New HP 50G owner, experiencing problems
andrewt...@gmail.com
what I read to buy an HP 50G even though I already have a TI 89
Titanium. I received it a few days ago after ordering from Amazon, and
immediately set it up.
Yesterday, I noticed that only after a couple days, it was giving me a
low battery warning (the warning was LowBatt(s), I think--I looked it
up and it was about the main batteries). I thought this was odd, but
figured that the batteries it shipped with were old/bad, so I shrugged
and replaced the batteries and continued using my calculator.
Today, I use it early in the day, then leave it in its case for about
8 hours. When I need it again, I open it the case to find a black line
on the LED, slanting up from the absolute edge of the display (where
the case meets the display), then straight across, and then a line
slanting back down to the edge of the display. The right shift
indicator was also blackened. I try hitting [on], [on]-a-f, and [on]-
c, but nothing works, so I remove the batteries. I leave it for a
moment, then reinsert the batteries. The screen is blank, and I hit
[on]. Nothing happens. I remove the batteries once more and reinsert
them. The display begins acting up. I see horizontal lines and
indicators at the top of the screen flashing. I can hear faint clicks.
i remove the battery once more, and this time remove the memory
battery.
I'm wondering what I should do from this point on. Is the flashing of
the display damaging anything? Is it alright to reinsert the batteries
to see what's happening? Also, after being reassured by the posts in
this newsgroup, I'm quite disappointed with the quality of my 50G
(model no. CNA 65103055). I'm sure it's a fluke, just a bad unit, but
still. Any advice regarding how to go about getting this fixed? I
though that RPN and the "HP way" were a great system--for the 3 days
my calculator worked. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.
andrewt...@gmail.com
I reinserted the batteries on a whim and the calculator started back
up--albeit with a LowBatt(s) warning. After testing the batteries
(which I had removed from an unopened pack two days ago) with my
multimeter, I discovered they were putting out only 1.05 V. Could I
have gotten two bad batches of batteries, or is the calculator somehow
running batteries down that fast? I don't have another batch of AAAs
to test with tonight--any insights? I'm pretty sure the batch I
replaced the original batteries with was good, but not absolutely
certain.
John H Meyers
[Lo Batt when new, lines on display, annunciators stuck, etc.]
It should be static-resistant too, in case that has anything
to do with it. The hole in the bottom is where a large size
paper clip may be inserted for reset, and ON+A+F -> "No"
can then clear out memory and initialize everything.
ON+D, ON+E, ON+F for self-tests (ON+C to exit).
ON with [+] or [-] to adjust display contrast.
> Any advice regarding how to go about getting this fixed?
Doesn't HP meet its warranty obligations down in Texas,
where its most successful competitor lives?
[r->] [OFF]
John H Meyers
> Further information:
[two-day old batts are at 1.05v each]
They weren't left to bake in the desert sun, were they?
(or the calc? -- not good for black plastic :)
Well, you can measure next set of batteries "before" and "after";
reject the gas guzzler if it doesn't meet EPA
"miles of calculations per battery" federal standards :)
[r->] [OFF]
andrewt...@gmail.com
They're all at 1.61 V, give or take .005 V. Let's see how these do.
I'm pretty certain that the last set I'd put in hadn't been abused in
any way (they've been in an air-conditioned house all day), but let's
see how this goes. How long should I expect these to last with light
(1 hr/day) usage?
Thanks for the quick reply--the HP user community seems to be much
more helpful in general. I'm sure that HP would honor the warranty,
but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to fix it myself.
I'm still wondering about going through two sets of batteries so
quickly--it seems unlikely to be a coincidence.
What did you mean by "it should be static resistant too", John?
brad....@ccrtcblue.com
with no questions asked when I informed them of the problem. Call
1-800-HP INVENT.
wahwo...@gmail.com
I had the same battery drain problem with my previous 50G that I
bought
three weeks ago (serial no. CNA638xxxxx). With a new set of batteries
(all
at 1.6V) and the calculator was off, the power dropped to 1.3V just
after 6 hr.
After 25 hr, 3 dropped to 1.1 volts and 1 dropped to 0.32 volt. I
contacted HP
calculator support and got a replacement unit 3 days ago. This one
(serial no.
CNA701xxxxx) works fine and all the batteries are still at 1.55V after
3 days.
andrewt...@gmail.com
The set of batteries that I had put in yesterday and tested at 1.6 V
are now all at 1.1 V each, even though the calculator was on for less
than half an hour overnight. It seems pretty clear that I'm
experiencing the battery drain problem that some of the other people
who have replied to this topic have.
I'll be contacting HP and replacing my calculator at once. Thanks once
more for all the help.
andrewt...@gmail.com
Though I'm pleased with the quality of HP's tech support, I'm
disappointed with the options they gave me. The acknowledged that this
was a known problem, but the tech told me I'd have to mail in the
calculator because the "engineers wanted to take a look at it." I have
no problem with that, provided that once I fax them my receipt, they'd
ship me a replacement, and fast. Instead, the tech told me that after
they have ascertained the nature of the problem, it would take 10-15
business days to get me my replacement. I asked him for better
options, he gave me none.
