SPIII PROBLEM

[LPB]

MY SPIII DECIDED LAST WEEK NOT TO WORK ON THE INTERNAL BATTERIES. I ASSUMED I HAD FORGOTTEN TO SWITCH IT OFF, SO I PUT NEW BATTERIES IN IT BUT IT STILL WONT WORK FROM THE BATTERIES.

THEN THIS MORNING WHILST IT WAS BEING POWERED FROM THE BIKE IT TURNED ITSELF OFF. I SWITCHED IT BACK ON BUT IT TUNED ITSELF OFF AGAIN. I HAVE CHECKED THE POWER LEAD AND ITS OK.

ANY IDEAS PLEASE?

LLOYD

 

[YoYo]

Check the polarity of the batteries, and don't assume that the "-" side always should go towards the little spring, as in other appliances...

Check for the actual "+" and "-" markings on the casing.



And stop screaming, we can hear you alright...

 

[littleredrooster]

Hmmm...interesting you should post this, 'cos mine sometimes won't work off the batteries. OK with the power lead, though. I suspected a duff connection somewhere inside because, putting a voltmeter across the two ends of the battery compartment showed the full complement of volts being available. Tried it on the rechargables that I usually use, and Duracell things (resetting the 'battery type' setting, of course) and it still only works intermittently. Bit of a handicap when you want to load a route from the PC.....

 

[PanEuropean]

My guess is that the problem both of you are having (LPB and Rooster) is mechanical, not electrical.

The battery compartment in the SP III provides an unusually tight fit for the AA cells. This was done so that if the vehicle ran over a bump, the GPSR would not reboot due to a momentary power interruption (assuming it was running on batteries only).

Experience of the last 4 years has shown that many users accidentally damage the conical springs that hold the batteries in place by forcing a 'hard to fit' battery into place. This damage most often happens to the two springs in the middle row of batteries.

Take the back cover off your SP III, and before you remove the batteries, have a close look at how the little conical springs at the extreme right and left hand sides of the case are fitting against the ends of the batteries. Most likely, you will find that you have deformed one spring downwards, and as a result, it is not making a good, solid contact with the end of the battery. If the GPSR has momentary power-off problems when you are handling it (such as when you are using it at your PC), then the chances are about 99.9% that you have a deformed spring.

PanEuropean

 

[LPB]

I need the unit for a trip to France next week so I have sent it to Garmin.

I understand what you are saying about the battery but mine stopped working from an external power source as well.

Once I hear from Garmin I will update this thread.

Lloyd

 

[LPB]

Well I sent it to Garmin on Thursday, called them Friday and mentioned again that I needed it later this week to go to France, and the unit has just arrived back with me.

No mention of what was wrong, and it was repaired under warranty.

Credit where credit is due - top marks to Garmin!

Lloyd