LowPowerLab Forum

Hardware support => CurrentRanger => Topic started by: Pedro Sousa on March 30, 2021, 10:18:52 AM

Title: floating zero
Post by: Pedro Sousa on March 30, 2021, 10:18:52 AM
Hi!
Almost after 1 month off, I turned the CR on and the battery was empty. After charging it I noticed that the noise (at least in nA range which is the one I use most) was much higher than normal. Actually the open current value is floating from 0 to ~100nA and shorting the output I get roughly the same values and not the expected constant 0 nA. Even more strange, the same happens in the microA range (0-~140 uA). Just in case I reloaded the R3 original firmware and changed the battery but the problem remains. Did I broke the CR? Can it be fixed? The CR (version R3MK4) is less than 1 year old.
Title: Re: floating zero
Post by: Felix on March 30, 2021, 11:03:57 AM
QuoteAlmost after 1 month off, I turned the CR on and the battery was empty.
140 readings with inputs short sounds like a damaged unit.
If battery has some charge before being shelved, it should have been sleeping at <1uA current the whole time, lasting many years.
Battery discharged after 1 month of no use sounds like either a bad battery or the CR was broken before it was turned off, I can't be sure if there's any other explanation why the battery would be drained so fast.
Can it be fixed? Maybe, depends what is wrong. I don't really do repairs, unless there is something really worth learning, you can spend hours debugging what is really wrong. If you can show me the fault is because of a defect in manufacturing or a design fault then I will fix or replace it for free. Design fault does not include user error or not following directions or heed warnings in the guide.
Title: Re: floating zero
Post by: Pedro Sousa on March 30, 2021, 12:11:03 PM

Thanks for the reply, Felix. I will try to check if the battery is damaged. Meanwhile I will contact the European distributor (Welectron) on how to proceed regarding fixing or replacing.