Cell leakage in my 48S



#4

I left the cells in my 48S longer than I should have. One of the cells leaked. The leakage got into the foam that provides the spring for the cell contacts. The leakage dissolved (if that is the correct word) the adhesive that attached the cell contacts to the foam. I have cleaned the compartment and have demonstrated that the calculator still works by simply holding the contact against the foam while inserting the cells.

I think that some of the leakage is still in the foam. How can I remove the leakage safely? What adhesive should I use to attach the contact to the foam? If I replace the foam where do I find foam that does not deteriorate in a few years?

Separate subject: If you wonder why H-P doesn't always implement your latest good idea I suggest that you read the article "Creation Myth" in the May 16 issue of The New Yorker.


#5

I find the old thick mouse pads have the correct width. So:

1  remove the old foam and glue.  
2 Slice out a new chunk of foam using the original as a template.
3 attach foam to metal tab to foam with double sided tape
4 attach foam to calc with same.

Cheers, Geoff

p.s. replace batteries every 5 years ;-) (just kidding)

Edited: 14 May 2011, 3:23 p.m.


#6

Almost any high-density foam work in this calculator and likely last many years. I've had some small peices of Dow Ethafoam that have lasted for 40+ years with no obvious breakdown. It's not hard to find, but is relatively expensive. Here's some.

To avoid the battery leaking issue, I would suggest using Energizer lithium cells. I've never seen one leak and I've had hundreds of them in my calculators (and just about everything else the needs AA or AAA cells) for many years.


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  SpeedBrowser / EQLib Browser for the HP 48S/SX Raymond Del Tondo 0 1,034 04-21-2013, 11:09 AM
Last Post: Raymond Del Tondo
  best button cell batteries JDonley 6 2,190 01-30-2013, 10:00 PM
Last Post: JDonley
  Source for N-Cell NiMh Batteries and Charging adapters TnC_Products 14 4,055 12-16-2012, 10:26 AM
Last Post: Dieter
  William Wickes briefly introduces using the HP 48S/SX Peter Murphy (Livermore) 11 3,256 10-28-2012, 09:46 PM
Last Post: Luiz C. Vieira (Brazil)
  Java RPN app for cell phone Peter Klein 12 3,542 10-15-2012, 05:23 PM
Last Post: Pete Wilson
  I got help with my 48S Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. 0 1,052 09-09-2012, 07:13 AM
Last Post: Palmer O. Hanson, Jr.
  Needing help with my 48s Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. 6 2,097 09-02-2012, 07:27 PM
Last Post: Manolo Sobrino
  Re: Needing help with my 48s Reth 0 875 09-02-2012, 02:46 PM
Last Post: Reth
  Zinc-Air PR44 button cell batteries Basil 3 1,471 08-25-2012, 03:25 AM
Last Post: Marcus von Cube, Germany
  Programs for HP-48S William N Strew 4 2,349 07-13-2012, 07:17 PM
Last Post: Eddie W. Shore

Forum Jump: