HP Forum Archive 14

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HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #1 Posted by Ray on 13 June 2004, 5:53 p.m. Hello, I have recently aquired a HP-IL Thinkjet Printer, with box and all acessories. I hooked everything up as directed by the intstructions, but it doesn't seem to power up. I switch the power switch, and the yellow indicator light blinks three times, and then the entire Printer seems to shut down. I checked the battery, and it seems to be giving off voltage. (but I don't really know the correct voltage, does anyone here?)... The battery also has enough power to start the printer, but just like the AC adapter, the power light won't come on, and pressing the power button on the top does no good. I'm hoping there is a simple way to get this printer working, any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Re: HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #2 Posted by Garth Wilson on 13 June 2004, 8:32 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ray IIRC, it has 6 NiCads, right? I made a 7.8V power supply to replace my bad NiCads not long after I got my ThinkJet. (I hate NiCads anyway. Why can't they just make things to optionally use alkalines?) I've even run the printer off a common alkaline 9V battery, although a brand new little 9V becomes unable to supply enough current after about six pages. Without a load it still measures to almost the voltage you would expect for a new battery, but it just can't keep it up under load.

Re: HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #3 Posted by Ray on 13 June 2004, 11:13 p.m., in response to message #2 by Garth Wilson What's the actual voltage it's supposed to take, like 7.8V? My batter only gives out 5.8 or something... That must be the problem. Anyone know how I can reubuild one of these battery packs? It's encased in heavy plastic, so I don't really know how to get inside (nor WHAT is inside), so a step by step guide would be good. Better yet, if you know where I can get one of these battery packs, I would be willing to buy one. Thanks for your help.

Re: HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #4 Posted by db(martinez,california) on 14 June 2004, 12:36 a.m., in response to message #3 by Ray As i remember; you have to jimmy it open. It would be easy to open but the batteries have that two sided tape and you have to slice it as you are prying the battery case open. You will need a small screw driver, a butter knife, and an exacto knife I popped in some lightly used cells i got from an 8-pack and it works good. There was a PCB in there too. I had no corrosion so i had no problems.

Re: HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #5 Posted by Garth Wilson on 14 June 2004, 2:55 a.m., in response to message #3 by Ray If it's only 5.8V without a load, it probably looks just about dead under load. Six NiCads in series, fully charged, will be about 7.5V. It might quickly get down around 7.1V for much of the discharge cycle, and then drop quickly at the end. http://nicdlady.com/sendingus.html is one battery pack rebuilder I've seen at the local swapmeets many times. They have quite an operation. You can send your own battery pack (since in this case it's probably not one they stock) and they'll rebuild it for you and it will look like a factory job.

Re: HP-IL Thinkjet printer. Message #6 Posted by Chris Woodhouse on 14 June 2004, 9:46 a.m., in response to message #5 by Garth Wilson Quote: Six NiCads in series, fully charged, will be about 7.5V I thought I would expand on that a little. for NiCads or NiMH batteries the nominal voltage is 1.2 per cell, so 7.2V for a 6 cell pack. Even under load for an extend period they should read higher than that.. A full charged cell should read about 1.45V. However, that voltage will drop rather quickly even if it isn't under a load, to about 1.3V. A 6 cell pack should read between 7.8 and 8.7 when fully charged and not under a load. For reference here is a discharge graph for a 7.2V pack from my Dewalt screwdriver. Chris W

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