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HP Forum Archive 15

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HP 32SII repairing
Message #1 Posted by Antonio Maschio on 28 Feb 2006, 4:22 a.m.

Hi everybody. Two facts:

1) I live in Italy, and you may know what it means, from a HP user point of view;

2) I have a HP 32SII which all of a sudden freezed with a "buzz" sound. Now, every now and then, it still works correctly, but it shows the pressed keys (e.g., if you press 2 3 + <Enter> sometimes it shows the writing "Enter" for an instant when you press Enter, or if you digit 23 5.5 ÷ it shows the character ÷ when you press that key), and you are not sure when it will freeze again (it means the display goes blank and no keys work and no reset can be done). Notice that it has never fallen on the ground and it has never got hit.

The point is I've been told by the local HP center (which deals with HP calculators no more sold by HP) that such calculator is not repairable, because it's a whole body machine, and there's no use in repairing it even if, say, the broken microcomponent could be found and replaced.

I'd want to know if such a problem ever arised to you, and if you could manage it and get your calculator repaired. THe last thing I want for my calculator is considering it gone.

Thanks in advance

-- Antonio Maschio

      
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #2 Posted by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy) on 28 Feb 2006, 6:38 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Antonio Maschio

Quote:
1) I live in Italy, and you may know what it means, from a HP user point of view;
Not really. What do you mean with this? ;-)

Ciao,
Massimo
            
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #3 Posted by Antonio Maschio on 1 Mar 2006, 4:06 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)

Per Massimo:

Significa che non sempre e non tutto è facilmente reperibile. Sembra che HP Italia non sia "Potente" come la sua madre azienda.

Comunque, anche in Italia si trova il "nuovo". Il difficile è trovare l'usato.

Non volevo mancare di rispetto all'Italia, comunque.

Ciao.

      
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #4 Posted by Bram on 28 Feb 2006, 7:52 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Antonio Maschio

Quote:
, it still works correctly, but it shows the pressed keys (e.g., if you press 2 3 + <Enter> sometimes it shows the writing "Enter" for an instant when you press Enter, or if you digit 23 5.5 ÷ it shows the character ÷ when you press that key),

That's not a bug, that is a feature. If you press and hold a key for a while it shows the name of it and not until you release the key you'll get the result of the keypress. If you hit the key very shortly (half a second or less) your 32SII acts as a normal calculator.

The freezing part makes me think of run out batteries, but that would perhaps be too trivial.

            
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #5 Posted by Antonio Maschio on 1 Mar 2006, 4:08 a.m.,
in response to message #4 by Bram

I never realized this was a built-in side effect. In any way, I'll put my calculator under heavy testing, using even other advices to this thread, and see what happens.

Thanks

-- Antonio

                  
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #6 Posted by Thomas Radtke on 1 Mar 2006, 4:49 a.m.,
in response to message #5 by Antonio Maschio

Quote:
I'll put my calculator under heavy testing, using even other advices to this thread, and see what happens.
If it makes this buzzin' noise, you should not operate it any further IMHO. I would open it and see if there is an obvious problem.

Something to read (search for 'pioneer'):

Articles Forum

Thomas

      
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #7 Posted by jb on 28 Feb 2006, 12:11 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Antonio Maschio

Antonio,

There is a connection inside that is held together by the two halves of the calculator, sometimes this connection comes loose, to test it you can lightly squeeze the front and back together near the middle of the calculator between the screen and top row of keys.

I've been able to 'fix' a few by stuffing some filler material inside the case and closing it back up. not sure what the 'real' fix for this is.

your milage may vary, best of luck,

jb

123

            
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #8 Posted by Antonio Maschio on 1 Mar 2006, 4:11 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by jb

Thanks, but.. what kind of filler material? And is it safe opening a 32SII?

Last: do you really think it is sufficient pulling the two halves together? Does the loosing come after usage or is it a natural ending for such a calculator?

Thanks again

-- Antonio

                  
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #9 Posted by jb on 1 Mar 2006, 9:33 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Antonio Maschio

Did the display start to work after pressing the two halves together?

I've used a thick piece of paper like a business card and folded it a few times and stuffed inside. I had to experiment a few time and don't recall what thickness worked without expanding the case, it will vary.

To open the case I found some instructions on this site about how to open the pioneer case. I used a small drill (by hand) to cut away part of the heat steaks under the battery cover, then carefully pulled the halves apart just enough to slide the filler in. So far I've been lucky to have the heat stakes hold them together well enough after the 'fix'.

not sure of the reason, the ones i've had have been used hard and not always taken care of.

jb

                        
Re: HP 32SII repairing
Message #10 Posted by Antonio Maschio on 3 Mar 2006, 5:48 a.m.,
in response to message #9 by jb

Yes.

My calculator has been working for three days, with no errors no freezing. I just pulled together the two halves (a bit of unpleasent liquid on the LCD, but not harming) between the display and the last line of keys. I heard no clicks, but the fact is that it works.

Do you think I should expect a stop or was it just this, the problem?

Thanks for your interest

-- Antonio

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