Batteries http://sportident.ca/category/12.aspx Batteries en-CA SPORTident.ca Subtext Version 2.1.2.2 Repair Prices http://sportident.ca/archive/2021/08/12/repair-prices.aspx <p>As the cost of replacement parts has increased, it has become necessary to re-evaluate the cost of repairs to any SI control.  Specifically we adjusted the base cost of opening / resealing a control.</p> <p>Please see our <a href="http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/11/30/getting-your-units-repaired.aspx">Repair Info page</a> for details.</p><img src="http://sportident.ca/aggbug/132.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> SPORTident.ca http://sportident.ca/archive/2021/08/12/repair-prices.aspx Thu, 12 Aug 2021 17:11:45 GMT http://sportident.ca/archive/2021/08/12/repair-prices.aspx#feedback http://sportident.ca/comments/commentRss/132.aspx Upgrade to 656 ! http://sportident.ca/archive/2017/02/06/upgrade-to-656.aspx Around November 2016 SPORTident posted the latest version of the SI-Config+, along with a new firmware version (656). As there are known deficiencies in firmware versions 623 and 649, it is strongly recommended to upgrade any controls with 600-series firmware to 656.<img src="http://sportident.ca/aggbug/122.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> SPORTident.ca http://sportident.ca/archive/2017/02/06/upgrade-to-656.aspx Mon, 06 Feb 2017 17:42:37 GMT http://sportident.ca/archive/2017/02/06/upgrade-to-656.aspx#feedback http://sportident.ca/comments/commentRss/122.aspx Some more details on battery conditions http://sportident.ca/archive/2010/01/24/some-more-details-on-battery-conditions.aspx <p>In a previous post I mentioned that if the voltage drops below 3.3V [see addendum at end], it indicates that battery end-of-life is getting close.  I briefly want to elaborate on this.</p> <p>Below is a diagram of the battery discharge based on current draw. It is published by the battery manufacturer, for the battery installed in BSF-8 controls (BSF-7 batteries have similar looking profiles).  </p> <p><a href="http://sportident.ca/images/sportident_ca/WindowsLiveWriter/Somemoredetailsonbatteryconditions_BE02/si_battery_2.png" rel="lightbox"><img title="si_battery" style="border: 0px currentcolor; display: inline;" border="0" alt="si_battery" src="http://sportident.ca/images/sportident_ca/WindowsLiveWriter/Somemoredetailsonbatteryconditions_BE02/si_battery_thumb.png" width="404" height="236" /></a></p> <p>As  can be seen, the voltage level is extremely stable and only drops off near the end of the battery’s life.  The green curve best describes the SI control’s profile when the control is active with punches from time to time during an event.</p> <p>I have been assured by the SPORTident engineering department that you can expect to have a reserve of 20 – 30 working hours after the low voltage battery alarm signal is triggered.  Therefore there should be no risk to finishing an ongoing event should the battery drop below the low voltage threshold.</p> <p>A control measures the voltage when it switches from standby to active mode.  If at this point the voltage is 3.1V or less, the low voltage battery alarm signal sounds.  3.3V was based on the above diagram and should be construed as a guideline.  Maybe 3.2V or even 3.15V can be reached with no worries.  I believe that all three indicators (voltage; remaining capacity; battery date) should be interpreted together to determine when the battery should be replaced.</p> Addendum (2018-03-01): Looking at it with 9 years of battery repairs experience, I would change the above: The low voltage battery alarm only rings if the voltage falls below 3V. I have no worries at 3.1V and above, but get tingly when it's between 3.0V and 3.1V <img src="http://sportident.ca/aggbug/74.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> SPORTident.ca http://sportident.ca/archive/2010/01/24/some-more-details-on-battery-conditions.aspx Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:04:49 GMT http://sportident.ca/archive/2010/01/24/some-more-details-on-battery-conditions.aspx#feedback 1 http://sportident.ca/comments/commentRss/74.aspx BSF6 and single-cell lithium batteries http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/12/10/bsf6-and-single-cell-lithium-batteries.aspx <p>SPORTident now uses single-cell lithium batteries to replace BSF6 batteries instead of Alcaline triple cell packs as originally shipped.  The lithium batteries last much longer than the original packs, and the voltage stays within range until almost the end of the battery’s life.</p> <p>There are two aspects that need to be considered.  </p> <p>1) As stated elsewhere, there are three indications of battery well-being for lithium batteries.  One is the actual battery voltage which is somewhere between 3.3V and 3.7V.  A lithium battery maintains this voltage for most of the battery’s life, but then drops quickly off – but see #2) below.  Furthermore the capacity indicator which is a computed value to approximate the remaining amount of ‘juice’ of the battery.  Finally the actual battery installation date can also be a valuable indicator – if a battery has been in the system for over 4 years, then that needs to be considered as well.