (the manual says they require it). Then I didn't try them for a day. Today, they're both dead as doornails. I've already taken the pics, so DISREGARD THE 2 LOOSE POWERBACKS. They're garbage.

 

I have not used this unit in years and years. The Powerbacks used to work fine. The "new in the box" Powerback has never been charged, or out of its shopworn box. However, I am reluctant to guarantee it. The others weren't used much "back in the day" and I have no idea why they would fail with age. Perhaps the remaining new one - by virtue of never having been charged - will work? If it is indeed preserved, I am reluctant to disturb it. I don't know if it's any good, but it is new.

 

As is the case with the other items I list, I do my best to show them in their worst possible light; that is actually to put them in the best light so you can see the flaws. The last thing I would want to do is mislead someone into thinking something is absolutely 100% mint, or have them expect that, when it is not, and then be disappointed and/or think I am a scammer. I run the risk of making my stuff for sale look like crap, but what a chivalrous seller I am, eh?

 

The AA battery holder *is* included. I tried it with batteries and it works fine; that's how I know the Powerbacks are the blame, because they plug in the same place. Of course, it works through the power jack too.

 

There is no Sega Genesis power supply included. The one I have is for my Genesis. There is a cigarette lighter adapter included, and I played in my truck to make sure it works.

 

The screen is not perfect. There are many fine, small scratches. This makes it sound like crap, when in fact it is still a pretty nice unit. I took a pic to show them. I had to angle it perfectly and select the best (actually the worst) out of a whole string of pics to make them show up. You do not see them when the screen is on; they are very light. There are also a couple of bad pixels on the screen. I zoomed in on them to make them clear to you. They really aren't enough to be annoying, but I don't want to disappoint anyone.

 

Now that I have made it so that nobody wants this, I'd like to put $30 in my pocket and this thing is heavy, so will go in a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box which is $10.70. So we're looking at $40 shipped, U.S. destination. "Gift" paypal appreciated, because this is a good deal.

 

People selling just the AA battery holder (ALONE!) for $35 to $45 (shipped prices):

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 230521227696

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 260644402456

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 390027933456

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 260645453466

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280501470082

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280515131690

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280501470081

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 390001998730

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280387720483

 

People selling new Powerbacks on Ebay for $30.50 shipped: (even though I ain't makin' no claims as to my NOS Powerback working)

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 200534632993

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 200536220812

 

And now....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see the bad pixels in the next 3 shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 27, 2010 by wood_jl

[mimo]

how much to ship to the UK (will probably kill the deal but you never know)

[tetrode kink]

I am truly sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the NIB PowerBack is also going to be dead. One of the unfortunate facts about rechargeable cells is that they have a finite shelf life, even when never used, and the clock starts ticking as soon as they leave the factory.

 

The top three killers of rechargeable batteries, in order of most common occurrence:

 

• Not being used
  
• Constant charging past full charge, or constant charging without discharging (charging and not using)
  
• Reached 800-1000 charge/discharge cycles, where it will begin to lose capacity (less usable energy per full charge), i.e. it has actually been used to its full natural life
  

Notice that the last entry is the preferable life cycle of a rechargeable cell, and it is also the least-common one.

 

By explanation: The first mode, "Not being used," results from the fact that rechargeable cells need to be used to remain useful. My favorite analogy is they are like muscles; they need exercise or they will atrophy and become weak and eventually die.

 

Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) cells, for example, need to be charged and used every 30 days or they will start to lose capacity prematurely. Nickel Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH) cells, such as those in the Nomad PowerBack, can sit dormant for as much as six months without such damage, but I don't like to let a set sit for more than 90 days between charge/discharge cycles.

 

Rechargeable cells can sit on the shelf a few years and still work, but it doesn't take long for their capacity to drop precipitously.

 

They can also be damaged by overcharging, which is why it is best to charge them in a smart charger, which will cut off the charge when it senses the cells have reached full charge. They can also be damaged by constant charging but rarely discharging, such as in a cordless phone that sits on its charger but doesn't get used very often. Again, the point is exercise - full charge then full discharge whenever possible - to maximize rechargeable battery life.

 

Don't get me wrong, rechargeable cells are great. One set can save its user hundreds of dollars over disposable batteries, and save the landfill from all those batteries once they're dead. But they definitely need special attention to get the most performance out of them. They're like the hot-house flower of the battery world.

 

Well, with that out of the way, I would like to buy all three of the PowerBacks. I rebuild them with new cells, and dead packs aren't getting any easier to find. Lest you think that that whole preamble was hot air and just my way of convincing you to part with the NIB PowerBack, I would settle for the two loose ones you already removed from your post. Expect a PM forthwith.

Edited October 27, 2010 by tetrode kink

[EricDeLee]

Anyone have a broken one of these?! LOL

This is a good price... I am very tempted to jump on this.

I already have one, but I would more than likely sacrifice this for some project. Someone may want to grab it before I do that.

[the.golden.ax]

PM

[Defender II]

Anyone have a broken one of these?! LOL

This is a good price... I am very tempted to jump on this.

I already have one, but I would more than likely sacrifice this for some project. Someone may want to grab it before I do that.

 

I have one somewhere that I plan to fix when I am done with my Atari 8-bit room remodeling. Is this Nomad still available? Looks like it only has 1 dead pixel?

Edited October 28, 2010 by Defender II

[the.golden.ax]

Hey man, PMs have been down. email me... just remove the dots and add @gmail.com

[tetrode kink]

Could be because PMs were down, but it also could be because he hasn't logged in for over two days. Maybe he had a family/personal emergency. I'll give him some time before I start worrying.

[EricDeLee]

PMs are down?

I've been getting PMs

[Kaijuboy]

While testing out the notion that the new battery pack was indeed dead, he attempted to charge it. The stagnant battery being forced a new charge after all these years did not go well. The resulting blast caused a blackout throughout much of lower Tennessee and authorities are still trying to piece together the remains.

 

wood_jl, you will be missed...