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20b display problem - Printable Version

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20b display problem - Paul Dale - 07-15-2009

I've got a 20b with a display problem. Some of the pixels don't go dark.
Anyway, I've opened it up and have located the problem. The zebra strip connecting the main PCB and the display has detached at one end (two tracks maybe three are broken). If I press down lightly, the display comes good.

Do any of the restorers have a suggestion as to how to reattach it?

- Pauli


Re: 20b display problem - Marcus von Cube, Germany - 07-15-2009

The 20b should still be under warranty. Try to contact HP or your dealer.


Re: 20b display problem - cyrille de Brébisson - 07-16-2009

hello,

contact 1 800 HP INVENT and get your product replaced under warranty.

Else, use no melt solder tape and place it on the strip, then use a soldering iron to re-heat glue the strip on the contacts.

cyrille


Re: 20b display problem - Paul Dale - 07-16-2009

I don't think that phone number will help in Australia (although I did buy the unit from the US).

I'll try the solder tape.

This one is somewhat sacrificial: I've drilled out the four plastic mushroom rivets so I can get to the keys and relabel them :)

- Pauli

Edited: 16 July 2009, 6:40 p.m.


Re: 20b display problem - Paul Dale - 07-20-2009

Fixed the problem.

Examined under magnification, the problem is the end conductor or three on the Zebra strip hadn't seated down properly. The obvious solution is to re-melt it in place.

Then the complication, the unlike other such strips which solder fairly nicely, this zebra strip melts instantly on contact with a soldering iron and by the time I'd figured this out, it had melted past the end of the PCB. Not to worry, a short piece of solid wire can be placed on the pad on the PCB in such a way that it pokes into the zebra strip. Solder the wire to the PCB quickly and the heat imparted to the wire seems to melt the zebra strip in place. In fact, the wire ended up poking through the zebra strip. Be careful here or you'll melt the adjacent conductor on the zebra and the process will have to be repeated. When done and verified, cover the whole thing with a generous blob of epoxy -- I used 90 second Araldite but any should work.

If you're very quick, it is possible to lightly tap the zebra at the bottom most end with the soldering iron and this will melt it onto the pad okay, you do have to be very quick though.

I don't know if this has been mentioned before or not, but the 20b runs fine on one battery.

Now to figure out how to best re-label the keys and attach the debugger pins.


- Pauli