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General Category => NC100, NC200, PCW, PDA600 - the rest of the Family! => Topic started by: Gnger1 on 10:28, 03 May 20

Title: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gnger1 on 10:28, 03 May 20
I have just had an intense two-day love affair with a new-to-me NC100. Specifically, everything was going brilliantly. I was making good use of the word processor, the calendar program, the alarm calls. I had a glimpse of the genuine usefulness of the machine and was busy planning out my coming days in the calendar and producing documents for my univesity course.[/size]But now, it is spurning my advances. When I switch it on, I might get a few seconds - maybe ten - before it switches itself off. I'm able to access e.g. the calendar but certain functions seem to trigger the shut off. E.g. attempting to open stored documents (on the device itself, no mem card inserted). Other times, it just switches itself off seemingly randomly (within the 0-10 second time window). Once it's done it once, it then does it again much more rapidly if I try to switch it on again. If I don't use it for a day, it seems to last a bit longer (i.e. 20 seconds, rather than 2 seconds).My brief reading around the machine has taught me that its internal fuse can go. However, I imagine this would lead to no signs of life at all. Other thoughts are problems with the capacitors - which seem to have a self life and I hear can lead to erratic behaviour in computers.Has anyone had this problem themselves with their machines, and is it repairable? I'm very tempted to buy a second NC100 (within a week!) but I'd like to have a go at repairing this model too. It would be a good opportunity to learn a bit more about electronics, soldering and how to use a multimeter.Any advice or pointers very greatly received. If not just for a little solace for a jilted NC100 user.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gryzor on 11:58, 03 May 20
You don't mention it, so how about the obvious: how do you power it? If on batteries, are they good?

If you go for another one I'd say, get a 200,I find it much sexier!
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gnger1 on 12:50, 03 May 20
Sorry - I've tried both batteries and an official psu. Same prob with each. One thing, I plugged in the psu when it was switched on with batteries and that blanked the screen. Hopefully that didn't' damage it.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: TynH on 14:37, 03 May 20
Is the CR2032 lithium battery new AND does it make proper contact?
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gryzor on 14:39, 03 May 20
The 2032 battery going dead wouldn't turn the unit off, though? It's only used to keep the data alive when you turn it off.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: mr.freeze on 15:43, 03 May 20
I took the 2032 battery out of mine to see and it displays a message complaining about the lithium battery being low for a few seconds before turning off. By the way, I had to add a folded piece of paper to wedge the battery as, apparently, today's batteries are thinner.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Bryce on 15:48, 03 May 20
It would be difficult for a "new" CR2032 to be thinner, as the battery name refers to it's dimensions: CR 2032 means 20mm diameter and 3.2mm thick. If it was thinner it would have to change it's name. It's more likely that the metal springs have lost tension over time.

But back to the original posters problem. It's very likely that the capacitors are failing. It probably needs a recap.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: mr.freeze on 15:51, 03 May 20
Ah! I was convinced that one of the two values was the voltage, but I was wrong.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: TynH on 16:13, 03 May 20
Yeah unfortunately the contact's springiness diminishes over time resulting in a less than ideal fit, increased resistance and hence a "low voltage" reading. I'd check this first since it's obviously the easiest and cheapest problem to fix!
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gnger1 on 04:58, 04 May 20
Thank you for all of the replies. They're definitely easing the pain! :)[/size]Re the CR2303: I tried starting it without the battery and I get the banner complaining of a flat lithium battery, as was said here. I don't think that's it.Re the capacitors: Yes, I think that sounds right. It was probably due a recap anyway. This would be a good skill to master. Am I ok to just read off the code numbers from the capacitors and source the same ones off e.g. EBay? Or is that a dangerous game? I've looked on Tim's NC100 site but I don't think there's a capacitor list there. The little reading I've done suggests there are differing qualities of capacitors, and cheap ones may well fail on you within a year or two so it's worth getting certain makes. Hmm. Also I don't really know how to solder, and certainly not de-solder, so I might get some practice electronics kits first!
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Bryce on 07:45, 04 May 20
On a difficultly scale, swapping capacitors is quite easy. However, if you've never soldered before you will most likely destroy the PCB and traces on your first attempts, so you definitely need a lot of practice before attempting this. Otherwise you'll just destroy an NC100 that would have been a simple repair.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Heart-broken new NC100 user
Post by: Gnger1 on 13:06, 05 May 20
Thanks Bryce. I've just bought a little led circuit board kit to get some practice first.
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