hp48x repair - they don't build'em like they used to?
simon lai
my 48gx the other day, only to find out it that its
not working. I went to the HP site and performed the
recommended procedures (paper clip in the reset hole,
leave it without batteries for two days, various
key combinations etc ...) with no luck.
I rang HP support only to be told that its a non
repairable unit. The support person suggested I
try shorting the battery terminals with a paperclip,
which I did - also with no result.
I can say that when I first pulled it out of its case
the 'busy' annunciator was on, but it would not respond
to any keystrokes. After leaving it without batteries
for two days, this also dissappeared (sp?).
Appreciate any suggestions or help that can be offered
in restoring my 48gx to a working state.
In the mean time its over to the trusty 42s 8-). This unit was
purchased by my wife 12 years ago. She used it for a day and then
packed it away, so this is the second time its been switched on in
12 years and it works perfectly. Maybe they just don't build them
like they used to? I miss the larger display of the 48gx but the
42s is nice and slim.
simon
Christophe de la Chapelle
> After not having used it for two years, I pulled out
> my 48gx the other day, only to find out it that its
> not working. I went to the HP site and performed the
> recommended procedures (paper clip in the reset hole,
> leave it without batteries for two days, various
> key combinations etc ...) with no luck.
>
> I rang HP support only to be told that its a non
> repairable unit. The support person suggested I
> try shorting the battery terminals with a paperclip,
> which I did - also with no result.
>
> I can say that when I first pulled it out of its case
> the 'busy' annunciator was on, but it would not respond
> to any keystrokes. After leaving it without batteries
> for two days, this also dissappeared (sp?).
>
> Appreciate any suggestions or help that can be offered
> in restoring my 48gx to a working state.
>
> simon
My advice are
1- shortcut the - and + poles of the battery compartment.. (a quite long
time... until capacitors are emptied...) and try to switch it on...
2- you can revert the batteries for about 30 seconds.. It works quite
well, but it can damage the calculator... I've heard of such problems...
3- you can try to open your HP... maybe you'll see a problem inside..
but there are no reason I think...
If you see the busy indicator, it must indicate that the hardware of the
machine is ok, but that the saturn (the processor) had crashed.... so
you need to re-init perfectly the calculator... It's the reason why HP
says that you must remove the batteries for 2 days, in order to empty
the capacitors... But the best way is to shortcut - and +... (maybe with
a resistor at the begenning, to avoid high current...)
Regards.
CDLC
James M. Prange
"simon lai" <si...@gonzo.magellic.com> wrote in message
news:slrn9f2hjq...@gonzo.magellic.com...
> After not having used it for two years, I pulled out
> my 48gx the other day, only to find out it that its
> not working. I went to the HP site and performed the
> recommended procedures (paper clip in the reset hole,
> leave it without batteries for two days, various
> key combinations etc ...) with no luck.
>
> I rang HP support only to be told that its a non
> repairable unit. The support person suggested I
> try shorting the battery terminals with a paperclip,
> which I did - also with no result.
>
> I can say that when I first pulled it out of its case
> the 'busy' annunciator was on, but it would not respond
> to any keystrokes. After leaving it without batteries
> for two days, this also dissappeared (sp?).
Put fresh batteries in it. ;-)
Clean the battery contacts -- a typewriter eraser works well for this.
Make sure the batteries are actually good; use a battery tester or try them
in something else.
I doubt that this would be the problem, but if you have any cards installed,
remove them temporarily.
Make sure that you install all three batteries with the correct polarity.
I wish you luck.
<snip>
Raymond Hellstern
> 2- you can revert the batteries for about 30 seconds.. It works quite
> well, but it can damage the calculator... I've heard of such problems...
>
NEVER put in the batteries reversed !!!
Not even for a second.
You are likely to destroy the zener diode.
Afterwards your HP-48 will drain the batts in a few days.
I think this issue is described in the HP-48 FAQ, which is available on
www.hpcalc.org
As James suggests: Have you tried new batteries?
Regards,
Raymond
simon lai
Two brand new packs, different brands from different
stores just to be sure. I know that some batteries
sit on the shelf for along time, and this was my
first thought when the first set did not work.
Alas, the second set did not work either and I
went out of my way to purchase from a place with
a good turnover and selected a pack with a 2005
expiry date.
thanks for the suggestion anyhow.
simon
Jean-Yves Avenard
I've never seen a HP48 fails outside a strong physical damage.
Try this.
1-Remove the batteries and any memory card your could have in there
2-Press the ON key for approximately 10s, release the ON key.