Over the weekend, he's having me attempt to "discharge all the static"
by leaving all batteries out of the calculator for 24 hrs. Does anyone
have more details about the nature of this problem? I searched around
for "50g static" but didn't get much.
JB
A couple of points to consider:
1. I have about 15 or more hours on the batteries in my 50g which are
over a month old and their is no sign of these batteries being weak or
low in voltage.
2. You bought a new product that right out of the box didn't work
properly. Any honest company will replace a new and defective item
without delay, and with no questions asked.
3. You got the same run around that I got on a defective printer back
a while. I hoped that HP fixed it's poor customer service situation
after the president from hell left, but apparently that isn't the
case, and now I am feeling very lucky that my 50g works ok. At least
so far it does.
4. You should not have to do any kind of test over the week end.
5. Call Hp again and see if the next person you talk to will resolve
the situation more satisfactorily. If not talk to his supervisor. If
that doesn't work, put up with the 15 day delay but do write a letter
to the president of HP and be sure to name the customer service person
that jerked you around.
6. Thank you for posting that message. I have been concerned about
HP customer service since I got a dead on arrival printer and had to
wait about a month for HP to fix it. Apparently the departure of Ms.
C. Fiorina, x-president of HP, isn't the only firing that needs to
occur at Hp.
7. If the situation is not satisfactorily remedied, don't buy any
more HP products. I am sorry to hear about your plight. Please keep
us informed. Thank you.
akasht...@gmail.com
battery life should be like--I was wondering about that.
You're absolutely right about how HP should be more quick to remedy
the situation. I had attempted to speak to a supervisor on my first
(and only) call to HP on Friday, and was told that the person I was
speaking with would confer with his supervisor regarding my request
for faster service and call me back on Monday. I decided that it would
be ok--and I was trusting that the test he was having me to do wasn't
BS--and agreed. So we'll see how things go on Monday--if they don't go
well then, I certainly will raise a fuss with his superior. I have
recorded all necessary information, in case I need to write a letter.
Do you have any more information about this battery drain problem and
what it has to do with static? I was wondering about one other thing--
the representative said that the engineers needed examples of models
with this problem to help fix the problem, but they said they'd send
me a replacement. Wouldn't his comment imply that the problem hasn't
been fixed? I'm assuming he's not being entirely honest, but as long
as I get a working replacement, I don't care.
JB
This is the first I have heard about a battery drain problem being
related to static. From my experience as an electrical engineer, I am
aware that occasionally simiconductors devices are permanently damaged
from static electricity discharges from assembly workers and that
wareing a ground strap is the preventative. I have never heard of a
tempory problem and although I have been in the industry for decades
and not heard of such a thing, I would not rule it out in a rare
instance. In any case I doubt that the customer service person you
talked with is qualified to trouble shoot the situation and when
someone won't let me talk to a supervisor, that makes me very
suspecious about what he is doing. Get a replacement and let them
worry about the problem. All though I am not sure about the exact
figures, I think it safe to say that when the calculator is not being
used, good batteries should last for months just like in a flash
light.
mats
> Over the weekend, he's having me attempt to "discharge all the static"
> by leaving all batteries out of the calculator for 24 hrs. Does anyone
> have more details about the nature of this problem? I searched around
> for "50g static" but didn't get much.
besides the battery compartment (visible here on images 1-5:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=408).
Harold A Climer
I have not heard anything about the 50G, but the 49G+ had his problem
when it was first released.
Harold A Climer
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept of Physics,Geology,& Astronomy
Room 309 Grote Hall
615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga TN 37403
Harold...@utc.edu
JB
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thats very interesting Harold. Do you remember any details such as
was the problem permanent damage or did the problem go away when the
static electricity was disappated, or any specifics such as what what
the fix for the problem?
andrewt...@gmail.com
I searched around for "49g+ battery" and found quite a few posts that
described problems similar to mine with the 49G+. Stories of how the
50G/49G+ lasted only a few weeks on a set of batteries even when
operating properly concern me. My 89 Titanium regularly lasts a 18 wks
or so on 4 AAAs. I do realize that there are significant differences
in the processors, but still--the 89 seems to be snappier in most
everyday operations (I understand that the 50G is using the ARM to
emulate the old Saturn processor, which probably explains how a 14 MHz
Motorola 68k can feel faster than a 75 MHz ARM). That's disappointing,
but RPN and how the 50G is just better suited for the sort of work I
have to do is enough to get me to use it--if it's working.
Hopefully, when HP calls me tomorrow, they'll be able to offer me a
better solution. I see that this problem was not uncommon on the 49G+
but still wonder how it managed to pop up again on the 50G (and it
isn't isolated--see wahwong's post above), especially since it was
supposed to have been fixed by a ROM update. Any insight would be
nice, though I don't plan on fixing the problem myself. I fully expect
HP to furnish me with a properly functioning replacement, but I'm
curious if anyone knows what's causing this.
