DGT

Can I use battery power for the board?

The DGT e-board has an internal memory for about 500 moves. Moves can only be stored in memory when the board is powered, but the memory is preserved without power. With the DGT program Queen you can retrieve your games later.

A bluetooth board has an internal battery. If you switch the board on without any connection to a computer, the moves will be stored in the internal memory of the board.

You can use a wall-plug with a USB outlet for this purpose with USB boards, but you still have to be in the neighbourhood of a mains outlet. There are also commercial battery powered power-sources for USB available. They are commonly used for mobile phones or personal music players.

Be sure that it supports mini USB. The one in the first picture is not expensive and works with a single AA battery, preferable NiMH rechargeable.

Tests showed that with this simple device the chessboard is able to save your moves for at least 5 hours.

The are other charging devices on the market, that are meant to charge portable devices such as mobile phones or media player.

Some of them have a solar panel to charge them like the one in this picture.