3-On the back of the calculator you have a reset button, with a paperclip
press it gently for about 5s
4-Put some fresh batteries in, (make sure they are in the right order :)
5-Turn your calculator on. It should start this time
6-If it doesn't, with a paperclip press the reset button again and then
press the ON key
It will start ...
Now you can turn off your calculator and put back any memory card you could
have
Jean-Yves
"simon lai" <si...@gonzo.magellic.com> wrote in message
news:slrn9f2hjq...@gonzo.magellic.com...
Alejo
<slrn9f2hjq...@gonzo.magellic.com>, simon lai dijo...
>
>After not having used it for two years, I pulled out
>my 48gx the other day, only to find out it that its
>not working. I went to the HP site and performed the
>recommended procedures (paper clip in the reset hole,
>leave it without batteries for two days, various
>key combinations etc ...) with no luck.
>
How can you live wihtout your HP for two years?
A few months ago my brother put his HP48 under a big book, when he take it the
busy announciator was on and the calculator would not respond
to any keystrokes.
Then I take the HP and shake it vigorousolly with the keyboard looking to the
floor. Finally the HP48GX come to life again! (of course my brother come to life
again too).
Maybe this experience can help to you.
I wish you luck.
P.S.
Sorry for the english, but I only talk spanish.
===
Alejo. o__
,>/'_
(_)\(_)
simon lai
Thanks for the suggestion 8-).
Out of desperation I tried your method as well,
though this is a solid state device. Alas, no
luck with this method either 8-(.
simon
simon lai
I followed your instructions precisely, but
my hp48gx still refuses to work.
I also feel that it should be OK as there is no
physical damage - not even a scratch. It should
start!
What is puzzling is that the 42s which has not
been switched on for 12 years works fine?
regs
simon
In article <lKlI6.32057$ff.2...@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
John H Meyers
It goes on both for unacknowledged alarms and for
low-battery detection (calc batts, maybe card batts too?),
and it stays on (given some voltage still present from batts),
even when calc is "off," unless put into "coma" mode
(ON+SPC in HP48 only).
If you were using a "Grid" brand card in it -- don't!
(or at least keep both calc and card batteries very fresh,
if it's not too late).
> and the calculator would not respond to any keystrokes.
If you put it next to a low-frequency band (AM)
broadcast radio receiver, do you hear any noises?
(normally you get quite a lot from any digital device).
Small crawling creatures can sometimes literally "short out"
some parts of circuits in which they are living; I can't
be positive that this is why my microwave oven went
on strike recently, but it was the strangest thing --
although the wall power was on and the device clock
and display were working fine, the darned thing just suddenly
refused to turn on and cook (not even at zero power,
which is really just a "kitchen timer" function),
not even after unplugging from the wall for a while
and then plugging back in.
But suddenly, as if some evil in-dwelling spirit just decided
to pack up and leave, it recovered spontaneously,
and has ever since been giving faithful service!
If you're desperate enough to try some more daring treatments,
you might even go so far as to wash it out with
dry-cleaning fluid (e.g. perchloroethylene),
which is actually used to clean PC boards,
at least where I used to work --
or ask Joe Horn for his famous shampoo recipe,
and let us know whether any miracles take place,
even this long after Easter :)
Not kidding about Joe's recipe:
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=713n41%24bcu%241%40nnrp1.dejanews.com
Joe never did reveal the secret of what brand of shampoo he used,
however (is he negotiating for TV sales of his miracle restorer?)
-----------------------------------------------------------
With best wishes from: John H Meyers <jhme...@mum.edu>
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David C. Jones
> repairable unit. The support person suggested I
> try shorting the battery terminals with a paperclip,
> which I did - also with no result.
Whoever told you that must have had a memory lapse. The 48 series, so we've
been told, has some sort of internal circutry built in that prevents
shorting out the battery terminals. This works great for the financial and
scientific calcs, but on the graphing calculators it does no good. The only
reason you would short the terminals on a calculator would be to discharge
any static or stray energy. Hitting the pinhole reset WITHOUT batteries
will accomplish this just fine. (Doing it with the batteries in cab cycle
the "bad" energy through batteries and back into the unit.)
Also, are you _SURE_ you said it was 48GX. Those can be sent into the
service center no problem.
Davy
David C. Jones
news:3AF14B8A...@nortelnetworks.com...
> 1- shortcut the - and + poles of the battery compartment.. (a quite long
> time... until capacitors are emptied...) and try to switch it on...