TW
different thing. The processor wasn't going to sleep when you powered
the calc off if my memory serves. This was quickly fixed with a ROM
update.
Batteries only lasting a day or two is a completely different thing
and has nothing to do with ROM updates. Seems to be some electrical
defect. The reason they want you to completely discharge the static
is to make sure that there isn't some residual electrical charge in
there somewhere messing with things. It is probably in the standard
support script. (step 2 after "What is the problem?")
TW
Charles
Andrew,
My HP 50g batteries lasted longer than yours did but I did find a
solution. On page 1-2 in the manual, there is an instruction for
making the display lighter. I took my display to the lightest
possible setting and my second pack of batteries is still going but I
have not kept a record of how long they have been in the machine.
Possibly about two weeks. Since rechargable batteries should not be
used, I am doing this, even though the display is not as easy to
read. But one gets used to it!
Charles A. Huffer
John Crane
<andrewt...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1174085281.1...@b75g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
(only slightly off topic)
It should be said to all the HP newcomers that HP had much better customer
support in the past. I once had an intermittent internal break in a power
cord for an HP-67 charger. HP sent a replacement within a week at no cost.
I didn't have to pay shipping, didn't have to return the defective part,
give a serial number, or anything. One phone call and the problem was
solved. And much later (sometime in the late 80's I think) I called HP and
told them I had bought a used HP-25C and asked if they still had a set of
manuals I could buy. No original manuals were available, but they sent me a
photocopied & bound set of the manual and applications book. Again, no
charge.
-J
rubbernecker
> Yesterday, I noticed that only after a couple days, it was giving me a low
> battery warning (the warning was LowBatt(s), I think--I looked it up and
> it was about the main batteries). I thought this was odd, but figured that
> the batteries it shipped with were old/bad, so I shrugged and replaced the
> batteries and continued using my calculator.
I've occasionally seen flash cards draw excessive current in low-power
devices. If you have a SD card plugged in, you might try removing it or
swapping it for another brand.
andrewt...@gmail.com
respond.
First, I'll address everyone's suggestions:
TW--I agree that the problem with the 49G+ was completely different. I
have no idea what causes this.
Charles--I was running the calculator with a very light screen anyhow,
and even so, my 50G would only last 2 or so days with a new set of
batteries (confirmed with a multimeter).
John--I'm sure that HP's customer service was great and those stories
are also wonderful, but that's clearly not the case today,
unfortunately.
Rubbernecker--I thought of that as well, and tried removing my 64 MB
SD card with this last set of batteries; it did not remedy the
problem.
After getting in touch with HP once more, they have confirmed that
they will ship me a replacement immediately, instead of after
receiving and inspecting my old calculator, but that shipping time
would still vary, taking up to 3 weeks. The rep I spoke with said that
a guaranteed, expedited shipping option was not available. At least
they're sending the replacement out first, unlike before, and without
too much work on my part.
Does anyone have any other ideas about what may be causing the
problem?
I really hope that my replacement 50G works properly.
Harold A Climer
I remember reading in this group, that if the IR transmitter is left
on it can bleed the batteries down pretty quickly.
Have you checked that?
Harold A Climer
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Dept of Physics,Geology,& Astronomy
Room 309 Grote Hall
615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga TN 37403
bern
Interesting. The kid's calculator (CNA644) has this fuzzy black spot
on the screen which increases with contrast. Soon he's starting a two
week vacation so I asked how long to replace and I was told two weeks
since they want to look at it first. He also told me to remove the
batteries for two days. I did last weekend and it didn't help.
I have a CNA634 and the batteries last from 2 weeks to 6 weeks. At
night I may use it a lot. think it comes to about 40 to 60 hours of
full time use. Too bad there's no timer such as with cell phones.
John H Meyers
> how to make sure the IR transmitter is off?
CLOSEIO command (or simply turning off, then back on)
is supposed to turn off all I/O (IR & Serial).
HP50G (but not 49G+)
runs on USB power (not batteries)
if cable is plugged into a powered host,
so that's one way to conserve batteries during long hours at desk.
However, if host is powered down
while 50G has been left on and plugged into it,
there's been a report that 50G may "brown out" (lose power),
which has been called the "brown out bug"
(not to be confused with a brown bug,
which could be a brown recluse spider, or a Classic VW :)
[r->] [OFF]
mats
> HP50G (but not 49G+)
> runs on USB power (not batteries)
> if cable is plugged into a powered host,
> so that's one way to conserve batteries during long hours at desk.
>
> However, if host is powered down
> while 50G has been left on and plugged into it,
> there's been a report that 50G may "brown out" (lose power),
> which has been called the "brown out bug"
has been left *off* and plugged into it, the calc is turned on...! How'd
you call that "bug"?
andrewt...@gmail.com
HP has agreed to ship me a replacement as soon as I fax them my
receipt and return the unit that I have now--and need for school--
after receiving the replacement.
In the mean time, I plan on using the USB power feature to run the
calculator at my desk--how useful, eh?