</p> <p>2) Since the BSF6 units shut off almost completely (a magnet is needed to turn the unit on), there is so little current being used for the clock that the battery’s voltage eventually drops below 3V.  This is not a concern though because unless the battery is near end-of-life, the voltage will quickly come up again once the unit is operating.  But because of this voltage drop from non-use, the unit might beep 16 times to indicate a low voltage condition.  If this occurs, let the unit run for a few minutes before shutting it off with the Service/Off key, and then turn it on again with the magnet.  Typically the unit only beeps twice now to show that all is well!  This also means you should not read the Voltage (using SI-Config) immediately after turning the unit on for the first time in a long while.</p><img src="http://sportident.ca/aggbug/68.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> PowerSoft http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/12/10/bsf6-and-single-cell-lithium-batteries.aspx Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:33:51 GMT http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/12/10/bsf6-and-single-cell-lithium-batteries.aspx#feedback http://sportident.ca/comments/commentRss/68.aspx Getting your units repaired http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/11/30/getting-your-units-repaired.aspx <p>Most of the time any SPORTident control repairs require nothing more than replacing the battery.  </p> <p>I strongly urge you not to try it yourself: the batteries need to be the exact type, and we insure that the units are properly waterproofed with new o-ring seals after soldering the replacement battery in place.</p> <p>By the way, the battery in a BSF8 should last 4 – 6 years (and the older BSF7 will last 5 - 8 years) depending on usage.</p> <p>To get a unit repaired, contact me for the shipping address, ship via <strong>postal service</strong>, and if you ship from outside Canada, please clearly mark on the box: <strong>To be returned after repairs. </strong></p> <p>Please be advised that all delivery charges including brokerage fees for packages sent to SPORTident in Canada will be your responsibility.  Courier companies (e.g. FedEx, UPS, etc) charge brokerage fees based on the stated value of the package, while the postal service only charges if items are imported.  To save you money, please do <strong>not</strong> use a courier service.  Contact me at <a href="mailto:erict@sportident.ca">erict@sportident.ca</a> if you have any further questions.</p> <p>Controls have a 2 year warranty; SI cards 8, 9 or 10 a 5 year warranty. Please note that warranty repair will be handled by your vendor.  </p> <p>SIAC timing sticks have a 2 year warranty by your vendor.  Contact us regarding SIAC battery replacements or other maintenance. Note: We now have the equipment to do SIAC battery replacements locally.</p> <p>Out-of-warranty Repair fees:</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="450" border="1"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342"><strong>Type of Repair</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right"><strong>Fee</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342">Opening; resealing a control with new sealing materials</td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right">$12 per control</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342">Battery replacement (BSF-7, BSF-8, BSF-9)</td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right">$12</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342">Cable repair (download, printer control)</td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right">$20</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342">Other repair - LCD, beeper or coil</td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right">$10 per item</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="342">Other repairs (such as BS-11)</td> <td valign="top" width="106" align="right">Please contact us for estimate</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Additionally we will add on the shipping fee, which is typically $15 (Alaska and Hawaii would likely be more).  We invoice via PayPal, which means you get an invoice from PayPal which you can pay with a credit card or e-cheque. Please contact me for alternate arrangements.</p> <p>Taxes: Note that GST/HST will be added to all Canadian repairs.</p> <p>[2010-02-06: Fixed email address] <br />[2010-03-01: Changed price for BSF-6 and older batteries] <br /> [2010-03-12: Note about taxes] <br /> [2010-04-01: Courier fees] <br /> [2010-07-08: New tax rules in Canada] <br /> [2011-05-24: Replacing a board wording change] <br /> [2015-11-10: Price increase on battery change] <br />[2017-07-01: Breakdown of prices, increase for cable change, SIAC1 explanation] <br />[2021-08-12: Increase in opening / sealing price, remove mentions of BSF-6 and older]  <br />[2023-03-28: Clarification about SIAC warranty    </p><img src="http://sportident.ca/aggbug/66.aspx" width="1" height="1" /> SPORTident.ca http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/11/30/getting-your-units-repaired.aspx Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:04:45 GMT http://sportident.ca/archive/2009/11/30/getting-your-units-repaired.aspx#feedback 4 http://sportident.ca/comments/commentRss/66.aspx