As mentioned in another post, this doesn't work on a 48.
> 2- you can revert the batteries for about 30 seconds.. It works quite
> well, but it can damage the calculator... I've heard of such problems...
I have to agree with the previous person that this is not a good
recommendation. Had a guy call in last month who inserted the batteries
into his 17BII backwards and it was causing the unit to drain batteries
within three days or less. I mean, if you're going to throw the unit out
anyway I suppose there is no harm in giving it a try, but this falls into
one of those "last ditch effort ONLY" fixes.
Davy
John H Meyers
Shorting battery terminals doesn't help;
reversing 3 batteries is dangerous
(if Zeners were installed during production).
Anybody remember Dave Arnett?
Dave engineered the HP48G power supply, among other things:
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=33039E06.1DF2%40cv.hp.com
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=32A4A5FC.61AC%40cv.hp.com
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=Dpq0JG.Ewy%40hpcvra.cv.hp.com
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=DKKD9n.Eso%40hpcvra.cv.hp.com
Remember power-up virus checking?
http://groups.google.com/groups?ic=1&selm=4n8cpr%24djh%40hpcvsnz.cv.hp.com
"Old postings never died; Dave just faded away." - Arthur MacDouglas
Robert Corbett
Jean-Yves Avenard <j...@NOSPAMbigpond.net.au> wrote:
>
>I've never seen a HP48 fails outside a strong physical damage.
I have seen at least three HP 48 calculators fail as a result of
normal use. I have seen other models of HP calculators fail the
same way.
The ON key tends to be the first feature of an HP calculator to
fail. I assume the contacts either wear out or corrode. I have
seen other keys fail as well.
Sincerely,
Bob Corbett
.
simon lai
Definitely a 48GX, unless HP have taken to mislabelling their calculators 8-).
I am in Australia so maybe they don't repair them here - I'll given them
another call to be sure.
>
>Davy
>
thanks
simon
David C. Jones
> >Also, are you _SURE_ you said it was 48GX. Those can be sent into the
> >service center no problem.
>
> Definitely a 48GX, unless HP have taken to mislabelling their calculators
8-).
>
> I am in Australia so maybe they don't repair them here - I'll given them
> another call to be sure.
That may be the issue and I should have qualified the statement
appropriately. Here in the states we can swap them out through the repair
center. The fact that we have different repair policies in different
countries tends to be a bit annoying for us, and I'm sure more so for you.
Davy
simon lai
We do have a 'swap over' policy here in Australia as well,
though not a "repair your original unit and hand it
back" type of repair. Unfortunately the swap over option is
just $6 short of the price of a new calculator, so its probably
not a well patronised option.
I have invested in the Reference manual as well for this unit,
which has been very useful. If the swap over price was less
than 50% of the original purchase price I might consider it,
but as it stands, other alternatives are looking more
attractive.
Many years ago I purchased a HP150 deskjet, one of the earlier
inkjet models. Three years later it died. We called HP and
they sent someone out to fix it, which basically involved
replacing the internals - no charge. Now that is service!
I guess I am still not convinced that new features and whizz
bang marketing are more important than reliability and service.
simon
David C. Jones
> My turn to qualify my answer.
>
> We do have a 'swap over' policy here in Australia as well,
> though not a "repair your original unit and hand it
> back" type of repair. Unfortunately the swap over option is
> just $6 short of the price of a new calculator, so its probably
> not a well patronised option.
Espically when you consider that it will probably cost you $6 to ship it to
them. Our swap out fees tend to be slightly over 1/3rd the cost of a new
one, so generally speaking its worth the cost. Sorry to hear its not as
good of a deal for you in OZ.
> Many years ago I purchased a HP150 deskjet, one of the earlier
> inkjet models. Three years later it died. We called HP and
> they sent someone out to fix it, which basically involved
> replacing the internals - no charge. Now that is service!
> I guess I am still not convinced that new features and whizz
> bang marketing are more important than reliability and service.
Abour four years ago when I was on Pavilion they did this for the PCs (but
not the printers) and it was a really nice service. As I was leaving the
Pavilion group about 2 1/2 years ago they were beginning to shy away from
this, although I don't know what the policy is now. What ends up happening
is that service like this ends up being built into the cost of the unit and,
with the computer sales being so comptetive, often services like this get
cut so that overhead can be reduced and cut down the end user purchase
price. Really, its a double edged sword. On the one hand, the "pampering"
services are nice to have but on the other hand, nobody wants to pay for
them up front. But I digress.....
Davy