"Replace main batteries" message

[afdebono]

Hi,
Around 15 days ago, I had my Psion3a fixed due to the notorious "Replace main batteries" message when batteries are new. The fix consisted of replacement of the blue battery wire (actually two) with battery terminals soldered at the end of each wire.

Today I've started getting the same message. I've hardly used it, meaning the alkaline batteries are practically new. I've removed and put them back in. The flashing battery icon disappeared but re-appeared when used for a few minutes.

It is to be noted that I hardly closed the unit.

Any ideas what to do? One lesson is not to but PDAs with moving parts. Otherwise I have nothing against my 7-year old Psion.

Anthony

[chiavaf]

Hi

You've to check the lithium battery!

[afdebono]

To my knowledge, there's no connection between the lithium battery message - "Replace backup battery" and the pencil AA batteries message - "Replace main batteries". Apart from the fact that one gets a static battery icon which changes its status to flashing, meaning get cracking and replace the batteries now. Anyway, the machine is intelligent enough to shut down!

My problem, as stated in my first post, is with the main batteries message. What is curious is that when I remove one battery and put it back on, (the set of batteries are practically new) the icon vanishes, but say after a few minutes - the last time was 24 minutes usage - the message and icon crop up. If this is a battery cable problem, I presume that the message/icon should prompt the moment you put in the battery.

I've been told that this might be a case of a dry joint on the motherboard where the white cable connector attaches. Does this make sense?

How about customising the Psion? Say, remove the white connector and solder the cable directly to the motherboard?

[afdebono]

Seems that I've found the cause...

After a year of not using my Psion 3a as a portable but only as a desktop (working only on external power), I decided to open it myself (thanks to Fionn Behrens' excellent instructions)

I could not see anything wrong with the battery connector regarding dry joint, etc.

So, my attention went on to the battery cable itself. I noticed that the wire gets in the way by the button bar hinge. I've also noticed that there's a channel from where the wire supposedly passes (which was not) very close to the battery contact.

I rerouted the wire through this channel, put some electricians tape over the exposed battery terminal, and pushed as far as I can the wire so that it will not get in the way by the hinge.

That's it !!

[afdebono]

Bad luck has struck me once again.

Message re-appeared and my Psion 3a is once again not a palmtop but a desktop (taking power off a transformer). I won't fix the wire - I've tried that myself, to no avail - as through the local supplier it will cost me a fortune.

Unfortunately I'm thinking of buying a PDA. I'm still uncertain about which PDA to buy, but cost is the most critical with the highest weighting. The 3 options are HP's iPaq 2210, Palmone's Tungsten E, and the forthcoming Nokia 7700. We'll see...

Whichever I'll buy, I have to go to the data conversion process :-(

[Beakynet]

Originally posted by afdebono


Unfortunately I'm thinking of buying a PDA. I'm still uncertain about which PDA to buy, but cost is the most critical with the highest weighting. The 3 options are HP's iPaq 2210, Palmone's Tungsten E, and the forthcoming Nokia 7700. We'll see...

Whichever I'll buy, I have to go to the data conversion process :-(

7 Years is a good innings - how many people are still usings PCs that old?

There is also a replacement to the Nokia 92xx Communicator on the cards - this will have a keyboard and a touch screen!

David

[afdebono]

I do not intend to buy a PDA/palmtop with moving parts. It's prone to malfunction.

Consider the Psion 3a. Imagine opening and closing it at least twice a day (I used to do this far more), in a year, etc.

I've already changed the yellow ribbon. And thanks to POS for supplying me with the cable, as the local supplier told me that no cable is supplied but the screen and cable have to be replaced (obviously at a horrendous cost!!!!)

So, Zaurus, Tunsten T3, Nokia Communicator and the like are out.

[afdebono]

Back to the drawing board!!

I've just bought a battery cable connector for my (7-year old, no actually going on to 8 beginning of January) Psion3a due to the "Replace main batteries" message + flashing battery icon. I repaired it myself, a 5-minute job - no big deal. But...

...with new set of batteries, switched on the machine and immediately I got AGAIN the **** message.

I noticed that when I start closing the 3a, the display turns off.
With the external power supply, it does not turn off.

So once more I have a tiny desktop (externally powered) + roughly Stg12 down the drain in a matter of 5 minutes.

Any ideas, pleeeeeeeease.

[bobm22000]

afdebono,

You certainly are having a challenging time with this problem.

The usual cause is the conductors inside one of the blue battery wires fracturing after many many openings and closings of the screen and replacement with a NEW assembly will solve that problem.

I wonder if you used a NEW replacement or one salvaged from an old machine?

Have you tried cleaning the battery contacts on the cable assembly?

There is a reputable source of new assemblies on ebay.co.uk for £3.00. If you would like to send me a pm I will be happy to supply his details.

I read that you have checked the motherboard connector for dry joints, could the actual pcb connector perhaps have a broken pin?

Finally have you tried cleaning the middle contacts that electrically connect the two AA batteries within the battery compartment?

It would be a shame to be forced to change to a different type of machine if you are happy with the utility and function of your Psion 3a.

Good luck and kind regards,

Bob

ps. if you have a multimeter it would be worthwhile measuring how much current is being drawn from the batteries when the 3a is switched off and closed (should be very little) and when on (should be 30-40mA) and the voltage of each battery when the Psion is switched off and again when on.

[afdebono]

Thanks Bob for your interest and prompt reply.

I will answer your questions.

a) The cable is a new one which I have just bought from the sole local agent. It was much longer compared to the used I took with me - pretty obvious, as the new one had NO creases along its two wires.

b) Yes, I cleaned all three terminals besides the batteries'.

c) There is no broken connector pin. The thing is that if I open and close the lid while the machine is on, machine switches off. On opening and switching back on, occasionally (there is no pattern as to after how many close/open cycles) the flashing battery indicator will disappear. Then I remove the external power supply to let the machine on its own power. Usage monitor readings are lost (i.e. re-set; i.e. saved in Previous readings). Live readings show an initial Average battery current of 62mA which in less than a minute settles down to roughly 38mA (remember, without the flashing battery indicator)

d) Yes, refer to (b)

e) I haven't checked with a multi-meter but when you invoke the Usage monitor (Psion-U), I get an Average battery current of 45mA (with the flashing battery indicator).

Note: This has no relationship with the type of batteries I'm using, as I only used one set of alkaline batteries when I bought it from the UK when on holiday. Then I switched immediately to Ni-Cads and around three years ago switched to Ni-Mh.

Sorry if you got mixed up somewhere!

And, yes, it's a big shame to change to another OS. Which other OS gives you, to mention just a few, the following as STANDARD ?:
- ultra reliable and stable OS (an average of one reset per year, thanks to 3rd party software that I downloaded from the Internet)
- 'Data' contact database that can easily be customised and have as many databases as you want.
- Very frugal on battery consumption. If you have a PDA to top up a laptop, what's 4-6 hours usage? Even if that had been with the 3a, it would not be a problem. Having a set or two of AA batteries does not make you knock at the bank. You can change a set of batteries in 10 seconds flat without losing any data. What about the cost and time of other OSs; do you lose the data?
- A spreadsheet that is very powerful and boasts featured NOT found on MS Excel for Windows e.g. protection per cell.
- The Agenda is in a class of its own. (I've read manuals of Palm and PocketPC machines)
- the list is endless...

[bobm22000]

Have sent pm, regards, Bob