Repairing Pentax digital spot meter

[jumanji]

My Pentax digital spot meter suddenly died. I check the battery and it still has energy, so the problem come from the spot meter. I always keep it in the dry cabinet when it is unused.
Anyone has experience please advise. Can I fix it by myself? Or send it to Richard Ritter?

[vinny]

Richard ritter. If you take it apart, then what? Are you an electonics guru?

[Steve Goldstein]

Richard Ritter or Quality Light Metric. Both in the US, sorry.

[jumanji]

I know that sending it to RR or QLM would be the best choice. But this will take money and time, something I dont have much now. So I hope it can be fixed by a normal guy with good electrical skill.

One more thing: Which battery to choose? Silver or Lithium?

[RichardRitter]

Try a new battery. Once the voltage of a battery drops below a set voltage, set in the meter, the meter will stop working.
Battery type dose not matter.

[Sal Santamaura]

...One more thing: Which battery to choose? Silver or Lithium?

...Battery type dose not matter.

Actually, battery type does matter. See my posts, especially #6, in this thread:

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ll=1#post36108

It's amazing what one can find by searching the archive here.

[Nathan Potter]

Yes, take Richards advice with a new battery. I had that same problem and a new battery was the solution, so worth a try. I think (tho not sure) the original designers of the Pentax spot were afraid that when the battery voltage dropped the readings could be erroneous so they automatically put the meter in shut down mode at low battery voltage.

Nate Potter, Austin TX., Chatham MA.

[smithdoor]

try cleaning the battery box also check the springs holding the battery in place. I will most battery boxes are so check for what you pay
Also check the battery even if it new more one time I have found bad new battery's

Dave

[jumanji]

Thanks all.
I did check and the battery as well as the battery chamber are clear.
I measured the votage of the battery is 5.63V. It's an alkaline Enercell PX28A. I will buy a new silver oxide to check. If it still not working I think I will have to send it to you Richard. The whole shipping process (go and come back) will take about 5 weeks, and I dont have the ability of Ansel Adams with that Moon over Hernandez .
Indeed I did search and read you post Sal. I thought it's better if there is more comment regarding this problem (type of battery).
Now I'm thinking about having a spare meter .

[Sal Santamaura]

...I measured the votage of the battery is 5.63V. It's an alkaline Enercell PX28A. I will buy a new silver oxide to check...

That's far lower than I've every measured when removing a silver oxide battery after one to one and one half years of (admittedly not heavy) use in this meter. It's typically dropped only from the initial 6.35V to no less than 6.0V open circuit. I don't know what the cutoff/shutdown voltage is that Richard mentioned above, but strongly suspect a fresh battery will bring your meter back to full function. By the way, Varta seems to be the only manufacturer still making silver oxide PX-28s.

Indeed I did search and read you post Sal. I thought it's better if there is more comment regarding this problem (type of battery)...

I'm glad you performed a search prior to starting this thread. If, at that point, you felt more discussion was necessary, there was no reason to start a new thread on the battery type subject. Existing threads can be added to just as easily, thereby keeping the archive cleaner and easier to review.