The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 21

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Preparing calculators for sale
Message #1 Posted by Michae Altmann on 2 Mar 2013, 8:10 a.m.

I have some 45s, 65s, 29s and 29cs that I would like to put up for sale. I'd like to be as honest as possible about their condition. Is there a good set of procedures for testing them and grading their conditions? I assume all their battery packs are dead, but I have AC adapters. Should 65s be able to read mag cards just using AC, or do I need to get a rebuilt battery pack?

      
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #2 Posted by Walter B on 2 Mar 2013, 8:21 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Michae Altmann

Quote:
I have some 45s, 65s, 29s and 29cs ... assume all their battery packs are dead, but I have AC adapters.
"29s and 29cs"?!? If you have some 29cs, you will know you shall NEVER (!!) run them with an AC adapter, especially not when you know the batteries are dead. I'm not aware of any 29 so far, so further information would be appreciated. OTOH, 45s and 65s are safely operated at adapters even without batteries at all.

d:-0

            
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #3 Posted by Harald on 2 Mar 2013, 9:10 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Walter B

Quote:
OTOH, 45s and 65s are safely operated at adapters even without batteries at all.

That is ONLY true for the 45. The card reader in the 65 can (almost certainly will) be damaged if you run the 65 without a battery installed. Even if you don't use the card reader.
In fact, I wouldn't even plug in the charger with a battery installed - if there is a bad contact your card reader is dead. Always charge the batteries externally.

            
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #4 Posted by Michae Altmann on 2 Mar 2013, 1:08 p.m.,
in response to message #2 by Walter B

Correction, it is a 25 and 25Cs. Not an unknown 29 and 29Cs. Sounds like it is time to get some battery packs. Thanks for the advice. I'll try to get the User Library programs scanned in sometime soon.

      
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #5 Posted by Namir on 2 Mar 2013, 8:26 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Michae Altmann

You will probably need to buy a battery pack for each series, and use these new batteries to test the calculators. Using AC to test most calculators is NOT a good idea. Using the batteries will enable you to give potential buyers a much better assessment.

Edited: 2 Mar 2013, 8:27 a.m.

            
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #6 Posted by Raymond Wiker on 2 Mar 2013, 8:35 a.m.,
in response to message #5 by Namir

Quote:
You will probably need to buy a battery pack for each series, and use these new batteries to test the calculators. Using AC to test most calculators is NOT a good idea. Using the batteries will enable you to give potential buyers a much better assessment.


It's also not a good idea to use non-rechargeable batteries to test them with - the higher voltage is likely to destroy the calculators.

                  
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #7 Posted by Harald on 2 Mar 2013, 9:12 a.m.,
in response to message #6 by Raymond Wiker

I have not heard of a single case of an HP calculator being damage by using alkaline batteries instead of rechargeables. However MANY have been damaged by using a charger without a battery!

                        
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #8 Posted by Randy on 2 Mar 2013, 3:04 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Harald

Quote:
I have not heard of a single case of an HP calculator being damage by using alkaline batteries instead of rechargeables. However MANY have been damaged by using a charger without a battery!

+1 agreement on the use of non-rechargeable cells, even the higher voltage lithium types. The last sentence needs some emphasis:

You do have have a 100% chance of significant destruction of the HP specific, been obsolete for twenty years, integrated circuits of any HP 20 series calculator by way of connecting a charger to the mains with bad or no batteries in place.

      
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #9 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 2 Mar 2013, 3:29 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Michae Altmann

You might consider putting a statement in the auction or ad to the effect that under no circumstances is the buyer to use an ac adapter / charger with the calculator, since dust on a battery terminal can route all the power straight to the circuitry. I am going to do that in the future, at least in the case of the 65, 67, 2X and 3X series or any other unknown entity i might sell.

I recently ebayed off a 40 year old working TI SR11, in the box with manual, case, charger and even the warranty card. The piece of shit who bought it immediately plugged it into the wall without installing batteries and fried it. so he of course left bad feedback on me.

I don't know if there is even a way to protect oneself from the vindictiveness of texans who won't take responsibility for their own stupid actions, but you can try.

      
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #10 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 3 Mar 2013, 1:48 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Michae Altmann

Do you really have the (at least to me) unusual name "Michae" - or did you just forget the final "l"? ;-)

            
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #11 Posted by Michae Altmann on 3 Mar 2013, 9:24 a.m.,
in response to message #10 by Alexander Oestert

My name is Michael, but I accidentally missed the 'l' when setting up my account and I don't see a way to change the account name after the fact.

                  
Re: Preparing calculators for sale
Message #12 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 3 Mar 2013, 11:02 a.m.,
in response to message #11 by Michae Altmann

I assumed as much. ;-) Maybe Mr Hicks might help you with that. Contact the curator


[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall