how do you change the battery?

[longneck]

Out partner system has a bad battery and loses its configuration every time it loses power. Can I change the battery myself, and will I lose my programming when I do it?

- Kip

 

[MWM]

Yes and yes. You can change the battery yourself (with a soldering iron) and, yes, you will lose the programming.

... fact of life. There is no work-around I know of for an aging battery whose job it is to keep the memory hot.

You did get years of service from it, right?

This problem is one potential pitfall of installing or buying used equipment,-- the consequences will swallow any money advantage. Just one experience of this will ruin a reputation for quality with a customer, if that is an issue.

Yours,
Mike

 

[longneck]

That's what I thought.

Therefore, my brother is designing a voltage regulation circuit so that I can have an EXTERNAL battery power the unit while I am changing the battery. When it's done and and tested, I'll provide the design in one form or antoher.

- Kip

 

[MWM]

...that's an interesting thought. I am uncertain, however, about the sequence of steps.

1) Programming is lost if power is lost, therefore the card needs repair;
2) The card must be removed for repair;
3) Power must be shut down before removing cards;
4) Therefore programming is lost before removing the card for repair.

So, how will an outboard power supply replacement for the battery help if the programming is lost before you can work on it?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[longneck]

After examining the design of the connector on the front of the CPU card, it looks like I can supply backup power to the unit through the front connector while I replace the battery.

- Kip

 

[ttech]

kip,
Which partner do you have? The partner ACS can have the batteries changed with the power on. As a matter of fact, You are suposed to replace the battery with the power on and the display on ext 10 tell you that it needs replacement. The older partners (plus, basic and 2) have a battery soldered onto the main board. As soon as you Unplug the system to remove the card from the 5 slot you lose the programming. And even if there is a little life left in the battery as soon as you un solder it to put in the new one the programming is lost.

What are you talking about the connector on the front?

Don

 

[longneck]

The connector on the front of the processor that is used to connect an expansion cabinet. I have a (dead) processor at home, and I was able to trace three of the pins to the low voltage output of the power supply. Based on that, it stands to reason that I should be able to power the module while I replace the battery.

Do this sound like a bad idea?

- Kip

 

[MWM]

Kip

... as an electronics technician for a couple of decades, who has designed and built a hundred projects, and as a certified video engineer and certified telecom technician, I can tell you will absolute certainty that there is no certain answer.

Only the schematics of the power supply and associated circuity will offer clues. Specifically, you will be back-feeding the power into the source. If the traces you mention are indeed just wire (no active or passive components) and if they go directly to the battery terminals, then you may be in luck.

You may be luckier than I at guessing circuitry. (Or perhaps a repair shop might provide the schematics [if they have them].) I have been surprised by what I find inside, sometimes, and by the logic that they used to build it.

The choice to go ahead might depend upon whether you can accept the potential consequences of failure, which can of course include losing your present processor.

Yes, it is a pain to reprogram a system, especially when some of the details are not known to you.

When I faced this same dilemma recently I explained in writing the options to the client. They can decide how much risk they want to take and how much money to spend to minimize that risk. I often make the mistake of assuming risks that really are the owner's. But I'm learning!

Best,
Mike

 

[drewmich]

Mike and Kip,

After discussing your ideas with our head technician - we are a Lucent repair facility - I will offer two thoughts for you to consider.

First - If your power has gone down a couple of times and you have had to reprogram your partner processor ... you should have the programming down pat! WHy not just bring the system down and repalce the battery and reprogram it one final time. A new battery should last for 3 to 5 years.

Second - if you want to get tricky ... you can attempt to repair the processor battery with the cover off and powered off. BEWARE as this requires a professional touch! While powered up, you can desolder and remove the old battery and resolder the new one. The MOST CRITICAL step to remember is that your soldering iron CANNOT be grounded as it will cause problem as soon as you touch it to the battery lead.

Good luck and let me know how it went!

Cordially, Andrew Roach
President
Drew Communications
Lucent Voice Mail and Component Repair Specialists
drew@triton.net
616-498-9213