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What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:32 pm
by rogerpettersen
I have two system saber (with des-xl) and one of them (H43TUK5170cn) is draining the battery. Even when the radio is powered off.
I know it`s not the battery because i have swapped battery, and the draining also is on the other battery.
Both battery are brand new WWH-NTN4595A (7.5V 2700mAh)

First i thought it might be the des-xl module, due to the fact that I always loose the keys in the module. (as it also should when power is gone)
But after swapping them (NTN5758A) the same radio still drains the battery

Does anybody know what could be the reason for draining the battery

Would appreciate any hints
Best Regards
Roger

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:09 pm
by FireCpt809
A bad PA module can do that too.. Does the radio seem warm to the touch on the side?

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:45 pm
by escomm
Ya, I'll bet $5 it's a bad PA module

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:15 pm
by SlimBob
You might have a broken baseplate and/or faulty battery contacts.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:16 am
by rogerpettersen
The Radio is not warm when i transmit. I don`t think it`s the PA, :o due to the fact that the radio wil be drained EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF :o

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:17 am
by rogerpettersen
SlimBob wrote:You might have a broken baseplate and/or faulty battery contacts.
Yes this can seems likely :o

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:07 am
by escomm
rogerpettersen wrote:The Radio is not warm when i transmit. I don`t think it`s the PA, :o due to the fact that the radio wil be drained EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF :o
is it warm when the radio is off????

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:18 am
by rogerpettersen
No the radio is not warm when it`s off.
But wil be drained after meybe 5 days (when it`s off) :x

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:05 am
by escomm
Looks like I'm probably out $5 :lol:

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:44 am
by rogerpettersen
escomm wrote:Looks like I'm probably out $5 :lol:
8) 8) 8)

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:53 pm
by wavetar
It's hard to say, although I think you're on the right track. Even though the power switch in the system saber is a 'hard' switch, cutting power to the primary B+ circuitry, there is power getting to some parts of the radio at all times to keep the encryption key from being lost. So even though you've eliminated the encryption module itself, something else in the supporting circuitry seems to be the issue. Without having the radio in front of a tech with associated service manual & possibly a second unit to swap modules, it's unlikely to be solved.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:31 pm
by Keygun
The power switch is a real hard-switch (no soft-switch, which is controlled by the microprocessor), but the PA-module is always connected to the battery.

Keygun

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:27 pm
by SlimBob
So, the basic run down is ...

Broken baseplate
Bad contacts
Bad PA module
Bad battery
NiMH battery (NiMH have a higher internal self-discharge rate)
Poor calibration of "low battery" indicator in radio

I've got a Saber that tells me it's battery is low within fifteen seconds of being turned on. I just keep talking until it dies, then recharge it.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:29 pm
by FireCpt809
Slim sounds like your RSS setting for battery is cranked up too high

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:47 pm
by SlimBob
FireCpt809 wrote:Slim sounds like your RSS setting for battery is cranked up too high
I've tinkered with it as far as I was willing to; I'm not that concerned about it. I don't stop talking until it's dead anyway. =)

I did try using the values from one of my other sabers, but it was no less predictable.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:02 am
by rogerpettersen
Yaeh..... Now I realy done it. :o :o :o :x :x :x :x
I swapped the PA. Ofcource one of the legs touched ground.
And Now, the litle fuse and some small SMD is fried on the main assembly board.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO CAN REPAIR THE MAIN ASSEMBLEY BOARD ????? or even sell me a new one?
Or even send me a new, for some dollar and a broken assembley board in excange.

The god thing is that none of the module in the radio seems to have died.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:12 pm
by FireCpt809
at this rate its probably cheaper to find one on ebay they are all over there

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:07 am
by Pj
Replacement sabers are fairly inexpensive these days....

Worse case...you can try panik electronics....but he usually wants top dollar for his junk.

Re: What can drain the battery on system saber?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:44 pm
by FireCpt809
Pj,

Was selling some Low split VHF Sabers for $40 and a 20% discount if you asked for it .. usually he does want top dollar or close to new $ for his stuff